My son is five and he is infatuated with Dr. Seuss right now. I don't have any major problems with Dr. Seuss aside from the fact that some of his creatures freak me out. Like the Zizzer Zazzer Zuzz - that thing is creepy.
In the same book as that terrible creature, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, there is a page featuring this little critter with its billowing feathers:
I don't know if this sweet looking beast has a name, I can't remember, but as my son was tracing it from a photocopy and then painstakingly coloring it with his fancy gel pens, he kept repeating "All girls who like to brush and comb should have a pet like this at home." And there is it - a teachable moment!
This line has always bothered me, but whatever, it was the 60's or something, maybe the 50's, I can't be bothered to look, but girls did all the brushing and combing back then. That's just the way it was.
So the other day, as I was admiring his work and he was repeating the line again, I casually said, "you know, I don't really agree with that - it should say 'all kids who like to brush and comb,' don't you think? Because boys might like a pet like this, too!"
He agreed with me but we didn't really talk about it further, then the next day, after he must have mulled it over a little, he said "Yeah, I think you're right, but it should really say 'all people," because adults might like to brush this pet, too!"
Victory! My 5yo out feministed me! He out intersectioned me! He's on his way to being a thoughtful man and I could not be prouder of his thought process.
My husband and I worried briefly a few weeks ago when he said a pink plastic spoon was for girls, but when we explained to him how that kind of thinking just restricted people too much, he must have taken it to heart. Now he has decided he wants to paint one of the nine drawers on his new dresser pink, so he must be evolving in that large head of his.
It's a pleasure to watch.
How have your kids amazed you lately?
