Susan asked me to share some advice with you in order to alter your granddaughters' attitude about how to dress. I have spent a lifetime molding my children's and grandchildren's proper attitude and behavior, so I speak with some authority on the subject. I do not believe in physical punishment, such as spanking.

From your letter I assume the girls are fairly young, and that you are determined to win this contest of wills. I will offer you a series of possible solutions ranging from the mildest to the most forceful. Summer is fast approaching, where the girls will want to spend as much time as possible outside having fun. If they insist on being tomboys you will need to ensure their modesty. I don' t know if you have a source of  children's bloomers (or DKs in the UK), but if you have then buy several pairs for each girl, pink would be best, and make them wear bloomers all the time. If they are used to wearing shorts, the bloomers will become quite visible unless they are very carefull.This will result in either more restrained activity, or repeated periods of embarrassment.

Modesty can also be ensured by putting rompers on the girls. If rompers aren't available in their sizes, a one piece play suit can be altered by inserting elastic in the legs, and of course bloomers must still be worn. The advantage of wearing rompers is that their bloomers won't be exposed and the girls will look more like girls. In the late afternoon, dresses are a must. Wearing dresses must be made special by doing things the girls especially like, such as going out for a treat or a movie. It is important to tell them how nice they look, and how pretty you think they are. It will help if on your outings you see some grungy looking girls, and for you to comment on how ugly they are, and aren't the girls happy they don't look like that.  If girls' bloomers aren't available there try the internet:

They have them in all sizes from infants to adults. The only color available is white, but a little dye will turn them into a pretty feminine pink. They also sell girls' dresses with matching bloomers which would be another method of reinforcing the idea of proper modesty.

If all else fails a period of diaper discipline is guaranteed to bring even the most rebellious child to their senses. I am in the process of attitude adjustment for a teenaged grandson. In just four months he has become a completely cooperative and well behaved member of the family. If you use this method, you will have to hold fast and not relent, no matter how many tears are shed. Start at bedtime, and lay in a supply of either cloth or disposable diapers, the bulkier the better, several pair of rubber or plastic panties, the noisier the better.

If you can get baby prints in either the diapers or the plastic panties it will reinforce the feeling of being treated as a baby. Once properly diapered for bed you will need to give each girl a baby bottle of warm milk, this may require you to feed them their bottles at first, do so and make sure they finish their bottle. It won't be long before they are taking their bottles all by themselves.  Tell them the reason they are being treated as babies is because that is the way they have been acting.

Suggest that if they don't start acting responsibly they could find themselves in diapers during the day too. Several days in a bulky diaper under shorts or rompers will do wonders. Diapers under dresses are practically invisible, which is a good reason for wearing dresses especially when in public. Diaper discipline must last at least a month to be completely effective. When done in this way the mere threat of a repeat session is enough  to quell the most difficuly child, provided you have kept a supply of diapers on hand.
Good luck - the results will be worth the effort

Mary Beth

Thank you very much, Mary Beth, for rising to the challenge and giving Victoria some much-needed advice regarding petticoating her granddaughters. I am sure that the little minxes will be much more docile, and really much happier, dressed in proper girlish fashion.

I would perhaps suggest the addition of a baby's dummy, or pacifier in the United States, as an addition to their diaper discipline. At bedtime put them in soft comfy diapers and baby pyjamas, and after they have finished their bottles, pop the dummy in and make sure it is pinned to the bodice so that they do not lose their dummies. If you find that you have to go as far as full diaper discipline, then I am sure that this will be a help.
Susan