Hooters Anyone?

I trust that this conversation will be one shared with Will over and over again, as he gets older. Sometimes, you’re just driving along and your kids ask you a question, completely out of the blue…which leads to some pretty though-provoking discussion. Below is a conversation I had with our oldest, most astute, sibling and why we don’t eat at Hooters. Here goes…

W: Mom, why don’t we eat at Hooters?

K: Well… (as I quickly scan through my brain’s rolodex of ‘how much information do I give out here?’)…it’s not really a place that’s respectful toward women.

W: Why not?

K: The waitresses wear clothing that isn’t very respectful of their bodies.

W: You mean they’re naked?

K: (dang it, now what?) No, no, no, it’s just that their clothes show off some of the parts of their bodies that God wants us to keep private.

W: Why would they do that?

K: Um, well, adults make choices, like you make choices. Sometimes they’re good and sometimes they’re bad. And, we believe that not being respectful of our bodies is a bad choice.

W: Well, if they’re adults, don’t they know the difference between a good choice and a bad choice?

K: In an ideal world, buddy, they do. But, we all make mistakes sometimes. Sometimes those women choose to work there because they need a job and they aren’t as thoughtful about how they are showing off their bodies.

W: Why would people eat there if people make bad choices?

K: I don’t know. (just ask your Uncle Daniel next time you see him)

W: Hmm, well…are you ‘friends’ with people that dress like that Mom?

K: Sweetheart, it’s not about us being friends or not being friends with people that wear clothes that we don’t like. We all make bad choices from time to time. Our job isn’t to preach to people about what they should wear, but we should model good behavior. Like say, for example, you see one of your friends wearing a shirt that says “Aggies stink” (as an aside people like that should be jailed, but that discussion will surface during another van ride), then that’s not respectful of Aggies or people that like A&M. The clothes we wear and the things we do and say should always honor God.

W: So, does that mean we like Longhorns?

K: (dang, bad example) Well, we’re not big fans of Longhorns, buddy, but I would never let you wear a shirt that put them down… Can I ask you a question?

W: Sure.

K: Think of a woman who God respected a lot.

W: Mary?

K: Yep. Do you think Mary would ever wear anything that didn’t honor God?

W: Probably not.

K: So, just think of it that way. If you are wearing, saying or doing something that doesn’t honor God, then we probably should make a different choice, right?

After 30 seconds or so of silence, Will looks me right in the eye and ends the conversation with this quote of the year…

W: Well, Mom, when I am President, I will shut down all the Hooters.

Well said, my young man. Well said.