Youth Development

» RFecho - My Gentle Pirate

I was so thrilled when I caught my son decked out in "pirate gear," sitting on the couch pretending to feed two baby dolls. When you ask him what he wants to be when he grows up, he will tell you either Spiderman or Tinkerbell. I love it. Their unlce is in a rock band, and is also a stay-at-home dad, and they idolize him for both of those things! I've always tried to choose my words carefully (mail carrier, etc.) and I too think it is not trivial, but very important. Having 2 older boys and 2 younger girls, we have the advantage of having a lot of toys that are considered both for "boys" and "girls," and they all seem to play with all of them, regardless of whether it is a Hotwheels car or kitchen set. The funny (not-so-funny) thing is that most of them gifts (the "boy toys" given to my boys, and the "girl toys" to my girls). I catch myself all the time saying to my girls how cute and pretty and sweet they are, and I don't think I called my boys those things quite so often! I am trying to work on that, calling them smart and funny and strong, too, but it is so ingrained! Our society has a long way to go before we reach true gender equality in all aspects, but the most important place to start changing things is by what we do and say at home, from a very early age.

-- posted by RFecho