My little feminist male child

"We've begun to raise daughters more like sons... but few have the courage to raise our sons more like our daughters." ~Gloria Steineem

Wow, what a powerful statement.

My son has moved on from his dance classes into Taekwondo. He's the only one in his class that actually hugs the other kids. I noticed this with the kids of his own age, but didn't think twice about it until recently. He went to hug a (much older) kid, and the boy looked at me awkwardly. I told the boy "he likes to hug" and the boy just shrugged his shoulders, and I asked my son to give him some space (appropriately b/c the same boy was practicing his kicks and bopped him in the head).

I also realized that my child is the only child who runs to me (his parent) and gives warm hugs and kisses to after each lesson.

I am so proud. I've raised a hugger.

Happily, I've had some time to spend with my son one on one. I've learned some of his favorite things are to help me cook in the kitchen (cheddar popcorn is his specialty), going on the deck to look through his telescope, and to trace letters in either is Care Bears or Spiderman Activity books. He will help me clean his room and do laundry without batting an eye.

He will hug and tell amazing stories, and is quick to comfort his little sister (and other kids) when they are sad. I watch him play with both the girls and the boys in the class without bias. He likes when I include him in painting his nails blue (when I paint his sister and my nails blue).

Yesterday, I took the kids shopping. His over-stimulated little sister was having a fit because she wanted cookies on the shelf. He went and got them for her (so naturally) and said "there, now you don't have to cry".

I feel that I'm raising a strong and caring boy. He's going to be an amazing dad. So far, he's not polluted by the stigma that he can only be a boy, and that girls are icky or 2nd class.

I'm proud of the little feminist male I'm raising.