Dear Shayna B.,

I am writing to you with a big problem. My mother has terrible taste in clothes. I don’t know how she birthed me. I am super fashionable. The problem isn’t just that she has terrible taste, it’s that she has terrible taste but she thinks she has good taste. I don’t want to hurt her feelings, but I can’t keep wearing what she’s picking out. Shayna B., how can I wear what I want without insulting my loving, but fashion failing mom?

Dear Fashion Forward Fraidy,

Find fashions you like at the store. Don’t be too obvious, just say, “Ooh la la, I love the leopard prints. Can we get them?” If your mom ‘sez’ (read in a fancy French accent), “You really want that, it’s so ugly?!” Just say, “Yes. I like it.” If you don’t really have a lot of clothes in your closet, then she’ll probably go along and you’ll get your stylish clothes. If not, tell her what style you like, but don’t immediately tell her you don’t like her fashion taste. You don’t want to hurt your mom’s feelings. She can’t help it if she wasn’t born as fortunate as you. We can’t all have good taste. So let her know gently. Whenever she picks out clothes you don’t like, just say “thank you, but those outfits aren’t exactly my style.” Sooner or later she’ll probably catch on. If not, there’s nothing wrong with wearing matching outfits to your college orientation. I’m sure everyone will think it’s very cute.

Shayna B. is a rising sixth grader and understands what kids in middle and elementary school are going through.