Late
Wow. I really didn't mean to not blog today. I swear it's not a sign of me losing interest, I just had a bit of a busy morning so it didn't happen.
Then I sat down to read a book and next thing I knew it was lunch time and I realized I hadn't blogged.
So we'll have a discussion today, shall we?
What would you do if you had a son who loved to wear dresses, play with dolls and pretend to be a princess? Would you be worried? Would you forbid it? Would you pray that it would just pass?
Thoughts?
Then I sat down to read a book and next thing I knew it was lunch time and I realized I hadn't blogged.
So we'll have a discussion today, shall we?
What would you do if you had a son who loved to wear dresses, play with dolls and pretend to be a princess? Would you be worried? Would you forbid it? Would you pray that it would just pass?
Thoughts?
Comments
I think that most of the discomfort people feel about boys being interested in more "female" hobbies/toys/outfits/whatever is that it might mean they are gay. As far as I can tell, people like what they like and toy preferences aren't necessarily harbingers of gayness. With that said, I think it's important for parents to teach what is socially acceptable. Crimson went through a five year phase of wearing only boy clothes. I know it is different with girls, but I still had to tell her "if I let you wear boy clothes most days, you will not fight me about wearing a dress to church, to holiday parties, for pictures, or anything other time that I tell you it is appropriate to wear a dress" and she agreed and has kept that promise and never put up a fuss. I see nothing wrong with a little boy playing princess, but at the same time I think it's best to tell the boy that it is not appropriate to wear the princess outfit to the grocery store. It's not necessary to make him feel bad by saying "because it is for girls" as I'm sure a sibling or playmate will catch him up on that one! I think something like "boys must wear regular pants outside of the house" is a fair enough statement of society's expectations, akin to "girls must wear a modest dress to church". No biggie :)
Oh, if a person just can't hang with the boy playing princess, if he's old enough to talk it out, I think it might help to ask what about the princess thing he enjoys and see if you can find those same qualities (let's say shiny) in a more boyish toy (something chrome looking that lights up?). I would think outright forbidding it would just cause him to be very confused about why sisters/girls can play with things but he can't, assuming he's at an age where he doesn't quite get the real distinctions between boys and girls yet (tends to happen around age 4 or so).
All bets are off with this advice if you tell me we are discussing a 5th grader :P
I wouldn't worry too much... hope a real life example helps :)