He is a Child.
I Would Also like to Address the Sexuality Point.
Finally, I want to address the labels.
Is it defined by color or use?
Why is a play broom and vacuum a “girl toy” and not a boys? Don’t boys need to learn to clean up after themselves?
Why is Cinderella a “girl” movie versus a “boy” movie?
Why are GI Joes and Cars “boy” toys and not “girls”?
These labels are ignorant and stuck back in the wrong decade. It’s 2016. Evolve with the times. Men need to know how to clean and woman need to know how to change a tire.
I am Still an Old Fashioned Man…
…and I do feel that it is a woman’s job to maintain a clean home and cook all the meals. I still feel that I am in charge of the lawn and vehicle maintenance while I am over the inside of the home and balancing our books.
But, you best bet my other half knows how to maintain her vehicle. You best bet I help with the dishes and laundry.
Don’t limit your son because you fear he may be teased for wearing pink tennis shoes to school (heels is a whole different story…). Don’t limit your son because he is 2 and wants to play dolls with his sister.
Keep an open mind and an open heart. He is your son and you are his father. You are his example and who he wants to be when he grows up.
Not Barbie.
John!! This is a wonderful post, I actually did a similar one on my blog called “Can Boys Like Pink?” I describe my 5 year old sons affinity for pink, and talk about the bright neon tennis shoes he chose for back to school.
I love the points you touched on here, especially the part about allowing young boys to tune in to their sensitive side. Its definitely appealing to the ladies when a man can relate to them.
Thanks Dara! I am actually learning a lot from my other half, which is also what has changed my outlook on raising my boys to be nothing but a man.
My 5 year old was actually watching some barbie stuff on his tablet and it wasn’t even about the barbies. He liked the stuff these girls were doing with their toys and he wanted to do them too.
Who knows, he probably liked them, which should validate everything said right? Kids will be kids and what they do will not be the deciding factor on what they will become.
My Charlie (3rd born) is always very interested in my old Cabbage Patch Kid. When I had Eric (4th born) ,Charlie would mimic me, cuddling and patting his baby, sitting it in the bumbo to feed him, putting him to bed… it’s adorable. I think boys playing with dolls is awesome, because it lets them play at being a Dad 🙂
I think I need to ask my mom what I did when I was a kid, because I’m pretty sure I tried to play with my sister’s dolls too. On the other hand, my dad was a man’s man that believed boys should be doing manly things.
I was farming before I was 5, and I still wouldn’t change the way I was raised. Kids these days are a totally different story and I am ready to deal with my first teen!
Wow, your post makes mine look feebel. More power to you!
Yo, good looikn out! Gonna make it work now.
Alright man!