Dear Abby: 25-year-old who lives with her parents says she’s modest but doesn’t want to constantly ‘cover up’

DEAR ABBY: I’m a full-figured 25-year-old woman who lives at home. My family has three dogs. Every night, I go into my mother and father’s bedroom to pick up the youngest one to hold for a few minutes and say goodnight. The dog likes to sleep closer to the middle of the bed, so I need to bend over to reach the dog. When I bend over, my mother gives me a “look” because she says my shirt starts to reveal my body and I should be “mindful” of my dad.

I wear long T-shirts, long pants, and sometimes bras when I’m around the house because I’m trying to be mindful of my dad and younger brother. I want to be free to not think I need to cover up when I’m doing something small like picking up the dog. Dad is a good man. He has never disrespected me in any way as I matured into a woman, so my mother’s extra “carefulness” bothers me. What should I do? -- JUST WANT MY DOG

DEAR JUST WANT: Because at 25 you are still living under your mother’s roof, you should respect her wishes. Once you get a place of your own, you can bounce around as much as you wish.

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Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.