Gender-Specific Toys
Despite the fact that times have evolved the amount of ‘gender-specific ‘ toys on the market is shocking. Pink toys for girls and blue for boys. I love pink it’s my favourite colour but that isn’t because I am female or because I was conditioned to like it as a child. In fact, growing up I was as much of a tomboy as you could get! I wouldn’t touch a barbie, I cared only for dump trucks and JCB’s. One Christmas my Granny bought me a beautiful miniature pram along with a gorgeous china doll. The first chance I got the doll went careering into a hedge and the pram was more appropriately used as a wheelbarrow to transport my rocks!
Society’s Expectations
If you have been around a while you will know I have a son called Henry who has just turned five. I loved his innocence as a toddler never picking a toy based on its colour or society’s expectations just playing for playing’s sake like children should. As he is getting older he is becoming more and more aware of outside influences and I often hear him say how he ‘cannot like pink because it is a girls colour.’
I always have and always will teach my child the truth, that colours aren’t gender-specific and anyone can like any colour regardless of sex. I was shockingly asked if by taking this stance with my child I was ‘worried he might end up gay.’
Now I will be totally honest, there are a lot of things in this world I worry about. Death, terrorism, disease and illness, not being able to put food on the table. My son confiding in me that he is gay when he’s older isn’t one of them.
I Love You for Being You, Whoever You Turn Out to Be
I love my boy with every bone in my body. Every breath I take, I live for him and I would die for him. His sexuality doesn’t define our relationship. It won’t change the fact I gave birth to him or he is a part of me. Ultimately all I ever want for him is happiness and if loving a man makes him happy I wouldn’t even think twice about it.
I know that ‘coming out’ can be a terrifying process for many, mainly because they are scared of the reaction of those closest to them. Some worry needlessly but others aren’t so fortunate and their worst fears come true when those who should love them regardless, in fact, turn their back on them. My son will never feel he can’t be who he is whether that’s in terms of his sexuality or otherwise.
It’s completely uneducated and naive to assume that sexuality can be affected by something as simple as a boy playing with a doll or a girl playing with a football. Sexuality is far more complex than that!
So do I worry my son will turn out to be gay? Only because despite the world evolving rapidly there are still ignorant people around asking stupid questions like ‘do I worry my son will end up gay!!!’
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Love as always!
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