Comments on: “My doll is a boy!” http://www.chocolateandgarlic.com/2009/01/my-doll-is-a-boy/ The Sweet, The Savory Mon, 18 Jul 2011 06:24:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Rosalie http://www.chocolateandgarlic.com/2009/01/my-doll-is-a-boy/comment-page-1/#comment-478 Rosalie Wed, 08 Apr 2009 02:37:33 +0000 http://www.chocolateandgarlic.com/?p=864#comment-478 We had the "Last Lecture" the other day and the professor who gave it has dedicated her life to children. Her own son really loved dolls and took his doll to church and caused a number of boys to follow his example. Some parents made a fuss about it. He has become a pediatrician at the Mayo Clinic and does compassionate care of children in developing countries and his mom is very proud of him. When she asked him what to tell undergrads about finding their path, he said, "Mom, you know for me, I think it was in the DNA." Each of this professor's children had a different and credible answer for how they figured out their path in life. I enjoyed the talk. The Honors students choose a professor who has had an influence on them and it's well publicized and draws a big audience every spring. We had the “Last Lecture” the other day and the professor who gave it has dedicated her life to children. Her own son really loved dolls and took his doll to church and caused a number of boys to follow his example. Some parents made a fuss about it. He has become a pediatrician at the Mayo Clinic and does compassionate care of children in developing countries and his mom is very proud of him. When she asked him what to tell undergrads about finding their path, he said, “Mom, you know for me, I think it was in the DNA.” Each of this professor’s children had a different and credible answer for how they figured out their path in life. I enjoyed the talk. The Honors students choose a professor who has had an influence on them and it’s well publicized and draws a big audience every spring.

]]> By: Sharon http://www.chocolateandgarlic.com/2009/01/my-doll-is-a-boy/comment-page-1/#comment-322 Sharon Sun, 01 Feb 2009 14:46:12 +0000 http://www.chocolateandgarlic.com/?p=864#comment-322 I remember my brother had a boy Cabbage Patch... and he will be an excellent father someday. BTW I think I saw some navy at Target the other day. They have the swimsuits out, shorts, and spring dresses. Because it's February now, you know. I remember my brother had a boy Cabbage Patch… and he will be an excellent father someday. BTW I think I saw some navy at Target the other day. They have the swimsuits out, shorts, and spring dresses. Because it’s February now, you know.

]]> By: Pmom http://www.chocolateandgarlic.com/2009/01/my-doll-is-a-boy/comment-page-1/#comment-319 Pmom Fri, 30 Jan 2009 20:55:26 +0000 http://www.chocolateandgarlic.com/?p=864#comment-319 Yes, I think in most situations adults don't need to do much here. Children's peers are active enough. Duncan came home from preschool and told me that there are two colors for dowlers (girls): pink and purple. I imagine his teacher didn't tell him that. I hope not! I pointed out that both of his sisters are lovely in navy. I am always on the lookout for navy clothing I can buy them. It is too bad that it is so much easier to find pink--which isn't nearly as becoming. I think our friend who offered Duncan the trucks and blocks was fine; he was just being an accommodating host, guessing at what Duncan was most likely to enjoy. At home, I would like my children to feel free to choose toys that stereotypically belong to either gender. Just as I think it's helpful for Duncan to do some nurturing practice with a doll, I think my girls probably get something out of playing with blocks. I'm not sure that i've done right by Duncan though--when he played at my sister-in-law's house who had plenty of "boy" toys, he was crazy with happiness. I fear he inherited too many of Amelia's toys, and perhaps there was not enough variety there. So, I focused a little more on boy toy acquisition this Christmas. That's another post altogether. Yes, I think in most situations adults don’t need to do much here. Children’s peers are active enough. Duncan came home from preschool and told me that there are two colors for dowlers (girls): pink and purple. I imagine his teacher didn’t tell him that. I hope not! I pointed out that both of his sisters are lovely in navy. I am always on the lookout for navy clothing I can buy them. It is too bad that it is so much easier to find pink–which isn’t nearly as becoming.

I think our friend who offered Duncan the trucks and blocks was fine; he was just being an accommodating host, guessing at what Duncan was most likely to enjoy. At home, I would like my children to feel free to choose toys that stereotypically belong to either gender. Just as I think it’s helpful for Duncan to do some nurturing practice with a doll, I think my girls probably get something out of playing with blocks. I’m not sure that i’ve done right by Duncan though–when he played at my sister-in-law’s house who had plenty of “boy” toys, he was crazy with happiness. I fear he inherited too many of Amelia’s toys, and perhaps there was not enough variety there. So, I focused a little more on boy toy acquisition this Christmas. That’s another post altogether.

]]> By: Robin http://www.chocolateandgarlic.com/2009/01/my-doll-is-a-boy/comment-page-1/#comment-314 Robin Fri, 30 Jan 2009 03:52:23 +0000 http://www.chocolateandgarlic.com/?p=864#comment-314 Parley had a baby doll when he was two or three years old. I thought it was pretty cute how he would carry it around with him and put it to bed and everything. However, I often had other people comment on it, not necessarily in a disparaging way, but calling attention to it as something unusual. It particularly seemed to bother my father-in-law, and he often teased Parley about it. (Of course, he teased everybody about everything, so that was nothing unusual.) I think that people are trying to make more toys cross over gender--this Christmas at Toys R Us I saw a big box of bright pink-colored Tinker Toys! But I do wish that they had more actual boy dolls, even if just for girls. I mean, they don't even have Ken dolls anymore! And that's all the enlightening stuff I have to say on that topic. Parley had a baby doll when he was two or three years old. I thought it was pretty cute how he would carry it around with him and put it to bed and everything. However, I often had other people comment on it, not necessarily in a disparaging way, but calling attention to it as something unusual. It particularly seemed to bother my father-in-law, and he often teased Parley about it. (Of course, he teased everybody about everything, so that was nothing unusual.) I think that people are trying to make more toys cross over gender–this Christmas at Toys R Us I saw a big box of bright pink-colored Tinker Toys! But I do wish that they had more actual boy dolls, even if just for girls. I mean, they don’t even have Ken dolls anymore! And that’s all the enlightening stuff I have to say on that topic.

]]> By: Julie P http://www.chocolateandgarlic.com/2009/01/my-doll-is-a-boy/comment-page-1/#comment-312 Julie P Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:13:13 +0000 http://www.chocolateandgarlic.com/?p=864#comment-312 Yes! I just love that quote at the end. My boys not only have their own dolls, but Jacob had a feather boa, that recently was "retired" - he's earning money for a new one. They love princess clothes and toys and movies - who wouldn't with all that sparkle? I believe that there are no actual gender specific toys at this young age, and it makes me sad when people do believe that. Some girls on our street started telling Jacob a few months ago that he can't play with certain things - they are girl things and he is a boy. The kids figure out what is socially acceptable soon enough. Yes! I just love that quote at the end. My boys not only have their own dolls, but Jacob had a feather boa, that recently was “retired” – he’s earning money for a new one. They love princess clothes and toys and movies – who wouldn’t with all that sparkle? I believe that there are no actual gender specific toys at this young age, and it makes me sad when people do believe that. Some girls on our street started telling Jacob a few months ago that he can’t play with certain things – they are girl things and he is a boy. The kids figure out what is socially acceptable soon enough.

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