Mothering.....Follow

Or just be the bull *****/closet **** that takes part in the bullying and takes the "dog pile" a bit to far.

It's a complicated problem, for sure. Gender roles and sexuality don't operate on a 1:1 ratio. Effeminate males are straight, macho guys are gay, etc. A young kid being interested in activities outside their gender role doesn't indicate their future sexuality. I played with girl toys when they were available, and I remember seeing some of the commercials for girl toys growing up and being envious of them. But by the time puberty hit, even though I was among the least masculine males in my school at the time, I was still interested in only girls. Today, my girlfriend and I joke about how our gender roles are reversed in many ways. We're both androgynous in certain ways-- she likes sports and beer, and I'd rather go shopping for home decor. But of the two of us, I'm not the bicurious one.

However, young kids are also not so good with the finer points of morality. Specifically, children tend to view a break in gender norms as a moral offense. Boys are supposed to be a certain way just like boys aren't supposed to steal. Ultimately, it's hard to be accepted for your differences in early childhood. I once worked with a 4-year old boy who was decidedly feminine, and he was rejected by the other boys, while his only real friend was a Hispanic girl, who was the outcast of the girls. Kids learn to pick on those different from them early on.

There's no simple answer. Accepting your child's decisions can be an opportunity for other children to learn about the arbitrary nature of gender roles and to be accepting of differences. It can also be an opportunity for your child to be bullied mercilessly. As with any child, the important thing is that you're vigilant and ensure that they're being put in an environment that is safe for them.

Can you read? Did I even need to ask?

I didn't say you should accept your child's decision. I said what could happen if you do.

But your statement that liberal kids are ****** for life is lololol. Were you raised by conservative parents? Because that's all the evidence I'd need to not do the same to mine.

If I recall correctly Varus is raised in a strict Christian (baptist?) family so he's been living in a very small and very well protected world for all of his life.

I wasn't talking about a physical space when I said a small world.

But, but.....he's been to Europe!! (Once)

I'm still not talking about physical space Varus.

Edit: And Europe isn't really one place. There's quite some difference between say Norway and Italy.

Edited, Nov 30th 2010 11:57pm by Aethien

Aside from having established that you weren't, I would find it difficult to accept your premise in light of your own admission that you're damaged goods.

All the maps I've ever seen just have a big green spot labeled "O'er There".

I'd ask if you were familiar with the multiple meanings of a head shake, but the question would imply a basic understanding of human behavior. It just isn't worth it.

This is pretty funny since Varus has bragged before about how his father's side was driving around in Rolls Royces while his family lived in tenement squalor.

These days, Varus thinks hitting the big time is a five year old Altima with a multi-disc CD changer.

Edited, Dec 1st 2010 10:35am by Jophiel

Moe,

Ah but debo clearly said he'd sigh and shake his head, not nod his head. I don't blame you I blame govn schools for your condition.