Wow-zer! Today was a big day in the Thomas household with both boys knocking my socks off with their new revelations about the world.
Sadly Elliot's big moment wasn't the happiest one for this mom who has tried so hard to protect her little guys from life's horrible gender stereotypes. I've bought both play vacuums and chain saws, toy train sets and kitchen sets, dolls and trucks. I actively challenge any gender slurs said in their proximity, like 'throwing like a girl' and 'boys don't cry'. And we happily encourage Elliot's love for having his towel made into a dress after bathtime, the fact that one of his very favourite colours is purple, and how he is just over the moon for mermaids (he calls them nursemaids), fairies and Tinker Bell movies.
So you can imagine just how heart-broken I was when I gave Elliot a new little purple notebook with Tink and all the other fairies on the cover so that he'd have somewhere to stick his stickers and paste his animal cuttings (he loves cutting animals out of his Ranger Rick magazines) and he replied, "Mom, this is for girls." I tried to roll with it, but there was just no hiding how gutted I was by the comment. I guess I knew I couldn't protect him forever, but I was praying I had a bit more time before our messed up culture got its teeth into him.
Lucky for me, I hardly had time to feel the pain before I heard Oliver giggling hysterically. When I looked over in his direction I saw him standing wide-eyed, grinning ear to ear with his index finger jammed into one of his nostrils. Oliver had discovered the love of nose picking.
God help us.
1 comment:
Casey tell Elliot that his big Cousin Dustin's favorite color is purple, and he says real men are not afraid to wear purple and pink, and if they are smart they will love all things girls do.... if you catch his drift!
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