In the world of parenting, one of the toughest challenges is navigating the unsolicited opinions of strangers. It becomes even more infuriating when those individuals target your child. This was the situation that prompted mom Lisa Thompson to share a powerful Facebook post, going viral as she stood up to a stranger who criticized her son’s choice to dress as a princess.
Lisa and her three-year-old son, Michael, were waiting at the bus stop when an unknown woman rudely interrupted them to comment on Michael’s outfit. An avid fan of princesses, Michael was proudly wearing a stunning dress from the movie Frozen, complete with a flowing cape. Apparently, this woman had a problem with a little boy expressing himself through his clothing choices.
“I’m NOT sorry you didn’t like what he was wearing or our chat about our favorite Disney Princess (which is clearly Ariel!),” Lisa declared in her post. “Michael has the right to be whoever he wants to be. Today, he chose to be a Disney princess, and YES, I sent him to school like that. Why? Because that’s what he wanted to wear!”
Lisa noted that Michael was ecstatic to showcase his outfit to his friends and teachers, and he planned to perform “Let It Go” during show and tell. Most importantly, he wore the dress simply because “he’s amazing,” and he sees no problem with embracing what he loves.
She shared, “He doesn’t grasp the gender stereotypes YOU think he should follow. He enjoys playing with cars and dolls, pirates and princesses. He rides his scooter and pushes his toy pram. If he wants to wear a dress, so be it!! [sic]”
For Lisa and many other parents, including myself, it’s essential to let children explore their own interests and styles. We are progressively moving away from rigid gender roles, and it’s completely acceptable if a daughter wants to be Batman or a son wishes to be Ariel. As the thousands of shares on her post demonstrate, kids will enjoy what they enjoy, and that’s perfectly fine.
What’s never acceptable is shaming children for their interests or how they express themselves. While it’s okay to have differing parenting opinions, kids don’t need judgment or rude comments from adults. After all, who thinks it’s harmful for a boy to wear a dress but finds it acceptable to publicly shame him for it?
As Lisa pointedly stated, “Next time you see us, whether dressed as a princess or a cowboy, please keep your disapproving looks to yourself. If you can’t say something nice about his outfit, perhaps it’s you who should be embarrassed, not us!! [sic]”
We couldn’t agree more.
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Summary
This article highlights a mother’s viral Facebook post defending her son, who was shamed by a stranger for dressing as a princess. The post advocates for children’s freedom to express themselves without judgment, emphasizing the importance of allowing kids to explore their interests regardless of societal gender norms.
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