boys with pink toes.

this article came across my facebook news feed from babble.com this morning.

it’s talking about the controversy that’s sprung from this j.crew ad:

as many of you know, i am all about painting my son’s toes whatever color he wants.

and as with this ad, it has been controversial in the bubble of our little lives – from friends to family members and strangers in a store.

i’m no expert on children gender confusion. but i’m pretty sure j knows he’s a boy.

and if i’m painting my toes pink and j asks if he can paint his with me i am going to say, absolutely. every time.
only recently, after someone commented that he “isn’t a girl!” did he ask me if boys wear nail polish.

i answered honestly, that usually girls paint their toes but that if he wanted to that was more than ok.

what makes people so scared about boys and the color pink? does it really come down to sexual preference, even for a two year old?

let me just put it out there, i am never going to worry that painting his toes pink could ((gasp)) make him gay.

what does that even mean, “make him gay”?

guess what? if he’s gay, he’s gay. if he’s not, he’s not. i’ve got real issues to worry about like his health, his development, his confidence, keeping up with the daily hugs and kisses count.

i’m not walking around suggesting to my son that he wear a pink tutu or put a bow in his hair. i’m not buying him monogrammed purses or dress-up high heels. i’m not consciously confusing him or mis-leading him in any way.

i’m letting him be the exploratory and whimsical two year old that he is. and if that involves tutus with a purse and a pair of heels, whatfuckingever.

the day may come that j decides he’s a boy and he doesn’t want pink toes. fine.

until then, vamooosh with all this pink = girls crap.

breath.

breath.

breath.

ok, i’m over being worked up.

if i’ve offended you or if you feel differently, i’m sorry and that’s ok. we are all entitled to our own opinions and unique raising of children. i’m pretty sure, though, we all share common goals and hopes for them; it’s the road along the way that may differ…

go out and play in the grass. cook some muffins. read a new book. snuggle them until they squirm.
anything at all but worry about the color of their toes.

thoughts? think i’m nuts? agree?