bluegreyeyes
December 30th, 2019, 10:49 AM
So I tried to lowkey sway blue with our first born, we didn't find out sex until the birth... we were blessed with a perfect & healthy baby girl on 12/8. We’re thrilled with our little lady, and I can tell there is already a special bond there :)
Here’s my thing and someone tell me if I’m crazy:
I absolutely detest all the girl stuff - I hate the floral and polka dot and pink girl clothes that we’ve been bombarded with, I hate the creepy dolls that people have been gifting us, all the unicorn stuff, I hate the ridiculous tutus and crazy big bow headbands. Don’t get me wrong, I’m *grateful* for all of it, and we are so incredibly lucky to have people around us that would send gifts to our daughter, but I don’t particularly care for any of it, does that make sense?
I totally understand that I’m the odd one in this situation. And that's the thing, I don't know if it's messed up that I'm allowing my own personal preference to sway how I raise my daughter.
I was a tomboy with 3 older brothers. I never had Barbies, American Dolls...or ANY dolls...no My Little Ponies, nothing. I didn’t have princess dress up clothes, I didn’t watch any Disney princess movies. I played sports, rode my bike, climbed trees, made mud pies, and played games in my neighborhood. To this day, the only TV channel I watch is ESPN, I am in Fantasy Football leagues, I go to the gym religiously…. I wear a lot of black and tend to be a little more neutral in my color palette...I’m just not your overly feminine Lily Pulitzer/Kate Spade kinda gal.
So my question is - is it OK to keep our girl lowkey feminine? I’m not putting her in boy clothes or anything but I’m dressing her in mostly her gender neutral grey/white outfits we got before she was born or solid light pinks or mint greens or yellows b/c I am not feeling the overly girlie stuff. I’m keeping the dolls but I'll wait for her to ask for them before introducing. I think part of me wants her personality to develop organically and let her choose her own path. If she wants to be a pretty princess and wear all the pink and play with dolls and unicorns and whatnot, great!, we’ll support that, as long as it’s HER decision. I just don't want others to set those expectations.
I don’t think it helps that my step mother in law quizzed me on whether I’ve considered being a Stay At Home Mom (I like my career and paid a lot of money for my education so no, I will not be staying home), and randomly bought me an oven roaster for Christmas. Though I’ve never shown interest in roasting anything. Ever. She bought our 3 week old daughter 2 different baby dolls for Christmas. So I think there’s a personal element of “stop forcing gender roles on us” to this as well.
Anyone else struggle with navigating raising a girl and how to navigate the gender norms?
Here’s my thing and someone tell me if I’m crazy:
I absolutely detest all the girl stuff - I hate the floral and polka dot and pink girl clothes that we’ve been bombarded with, I hate the creepy dolls that people have been gifting us, all the unicorn stuff, I hate the ridiculous tutus and crazy big bow headbands. Don’t get me wrong, I’m *grateful* for all of it, and we are so incredibly lucky to have people around us that would send gifts to our daughter, but I don’t particularly care for any of it, does that make sense?
I totally understand that I’m the odd one in this situation. And that's the thing, I don't know if it's messed up that I'm allowing my own personal preference to sway how I raise my daughter.
I was a tomboy with 3 older brothers. I never had Barbies, American Dolls...or ANY dolls...no My Little Ponies, nothing. I didn’t have princess dress up clothes, I didn’t watch any Disney princess movies. I played sports, rode my bike, climbed trees, made mud pies, and played games in my neighborhood. To this day, the only TV channel I watch is ESPN, I am in Fantasy Football leagues, I go to the gym religiously…. I wear a lot of black and tend to be a little more neutral in my color palette...I’m just not your overly feminine Lily Pulitzer/Kate Spade kinda gal.
So my question is - is it OK to keep our girl lowkey feminine? I’m not putting her in boy clothes or anything but I’m dressing her in mostly her gender neutral grey/white outfits we got before she was born or solid light pinks or mint greens or yellows b/c I am not feeling the overly girlie stuff. I’m keeping the dolls but I'll wait for her to ask for them before introducing. I think part of me wants her personality to develop organically and let her choose her own path. If she wants to be a pretty princess and wear all the pink and play with dolls and unicorns and whatnot, great!, we’ll support that, as long as it’s HER decision. I just don't want others to set those expectations.
I don’t think it helps that my step mother in law quizzed me on whether I’ve considered being a Stay At Home Mom (I like my career and paid a lot of money for my education so no, I will not be staying home), and randomly bought me an oven roaster for Christmas. Though I’ve never shown interest in roasting anything. Ever. She bought our 3 week old daughter 2 different baby dolls for Christmas. So I think there’s a personal element of “stop forcing gender roles on us” to this as well.
Anyone else struggle with navigating raising a girl and how to navigate the gender norms?