I agree that as parents we need to let our kids have their weird clothing choices and fashion faux pas. I, too, was a teen in the mini skirt/hot pants era. I remember being in England in the summer of âÂÂ69, on Carnaby Street, and some English teens asking why the girls in our group wore our skirts so long - and our skirts were all several inches or more above the knees. LOL But I also think that as a parent we have an obligation with our kids to draw the line at certain looks, certain trends. It is also our job to teach them to know that there are certain clothes appropriate for certain occasions. We have an obligation to set rules and say âÂÂnoâÂÂ. For example, my mom HATES jeans. I never was allowed to wear them until I went off to college and bought my own. So when we see my mom for dinner or lunch, my two sons know that they donâÂÂt wear jeans. I donâÂÂt have to tell them to wear a nice pair of casual pants, and nicer shoes, and a collared shirt. It is a small thing, but it makes her happy (and avoids a LOT of nasty remarks), making for a more pleasant gathering. We are not talking fancy restaurant here, often just a casual family restaurant where pretty much everyone in the place is in jeans. But that lesson hasnâÂÂt been a waste of time, either. They both seem to know when they need to dress up a bit - both have voluntarily worn ties, suit jackets, etc without being told or asked. Older DS went to his teaching internship prepared to wear ties and dress shirts and khakis every day - until his mentor (an amazing guy) told him he could drop the tie as it made the mentor look bad! LOL I find the ultra high heels unattractive - most women canâÂÂt walk in them and just look awkward. Add to that bare legs and mini skirts, and the look just says âÂÂcheapâ to me.

Don, I was especially interested in who had a birthday today and made it to one of your lists. My son Jim would have been 61 today and I wanted to know with whom he shared a birthday. Glad it was Achebe, an amazing African writer whose works I have taught. I miss my oldest child more than I can say. This was a hard day. But his daughter will deliver a beautiful boy at the end of November. We don't yet know what the baby's first name will be but his middle name will be James for the grandfather he will never know. I've been crying all day!

anneliese, we have 8 for Christmas Eve, 16 for Christmas Day. It's going to be something of a madhouse, but I'll be seeing friends and relatives I rarely meet up with. ETA that four of the folks who will be here on C Eve and C Day will also be staying for several days. I'll survive. Back to Austen: While i don't like Austen as much as I like Bronte, who didn't like her at all--Austen is really a bit of a snob--she does make some wonderful observations: It will, I believe, be everywhere found, that as the clergy are, or are not what they ought to be, so are the rest of the nation.Jane Austen Well said, Jane.

Noel Coward always makes me chuckle. Margaret Meade: " We can't have a society if we destroy the environment".