Children's clothing today is an ugly sight when decorated with skulls, death

My grandson had a Christmas gift that had to be exchanged this year. We went to the store and tried to exchange it, but the new store policy meant we had to wait for a price voucher to come in the mail.

When it finally arrived, we went to the store, which now had some bargain prices. So, we searched carefully and came up with three, long sleeved T-shirts and a pair of pants. Wow! I was impressed at what we got for a bit more than $26.

I was pretty sure I checked all the shirts as far as design went, but getting ready for school when my grandson started to put on one of the shirts, he paused and brought it to me.

"Grandma, are you sure you want me to wear this?" he asked.

I looked at the shirt again, and was puzzled.

"Doesn't it fit?" I asked him.

"Oh, yes, it fits, but look what's on it," he said.

I went to my bedroom to get my glasses and put them on. I still wasn't sure what was on the shirt.

"Okay, I give up," I said.

"It has a skull right there in the middle of the design," he said.

Oh, great, I thought. They concealed that design very cleverly as I missed it at the store, big time.

"You're right, there is a skull and obviously you know how I feel about wearing ugly, unsightly things like that," I replied.

What's with the skull designs all over society? I thought pirates boasted skulls and they labeled poison containers with them. What's with showcasing them in our everyday attire?

It apparently started some time back and there is a horrendous amount of peer pressure around these days, so Johnny wants to wear what his buddies are wearing. I've already fought and won one battle over skulls with my high school grandson.

Do you have any idea how hard is to find something for kids these days that doesn't have ugly, hateful demonic-looking designs on it?

I never have found tattoos to be tasteful and I know a lot of people today wear them. Ugly or not, it's a free country.

But, what parents find appropriate these days just blows me away. I know I'm old-fashioned and probably a fuddy-duddy, too, but give me a break. Tattoos are becoming commonplace as the trend seems to have been anointed as politically acceptable. Not! At least it's not acceptable in my book. And, where I live, I run the show.

That's just it. Who is running the show these days when it comes to rearing children? What emphasis is being put on good opposed to evil when it comes to anything?

My older grandson enlightened me about the busing situation. There are a bunch of kids that ride his bus who get in fights quite often. These kids sit at the back of the bus, but the bus driver aide is at the front of the bus, well out of harm's way.

The reason for the fights, according to my grandson is that the bus is over-crowded - three to a seat - sometimes four when they decide to gang in the back.

We need busing for kids to get to school. It would be difficult for some of us to get kids to school as most parents work. Why do kids fight? Why do kids swear on the bus and in the hallways? This bright young man of mine said it's because of their home life. I know, I'm preaching to the choir for the most part. But isn't it sad that so many children go to school with such a bad attitude because of what they experience at home.

True story, you can guide children who have had troubled lives, but the point is that most children have developed their basic character by age 5. So, the job is not an easy one. They have seen and heard a lot by then. Then they start learning more in the kindergarten sandbox and after that, the sandbox of life.

What general message is being accepted by society that is so uplifting and appropriate? They call it freedom of expression. But we all have a voice and you're hearing mine!