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What are you having? - SOLC Day 19


When I was pregnant, there were only two questions:
  • "How are you feeling?" (weird emphasis on the word "feeling")
  • "What are you having?"
To which I would respond:
  • "I can't sleep, I have to pee every 5 minutes, and brushing my teeth makes me barf."
  • "Hopefully it's a human."
In these times of genetic testing and gender reveal parties, I got some funny looks. 

"You have to tell me so I can buy the right clothes!!!"
"People won't be able to get you shower gifts!"
"I hope it's a girl!" (COME ON. That's a weird thing to tell a pregnant stranger while you're waiting in line for a public restroom.)

I protected my little Poppyseed from the wave of over-the-top gendered crap for as long as I could. But once she was born, word got out. And then it happened.

The wave of PINK SHIT. All pink everything. And dresses. Do people realize that dresses make it very difficult for babies to crawl??? Poppy did not like that shit. 

A few of our friends continued to respect our desire for keeping gender out of our child's wardrobe and toy box. But most didn't. And definitely no respect from family (LOL, as if they would listen!!!) 

But Wes and I have made a commitment to try to be aware of and reduce/eliminate gendered parenting. So if Poppy wants to be like Dada and shave her peachy little face, have at it, girl!




Comments

  1. patricia emersonMarch 19, 2020 at 6:35 AM

    LOVE THIS, the tone, the resistance. Lucky Poppy. (And if she decides to shave her legs ?, she'll get to play with more shaving cream?!)

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMarch 19, 2020 at 9:33 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousMarch 19, 2020 at 9:34 AM

    I just finished reading Ibram Kendi's book, _How to be an Anti-Racist_, and your message here typifies one piece of the resistance about which he writes.

    ReplyDelete

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