I have two boys. My oldest is 5. When he was 3 1/2 we went to a girls b-day party. There were about 10 girls and 5 boys. It was at a dance studio at one point all the little girls put on princess dresses and such. Jett (my son) wanted to get in on the action & found a most beautiful Tinker Bell tutu. He came up to me in front of all the other parents and announced that he wanted to wear the tutu. I stood frozen in fear what the other moms and dads would think. He insisted and I obliged. He looked adorable actually and he had so much fun twirling and dancing "like a fairy mom!" I really did not care but I was nervous about what the other parents thought & as I feared one parent said to me something like "oh, its okay if he likes those kinds of things he might be different." hmmm...why? Should he be "different?" My son has good taste it was a really pretty tutu (actually the best of the bunch). I just shrugged. When it was over he wanted the tutu off and he told me that he had so much fun. My son loves life and all that it has to offer. He always plays with boys toys he does have a doll (it happens to be a baby boy) because we had a baby brother last year and he knew it was a boy so he wanted a doll that was a baby brother. He never took it anywhere but at home he held the baby, changed its diapers, fed the baby & put it to bed. I told him that he was going to be great dad one day. Since that tutu experience I realize that I have a very normal healthy child who is interested in all that is going on around him. I am not worried about what he plays with---play is how a child learns about the world around them. There are wonderful men dancers, chefs, fathers, librarians, boutique owners etc and there a lot that are straight. I do not think that our passions in life have to dictate a sexual orientation, that is what society puts on us. I am raising my sons to be the best that they can be. They need to know how to cook, clean, do laundry, sew, fix a car, decorate, screw in a light bulb, pick out clothes, hammer in a nail, change oil, change a diaper, build a house. I would teach my daughter the same things if I had one. My husband can do anything sew, fly an airplane, fix a car, change a diaper, smoke a cigar & drink scotch, wash dishes & fry an egg and so much more! Our sons are going to be wonderful mates for anyone!
2 comments:
Ahh, I'm glad you like that blog! I enjoy it very much, it's very real (like mine) and funny (more than I could ever be).
I did read her blog this morning before I came over here- and this was my response:
"I think that boys will someday grow up to be partners and fathers- both positions that require displays of affection and a level of intimacy.
I have a two year old boy, and I don't mind it at all when he cuddles a stuffed animal or toy like a doll. It is, in fact, a nice break from him bouncing off the walls, or getting into my tools so he can smash things with my hammer.
I think that if we foster an environment where girls can learn to do anything boys can do- we also need to foster the reverse. Boys should be allowed to do anything girls traditionally "should" do. I want to raise a son that knows how to cook. I want to raise a son that can sew a button back on. They aren't the most important things that I'll teach him, but they will go a long way into making him a wonderful partner or spouse for someone, years down the road.
I want to raise a well rounded child, and if exploration of different gender oriented toys helps him become that, then I'm all for it."
Great comment. I so agree with what you wrote. xoC
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