You thought I didn't really notice. But I did. I wanted to high-five you.
Yesterday I had a pair of brothers in my store. One was maybe between 15 and 17. He was a wrestler at the local high school. Kind of tall, stocky and handsome. He had a younger brother, who was maybe about 10 to 12 years old. The only way to describe him was scrawny, neat, and very clean for a boy his age. They were talking about finding a game for the younger one, and he was absolutely insisting it be one with a female character. I don't know how many of y'all play games, but that isn't exactly easy. Eventually, I helped the brothers pick a game called "Mirror's Edge." The youngest was pretty excited about the game, and then he specifically asked me, "Do you have any girl color controllers?" I directed him to the only colored controllers we have, which include pink and purple ones. He grabbed the purple one, and informed me purple was his FAVORITE.
The boys had been taking awhile, so their father eventually came in. He saw the game, and the controller, and started in on the youngest about how he needs to pick something different. Something more manly. Something with guns and fighting, and certainly not a purple controller. He tried to convince him to get the new Zombie game "Dead Island" and the little boy just stood there repeating, "Dad, this is what I want, OK?" Eventually it turned into a full-blown argument complete with Dad threatening to whoop his son if he didn't choose different items.
That's when big brother stepped in. He said to his dad, "It's my money, it's my gift to him. If it's what he wants, I'm getting it for him, and if you're going to hit anyone for it, it's going to be me." Dad just gave his oldest son a strong stern stare-down, and then left the store. Little brother was crying quietly. I walked over and ruffled his hair (yes, this happened all in front of me). I said, "I'm a girl, and I like the color blue, and I like shooting games. There's nothing wrong with what you like. Even if it's different than what people think you should." I smiled, he smiled back (my heart melted!). Big brother then leaned down, kissed little brother on the head, and said, "Don't worry, dude."
They checked out and left, and all I can think is how awesome big brother is, how sweet little brother is, and how Dad ought to be ashamed for trying to make his son any other way.
This piece was originally published on Kristen's blog, www.sweetupndown.tumblr.com.
Money always shuts them up later on.
But in the present, it's important not to quash the plant while it is young.
As for color preferences, it's stupid.
Jesus never said boys cannot dress in pink. Only society and people fearful about what others think and say about them all the time follow rules like that.
Giving a young boy (or a girl) freedom of choice in the way he wants to identify himself is not a danger to his health, George. What *is* a danger to his health is you, the parent, forcing upon him - a living, breathing, thinking little human being - the choices about his identity that YOU have already made.
You are equating social normality with 'rightness', when being 'normal' in society has never, ever been about being 'right'. You say the boy is 'wrong' for picking things traditionally associated with the female gender. Who says, George? Who says it's wrong? Think about that.
There's also nothing wrong with eating cake for breakfast once in a while, by the way. Sounds to me like someone needs to let themselves live a little .....
but if you put yourself in that younger kid's place for just a mo, do you really find no "fault" in the father's blatant disrespect for his kid's wishes?
The obvious -- and obviously doomed, judging by the kid's behavior -- attempt to get the kid to conform to the father's stereotyped assumptions of what's acceptably "manly" in a boy who's probably not even hit puberty yet?
And then threatening to hit the kid (or maybe worse) -- over a videogame choice?
One that's supposed to be a gift for the kid?
Something that isn't even going to be seen in public, so it can't possibly reflect on the father's image?
You really see nothing at all wrong with any of this?
Just asking...
that dad/son scenario reminds me of somethin....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNtuVGWgBDM
Worrying about whether or not your child will turn out to be gay is kind of pointless. I was more concerned about instilling good manners and good sense in my sons. While both my sons turned out straight, if they had turned out gay, I would have been okay with that. I just want them to be decent honest people who treat others with respect.
Anyone disagrees with this? Watch THIS video of the boy who wants a doll and the people who speak up for the son: http://abcnews.go.com/​WhatWouldYouDo/video/​doll-boy-12735299
AND in relation to that post? The little boy wanting to wear a pretty dress outside = 'Outrage' to dad AND strangers. And if I met that stranger, I would personally chase him out of the store
http://abcnews.go.com/​WhatWouldYouDo/video/​toy-store-drama-12735360?tab=96​63633