When Rheanm MacLaren from the UK took her son to the children's store to pick out a toy, she never expected that another customer would butt in and try to make him choose something else. Read her post below:
"To the customer in the toy shop:
I saw the looks you gave me and my three year old son today. I saw the way you watched him pick out the pink doll's pram and push it round the shop with pure joy. I saw the way you came over frowning at a child simply for enjoying a toy.
I listened as you tried to belittle my son for his choice of toy.
"Oh you don't want that, it's just for girls, not boys! It's all pink and girly. There are cars and dinosaurs over there, why would you want that girly thing?!"
That's what you felt you had the right to say to a small child who you'd never met before in your life. I was about to have a go at you, tell you off for being so judgemental and critical of a small child - but my boy got there first, and answered you so much better than I could've;
"Cos I like it"
It's literally that simple. It's not about the colour of it, the labels behind it, the way it looks... It's about the fact my child looked at it and thought it could be fun to play with. He pushed it all the way home from the shop, proud as punch about his new toy. He told me about how he was going to put his baby dolly in it and push it to the shops for its milk, because yes, shock horror, my son has a dolly too. His favourite toys are his cars, his trucks, his bus; he loves dinosaurs and monsters; he's happiest when he's outside playing in the mud and puddles. But sometimes he likes to play with a doll and pram, or play in the toy kitchen and pretend to do some ironing. He likes pink things and watches with fascination when I put my make-up on. Am I worried? No, not in the slightest. My child will grow up a well-rounded individual, an accepting young person, who will NEVER feel pressured to conform to gender stereotypes.
I really hope you saw how happy he looked as he walked out of the shop with his girly pink doll's pram and think twice about saying anything similar to a complete stranger again."
Her son's response is perfect! No one should shame a child for what they choose to play with. Share if you agree!
Post a Comment