(photo from Children on the Green) One of the things I love about having children is rediscovering the innocence. At this young age, most children are devoid of cruelty, racist attitudes and our adult cynicism. Fiona loves her friends and on any given day she announces to me that she is going to "marry Anabel" or wants to have Tyler, Douglas, Ian and/or Nicholas over to spend the night and "sleep in my bed". I smile as I realize that soon she will be "tainted" by society and all its judgments. I am sure those of you that have children have sweet memories of your children walking hand in hand with friends from all different ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. Wouldn't it be a better world if society didn't 'get to them' and tarnish that innocence?
Really there is a point to my ramble today... I guess I have been thinking about these things because Fiona had friends over on Saturday afternoon. The group was a mix of girls and boys. Having two girls, I am always amazed at how truly different the genders are - they play differently, they communicate differently, etc. It starts so early! I delight in seeing Fiona "get tough" with the boys. Fortunately, the girls rubbed off on the boys, too, as demonstrated in this photo...
The girls, of course, wanted to dress up as princesses. It was sweet when Nicholas requested a Belle costume because he, too, wanted to be pretty. After a little digging, we found costumes for both Nicholas (a sweet fairy) and Ian (pretty flower girl). Look at the smile on Nicholas and isn't Ian so poised?!? They enjoyed it so much, they cried when they had to take them off. We laughed that Ian's little brother, Charley - not yet 2 -, wanted no part of the festivities.
Nicholas and Ian's behavior is not unusual.
Apparently, loads of boys don tiaras, boas, and frilly costumes during their preschool years as they learn about gender roles and what is acceptable. I think it's interesting that we think nothing of a girl being a 'tom boy' (my daughter included) but it gets a bit 'troublesome' when the shoe (or glass slipper?!?) is on the other foot. I have no doubt that Ian and Nicholas will grow up to be "men's men" and break the hearts of many women the world over. But for now, I will smile at the memory of all them twirling in my living room singing "Bippiddi-Boppidi Boo".
