I simply disagree.
Don't mind him... Just feeding his baby at play group today! |
How can we expect or sons to be amazing fathers someday if we don't allow them to pretend to be like their own amazing daddies? Play is practice for when children grow up and have the chance to do the real thing. Ayden will be ready!
What are your thoughts on this topic?
~Sarah
Flashback! Here's what we were up to one year ago today: "Calling All Party Animals"
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I can tell he will be a great dad one day just by how well ya'll are raising him. Great stable home and an example of great marriage will shape him into an excellent man and father. If you want my opinion here it is. We live in a cruel society. Kids are bullied and its heartbreaking. I wouldn't introduce dolls to him, ecspecially in public.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words. So far, he has not fixated on them, or any one toy for that matter, to the point that he has a desire to take one into public. I have to say, though, if for some reason he does someday, we are going to not only let him be who he wants to be, but encourage that. We will help him through any social issues that may arise but EVERY individual should be whomever they want to be and not let others dictate what is right for them. Bullying is heartbreaking but I feel like we can't keep our children from being who they truly are because of the *possibility* of it. I can't ever hear myself saying, "you can't do that because it's for girls" if he wants to do it, he'll be free to do so. On the other hand, I also can't hear myself saying, "Take this doll with you today." Whether or not he plays with them is purely his choice. Kind of a "don't offer, don't refuse" stance when it comes those kinds of choices. Thank you for joining the discussion!
ReplyDeleteSarah, I think you have no worries. Ayden has an excellent role model and he is just imitating what he knows. Plus he will be a fantastic big brother should your family be blessed with another child.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Lecy!
DeleteBring on the dolls and tea parties for boys, and the trains and cars for girls! All kids should have the opportunity to play with any toy, not just those that are pink/blue/red/purple and "gender" specific. What a shame to keep a child from exploring something they find intriguing. Great job, mama!
ReplyDeleteAgreed! Thank you, Michelle! Also, he is only two. I doubt he's going to run into any bullies at the moment ;)
DeleteDisagree, no boy should ever play with a doll. Kids get bullied and made fun of for that. Please, lets protect our boys. Dolls=girls. If my boy played with a doll, i would hide it. If he rebelled i would disclipline him. That is my opinion and you have right to your opinions as well.
ReplyDeleteOf course everyone has the right to their own opinion! That's what makes the world go 'round :). My question is, do you ever wonder that maybe the children who become bullies are the ones who are raised with such emphasis on what's "normal" or "right?" Maybe if we could all raise our children with a "it doesn't matter what a person plays with or likes, just accept people for who they are because we are ALL different" attitude, there wouldn't be any bullying to begin with? Change has to start somewhere! Thank you for chiming in!
DeleteI agree with how all should be accepting, but i remember being bullied as a kid and I was a nice kid. Some kids that bullied me just because I maybe was dressed as a tomboy or made fun of my clothes. My mom said kids would never bully a nice girl, but she was wrong. Kids can express themselves and still be made fun of. If every single person on earth was kind and accepting and there were no bullies, I would say, be who you want to be, play with whatever you want, be unique and different. However, thats unfortunately not the world we live in and that is why i feel so strongly about protecting our kids. I totally respect your opinion and I think you are an excellent mother, but you and I are very different in our beliefs.
DeleteReading some of the comments I just have to say, wow. My son can play with whatever the heck he wants no matter if it's pink, blue, green or purple. He has no idea that toys are gender specific and they really shouldn't be. I have had very few comments about him playing with "girl" toys or drinking from a pink cup and my son is not the one with the problem, it's the person commenting. Yes we don't live in a perfect world but like you said, when people grow up with black and white, they are comfortable with the grey. I will NEVER tell my children, boys or girls, that they can't play with a toy because it's not appropriate" for their gender (plus we're homeschooling ;) )
ReplyDeleteThey are *not* comfortable with the grey :)
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