Aren't there boy butterflies too?
The gender identification thing is a combination of "nature and nurture." My boy's preferences in activities and clothing and characters is based around what they see. So they like comic book characters because that's what Daddy likes. Grandpa and I love puzzles. Not just the usual kid puzzles but the big jigsaw puzzles, so The Boy loves them and will sit for long periods of time working on them. Both children love letters, numbers, and colors. Meatball counts up to 10 and will go further if you say "11."
We haven't necessarily said that certain things are for boys and certain things are for girls. Meatball doesn't care what color the little ball popper toy is at the play center we frequent (there is one that is blue with rainbow popping balls and one that is pink with pastel popping balls), as long as he gets one. The kids love their play kitchen and "cook" just like I do. It was a gift from a friend whose very burly sons had one from their sister--they played with it to the dismay of their father and grew up to be chefs.
They don't play a lot of dressup, although their clothes are pretty boyish. I don't doubt that both of them would pick a pink or purple shirt if they could, every now and then, because they like all colors. Knowing The Boy, he would want to see all colors represented in his wardrobe because he is a completist like his daddy.
So, regarding the butterflies, last night at the JCC we went to a family Shabbat dinner. Since Purim is coming up, they also had a few Purim activities, including a collection of costumes. The Boy was interested in the butterfly wings. And I guess boys aren't supposed to like butterflies? A few other kids were talking about him, saying "that's the BOY who wants to be a butterfly" and giggling about it. Fortunately they said nothing directly to him.
About the wings themselves: they were fabric on wire, about two feet high, and they were black, brown, and orange. These were not fairy princess wings--these were the kind of wings that would make a kid think he could jump off of something and fly. The Boy has seen butterflies and he has seen both boys and girls (and big purple dinosaurs) pretend to be them. Butterflies are cool--why wouldn't a kid want to pretend to be one?
Not sure what to make of this, other than to let him be a butterfly if he darned well wants to. And to refrain from telling those boys that the cow masks that they were wearing are way more girly than a set of realistic butterfly wings, given than cows are well-known for their lactation abilities.
6 comments:
It's tough when they're old enough for other kids to be cruel about these things. Jackson routinely chooses "girl" stuff. I guess we just teach them as much confidence and self-assuredness as we can in those first few years so they can let the comments roll off their backs. At least they know they'll always get encouragement and acceptance at home, which is more than some kids can say.
That is so cool that he wants to be a butterfly! I wish it wasn't so divided as to what is "boy" and what is "girl". My daughter wanted toy tools for Christmas, but she wanted them in her favorite color, pink. I searched EVERYWHERE for pink toy tools, they don't exist. Possibly the most infuriating part was that the search results when searching for "girl toy tools" or anything similar comes up with kitchen and cleaning supplies, purses and makeup, and cell phones.
I have a very nice set of pink tools that someone got me as a present, probably 6 years ago. I don't really like pink that much, but it was a GREAT gift and I love having all of those basic tools in one place, in this little case. Unfortunately, this was a set of real tools, not play tools.
I coudl use a set of pink tools. Then it would be clear which ones were mine and perhaps my husband would either not use them, or return them to the appropriate location when he's done with them.
As for children's toys, we've always bought my 3 year old daughter the boy-ish or gender neutral version of things like the popper toy. Because seriously, what doctor do you know who has an all-pink doctor's kit?
Marianne
It's not like he was wearing a dress and even if he was they are kids. One of my DD's favorite pjs are blue cars "boys."
I'd probably refrain from educating small children about lactation... but you do carry a good point. And it's funny what kids pick up from their parents... I would have been real, real butch if it weren't for Shelly.
Miss you, and hope you and the wife and they boy and the baby are doing well.
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