"Yo mama likes cool things" and other taunts my boys will hear daily as they grow into their gender-role-confused adulthood.

Yesterday was the love of Mike’s life’s birthday party, so we went to get her a gift. As we were driving to Target, I suggested we get her Hullabaloo. Good choice, right?

Apparently not. And here I quote Mike. “NO, Mommy. Girls like beautiful things. Boys like cool things.”

Hmmm.

After clarification, I learned that “beautiful” pretty much equates to “princess,” so we made our first trip down the pink aisle. Mike chose some light-up Barbie mules complete with a light-up Barbie mirror-cum-magic wand.

The birthday girl’s mom was nice enough to invite Robbie too, so the three of us headed off to Chuck E Cheese. Never having been there before the guys were very excited. They had a blast, although Robbie was disturbed that the mouse didn’t talk. And for a while I thought I was going to have to climb into the Habitrail to get them out of this car.

On the drive home we were talking about how fun the party was, and wondering if the birthday girl was going to like her gift.

Then I had a thought.

I said, “Mike, you know what? I’m a girl. A grown-up girl. Do I like beautiful things?” He said yes. “Do I like cool things?” He very definitively said no.

Wow.

I told him that I love cool things. And that I think princesses are OK, but they’re not my favorite. That completely blew his mind, and he sat quietly in the back seat for a while processing that.

So yeah, I had a pretty good weekend ;)

Posted

February 26, 2007

From PlainJaneMom.com

Erika Jurney

Tags:

gender-roles

Comments

6 responses to “"Yo mama likes cool things" and other taunts my boys will hear daily as they grow into their gender-role-confused adulthood.”

Oh, The Joys

February 26, 2007

Princess not your favorite?! What? I am stunned.

Reply
Robin

February 26, 2007

Hee. ‘Habitrail.’

I worked at a Showbiz Pizza (same chain, but with bears instead of mice) one summer in college. Dressing up as Billy Bob was my favorite part.

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Patty

February 26, 2007

We totally love Hullabaloo. Pleases not just the 8-year-old daughter and the 4-year-old son but also the 10-year-old son, although I suppose he’d not like me pointing that out to too many folks. Also, start the chant with the boys, “Girls go to college, get more knowledge. Boys go to Jupiter, get more stupider.” Then they’ll know who’s cool.

Reply
MamaLee

February 26, 2007

I think we have the same kid…lol

Reply
Heather

February 26, 2007

We love Hullabaloo too. It is still hard to convince my daughter that it would be an appropriate present–better than Bratz, Princess or Barbie. Congrats on living through CEC, my last trip there was a nightmare, my husband took that duty this weekend.

Reply
Mom on Coffee

February 26, 2007

If it weren’t for Hullabaloo I would never be able to get on the computer. I love the things the kids come up with to “get” the difference between boys and girls. Its all priceless.

Reply