Boys and Dolls
May 30, 2008 by Tracee Sioux
Filed under Parenting
The View Hot Topic: “Would you let your boy play with dolls?”
“No way,” Sherry Shepherd said Wednesday. “I’d take a doll away! I don’t want my boy playing with dolls, I want him growing up like a man.”
Elizabeth chimes in that she would “take the baby doll away and replace it with a GI Joe.”
It’s an attitude that defies logic.
When boys play with baby dolls they are emulating the caring and nurturing behavior they see in their Daddies. Lucky kids get caring and nurturing from their Daddies. Thank goodness mine do.
To forbid baby dolls is the same as calling caring, nurturing and compassionate feelings and behavior “girly,” “feminine” or “gay.”
We all want Daddies and Husbands to show us – and our children – caring, compassion, empathy and nurturing.
How many wives are hurt when husbands don’t come through with behaviors that exhibit these emotions? But, we defeat future wives and children by banning the learning activities that teach such feelings and behavior to little boys?
That’s not fair to men and it backfires on women.
If you want a boy to grow up to be a kind Husband and Father give him a baby doll and condition him to feel and act compassionately and empathetically toward that doll. Teach him how to cook and do laundry. Put a play kitchen in his room. Encourage the playing of “Mommy and Daddy” or “House”.
When he grows up he won’t be gay.
He’ll be a loving Daddy and make some woman a strong and emotionally available Husband.
Image: “Zack – Future Husband and Father of the Year” courtesy Empowering Girls: So Sioux Me
I couldn’t agree with you more!
… and that photo is adorable!
Our youngest boy has taken up with a stuffed bunny.. I’ll say “Are you his daddy?!” and he’ll nod really proud. There’s nothing wrong with it. My husband gives it the unsure sideways squint every now and then, but I think it’s adorable and a good display of his loving and affectionate nature. And you’re right – if there’s a good Daddy in the picture they are more than likely mimicking their Daddy..
I totally agree but wish my mother had thought like that (I have two brothers) and wish some of my female friends would realise that as well.
Even amongst my own generation I find some women who only want their boys to play with cars, trucks, GI Joes, toy guns and other aggressive things.
Wish there were more thinkers like you!
If all mothers of previous generations thought like this than our dating and marriage experiences would likely have been far more pleasant. Don’t you think?
AMEN!
My son’s mother put no effort whatsoever into shaping his emotional side, nor his conscience. He’s had to learn some moral lessons on his own..(thankfully before me).. She was of the mind that boys will be boys and never even weighed in on his relationship issues.
As I look at my boys I wonder “WTF?!” how can I view my son as an empty pile of muscles? How can I completely neglect his spirit?
My 3-year old grandson loves barbies and wearing his sister’s shirts. I am starting to get worried — he always leans toward girls things. Any implication that early???
Mimi, No need to be worried. He is who he is. Just because he loves dolls, doesn’t make him gay. But, even if he was, why do people think being gay is such a sin? We need to be accepting of gay people, too.
Wow, I just realized I wrote “my son’s mother” above.
That should have been “My husband’s mother put no effort whatsoever into shaping his emotional side, nor his conscience.”