If I say “beetle,” all you see are beetles

Of the car variety, that is. Have you ever noticed that phenomenon? Someone mentions they love VW beetles, and suddenly you see them all over? Or you see a witty bumper sticker for the first time, and the next thing you know, it seems that everyone at Whole Foods is sporting the same sticker? Well, [...]

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Both/And

We’ve been in the midst of moving, hence the absence of posts in the last few days. But, I wanted to come on to address an issue that came up in a comment, and that I’m sure might swirl around out there, if not now, at some point. A reader wrote, “Have you ever thought [...]

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Gender Funneling

Last night, as I was watching random television, I invented a term for this phenomenon that bugs the heck out of me: gender funneling. Gender funneling — verb. Actions that serve to constrict the choices available to children because of their sex. Actions ascribe certain identities, proclivities, and interests to children because of their sex. [...]

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Imposed Divisions

So here’s the thing: My son loves fairies. Loves them. He can’t read enough books about fairies. He sees fairies out in the world. He has two fairy friends (albeit introduced by me, but propagated by him) who live in his bedroom. They communicate through written notes. So why does a book about fairies have [...]

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Happy Mother’s Day

I realize that, given WordPress’s strange timing, that I have yet to figure out, this post looks like it’s written on Monday. But I promise it’s Sunday eve. I wanted to offer a few mother’s day wishes as well as reflections. First off, in a home with two mothers, mothers’ day (as it were) is [...]

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Fuel for the fire, calm for the worry

On another site I visit, someone posted a link to this NPR story about transgender children and two radically different approaches to “dealing” with their gender identity. Check it out here. I link to this story not because I think that Q is transgender. But more because of both the fear it instilled in me [...]

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Solidarity

We’re on day number 4 of dresses here. I think that Mere was right when she said that Q knew I had this place as a support community, so he’s going full-tilt with the dresses. Or perhaps it’s the weather. Whatever it is, he’s lovin’ them, and I’m working my way through all of the [...]

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OK, OK, OK….

So, today the boy decided to wear a dress to school. Needless to say, I was hit smack in the face with all the fears that arose yesterday. What will people think? I’ll know them this time around. Will they look at him or me funny? How will I know if they’re thinking it’s strange? [...]

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Wouldn’t you know….

So, I think the fact that I started this blog yesterday nudged the boy to wear a dress to the Children’s Museum today (totally unconsciously — he has no idea about this place). Rarely has he worn a dress in public. We’re not opposed to it, but we don’t push it much. More on the [...]

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A word on the blog name

Just thought I should post a thanks to paperdollsforboys for her genius in helping me name this blog. Since “fairy boy” really would not fly well, and it’s about all I could think of because of this boy’s obsession with all things fairy-related, she helped me piece it together. And it really is a smashing [...]

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