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Saturday, July 16, 2011

guest post: raising boys with deanna of delirious rhapsody!

While I'm off admiring potato blossoms (at their very own festival, no less), surviving my high school reunion, and showering sweet bride-to-be Amanda, I've asked some of my favorite bloggers to fill in for me. I'm pumped that Deanna of Delirious Rhapsody shared this post, which is one of my favorites of hers. If you haven't been following Deanna, you are missing out. Her kid literally says the darndest things. This kid right here:




Kills me.

I'm not sure if Deanna (or you all?) know that my graduate degree is in women's studies, but this post is pretty much exactly up my feminist alley. I know you'll enjoy reading Deanna's words, and if you're not already following her blog you will so want to now!

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Hi! I'm Deanna and I blog over at Delirious Rhapsody. I'm excited to be a guest poster while Hilary takes some time to go visit her childhood home. How exciting! And she also mentioned there would be no internet access. I personally think that is awesome! Sometimes I can get a little too attached to the online world, and it's always nice to take a little breather and live in the moment. Hilary, I hope you and your family are enjoying your time in the woods. What a great time to 'find yourself.' Hah!

Whenever I'm asked to do a guest post, I can get a little stumped. Obviously if you're reading my blog you know a little bit about me (I'm a quirky stay at home mom of two little boys, and an avid baker and crafter.) But you gals (any guys?) know absolutely nothing about me, and so I doubt you want to hear about my day to day life. So instead, I'm going to share an old post from my blog, because I think it gives you a pretty good idea of what kind of mother I am, and what I'm all about. Enjoy, and stop by my blog and say hello if you ever get a chance!

Yesterday I was watching Scooby Doo with Gage, when a commercial came on. I don't remember what the name of the toy was, but it was obviously directed for girls. They were these little animals that rolled up into balls, some of them even had baby animals with them. But they came with various playsets, from the salon to an ice cream parlor.

I want one of those! Gage exclaimed excitedly, and then paused. Wait....is that a girl toy?

Without hesitation I told him that it wasn't. That he could play with whatever he wanted to. And I wholeheartedly agree with that. So what if that commercial was geared towards a little girl? I see nothing wrong with a little boy playing with animals and their babies. Who says boys can only play with G.I. Joe dolls and construction vehicles? Isn't it a bit of a double standard anyway, when little girls can be everything from a girly girl to a tomboy?



Since the beginning, we've let Gage choose what he wanted to. From a small age he would always pick pink if you offered him something in a variety of colors. (It's still one of his favorite colors.) We've had tea parties, played dress up, and I've even painted his toenails (he asked.)






I see absolutely nothing wrong with any of this. Gage is definitely all boy, and a majority of the time would rather play something destructive and loud. I'm not trying to push feminism on him either. I just feel at this age he should be allowed to play with the things that make him happy. Society will force their standards on him soon enough.



A local grocery store was going out of business and let Gage pick a balloon. He chose this one. He didn't know what it said, but he wanted it because it was pink and sparkly.

On Owsley's wall there is a huge tree decal, with various colorful birds all over the place. Gage wanted one for his wall, so I let him choose. He picked a pink and red peacock, and a pink owl. They are currently displayed on his wall next to the road crew decals that he chose for himself.




We still have tea parties, only now they are a little more elaborate. And earlier this week, Gage was breastfeeding his gloworm. I didn't get a picture of it, but I made a mental one because it definitely made my heart melt. It was one of the sweetest things I have ever seen. I'm not making my son a "girly-boy," I'm raising my son to be more emotionally in tune to those around him. And I think that's a great thing.

~Deanna, Delirious Rhapsody

26 comments:

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