I've grown tired of the looks, subtle and not so subtle. We don't need the comments, because my daughter should be able to play the way she wants. You see there are people who for some reason feel my daughter needs to play a certain way because she is a girl. This isn't the first time this has happened in my family. There were people who questioned my mother's methods because when I was young I wasn't interested in sports, which clearly meant my masculinity was in jeopardy. (Cue the eye roll.) That eventually changed, but it didn't and hasn't stopped people from questioning things that aren't their business.
For me, when it comes to my child what has been most important is not the adorable pop culture references or the general cuteness. It's how thoughtful and concerned she's become. She's a true advocate for the people in her life. She reminds me to take my allergy meds. She asks what we do at work or how an event we attended was. She is her own person and her identity does not need to be influenced by judgmental strangers. So this is a reminder that my daughter is doing just fine. It's a reminder that children should be allowed to develop their own identity. It's a reminder that some of us are pretty good parents. Don't believe me? Take a look.
1) She likes Cinderella. If my daughter wants to pretend to be a princess, she can. Besides, her Cinderella looks like Keke Palmer and usually saves the day.
2) She's flexible, literally and figuratively.
3) She's a good listener.
Thanks to our friends at Mic.com for this picture.
4) She's a superhero. Not only does she have her own superhero persona, she actually has it in print. And her own hashtag. #strongerthangalactus
5) She believes that everybody is equal. "Isn't that great?"
6) She likes sports. Hoops, soccer, even tennis, she has played a multitude of sports and enjoys running and being active.
7) She is stylish. Or maybe she has her own sense of style. Let's go with that instead.
8) She is adventurous and fearless, but knows her limitations.
9) She's not a sheep, even though she might have dressed like one. My daughter is very much her own person. And she doesn't impose her will on others.
10) She loves music. Her taste ranges from Laurie Berkner to Stevie Wonder to The Police to Michael Jackson to Taylor Swift.
11) She's funny and likes making me laugh.
12) She's happy. And that is most important. So, don't question what she plays or how she plays because it doesn't fit your antiquated stereotype. Let her be who she wants to be. And who she wants to be is awesome by my standards. Hopefully, this means she won't be afraid to fill big shoes. Knowing her, she'll just fill her own.
