tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370295175195992061.post8509664229887907595..comments2011-12-05T22:30:58.338-05:00Comments on a muse: Beautifully DifferentMusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11606177648907921481noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370295175195992061.post-21942253763253097902010-12-09T01:23:38.962-05:002010-12-09T01:23:38.962-05:00Oh this child is so lucky to have you as a teacher...Oh this child is so lucky to have you as a teacher, you speak of gender, polarization, the binary in simple beautiful ways, such complex issues that you tackle like poetry. Every time I read your words I am more & more in awe. Thank you.building bridges seeking zenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11058452296073814033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370295175195992061.post-37219514777718352132010-12-08T21:58:10.744-05:002010-12-08T21:58:10.744-05:00I think the lines have begun to blur a little, but...I think the lines have begun to blur a little, but it will still take time to erase them. and i don't think there is a right answer. but i think we should all be tolerant, always, of our differences. it is sad that a child has drawn those lines already, which game to pick based on gender...<br />this was a thoughtful, provocative (in a good way) post.mrs mediocrityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01021079985184737831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370295175195992061.post-89876352829251335392010-12-08T21:23:36.106-05:002010-12-08T21:23:36.106-05:00I have to respectfully disagree with the above com...I have to respectfully disagree with the above commenters. Children shouldn't conform. The social norms you're wishing weren't there will never change if you don't push them. Have you read <a href="http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/portrait_of_an_adoption/2010/11/anti-bullying-starts-in-first-grade.html" rel="nofollow">this story</a> about Katie and the Star Wars water bottle? Practically the whole internet came out in support of her to tell her it was okay to use a "boy" water bottle. That is a beautiful and powerful message - and the right one, I believe.gnomesquehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18017416878726510107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370295175195992061.post-88285885736871076312010-12-08T20:50:07.426-05:002010-12-08T20:50:07.426-05:00it's me. back again to tell you that i LOVE th...it's me. back again to tell you that i LOVE that link you included. it's the alleged christians that are the worst. the absolute worst. (can you tell i went through something similar with my son?!)jeanne hewell-chambershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04968723702291208185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370295175195992061.post-55002217908814154512010-12-08T20:46:42.098-05:002010-12-08T20:46:42.098-05:00that's my girl. you wear your differences, liv...that's my girl. you wear your differences, live your differences, embrace and own your differences and in doing that, you will teach by example.jeanne hewell-chambershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04968723702291208185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370295175195992061.post-23805420818558044492010-12-08T19:02:11.827-05:002010-12-08T19:02:11.827-05:00Christina has an excellent point, but I wish it we...Christina has an excellent point, but I wish it weren't so. I wish we could all be accepted just as we are without the pressure to change and adapt to societal norms. <br /><br />But I also wish I had the ability to fly. <br /><br />But it still makes me sad. On both points actually.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12810726603953104042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370295175195992061.post-42124577991405062482010-12-08T16:00:31.573-05:002010-12-08T16:00:31.573-05:00I agree, to a point. We should celebrate our diff...I agree, to a point. We should celebrate our differences and enjoy them fully. However, there are times when our children need to also learn to conform to some social norms else they won't know how to function in some social settings. It's like navigating between two cultures and being comfortable with the fluency between them. For example, it is easy for me to tell my son who -- when he was four liked to paint his toenails -- that it's okay for him to be different and that he should ignore what kids tell him. But words still hurt. He has to learn to conform, a little. So he can paint his toenails, but he keep his socks on and smile, knowing that can't hurt his feelings. It's a balancing act. As adults, we can mentally flip off the world. Our children can't.Streetlights94https://www.blogger.com/profile/17357314247794183522noreply@blogger.com