Yesterday was an interesting day to explore gender identity with my children. We picked up some free skates from the Sudbury Skate Exchange. Neither of my kids had their own skates. Last year, my daughter borrowed a pair from the school, and we didn't bother getting any for my son since he was only two years old.
On Friday, my daughter came home with a pair of skates from her school. They are generic, grey, plastic skates, and they have an adjustable inner boot. They can fit feet sized 8 to 11. The school sent them home for us to get sharpened. My daughter was happy to have the skates, but when we mentioned we might get her some of her own, she became very excited. My son too. He really wants to try skating.
Unfortunately, the skate exchange did not have small hockey skates. Well, they had one skate that fit my son, but the other skate was MIA. We found a pair for my daughter very quickly, but my son grew impatient trying on skates. Then, he decided he wanted white skates, like his sister. She did not want hockey skates because she wanted "girl" skates (white figure skates). There was a pair of white figure skates that fit my son, and he was happy with them. We took them. My husband was not happy. My argument was that my son was three. Plus, boys figure skate. My husband said that was "mom reasoning".
My husband told me the story of how his mom bought him a blue angel bike, and he was happy with it until the other kids pointed out it was a girls' bike. Again, my son is three. There are kids his age who sometimes say, that's for girls or for boys, but usually we don't have issues. Sometimes his sister might say something, but I tell her he can play with or wear what he wants. He only has an older sister for a sibling. He plays with her toys, and dresses up in her costumes. He is particularly fond of the Tinkerbell one.
Our next stop, after the skate exchange, was Old Navy. Both of my children were busy trying on women's shoes while I searched for tops. My husband found us, and shook his head when he saw his son in sparkly gold ballet flats. Mommy does not have a selection of shoes for them to try at home, so they have to take advantage of the opportunity when it arises in a clothing store.
At Toy R Us, my daughter automatically gravitated toward the Barbie, princess, and Dora toys. My son kept picking out trains, dinosaurs, and superhero figurines. They both played with the Dino Train toys, and liked the Lego stuff, but when it comes to toys, they usually pick the gender stereotypic toys. When asked to pick one toy (a gift from their uncle), my son ended up with a T. rex, and my daughter agreed to Flynn Rider, after mom nixed yet another Barbie doll. She seemed fixated on mermaids yesterday.
My children play well together. Their imaginative play is not overtly boy or girl skewed. They often like pretending they are magic, or royalty. My son will be the knight, and fight the dragon. My daughter will be the princess. However, they also like to imitate the make believe stories they see on Stella and Sam, Dora, or Diego. They will travel back in time to play dinosaurs. They have a kitchen, and both make pretend cupcakes, and pizza. They love to make music.
When we got home, I tried the skates my daughter had from school on my son. Since they are adjustable, they fit him. He still seemed to like the white ones better. I will see if we can keep the school's skates for the winter. They were given to my daughter for the season. Now, we have to sharpen all of the blades and clean the rust off of them. They were not well taken care of. Wipe you blades after skating, people!
Posted with Blogsy
No comments:
Post a Comment