my DD1 is almost 4 (in June) and for about the last 6 months has been going on and on about wanting to be a boy. Just wondered whether anyone has had a similar experience or has any advice?
She has never been a very girly girl, possibly to do with the fact that we never really dressed her in pink or frilly stuff and never did the whole princess thing with her. Neither me or DH are big into "gender stereotyping" (no disrespect to anyone who put their little girls in pink btw) and we figured if she wanted to do the pink and princess thing she'd come to it in her own time and that'd be fine. Well, she hasn't. In fact the opposite (that'll teach us ). At least three or four times a week she will ask me something (unprompted) like, when will she be a boy? will she be a boy when she grows up? why can't she be a brother to DD2 instead of a sister? etc etc. I always try to answer positively (well, as positively as you can when saying "you'll never be a boy honey") but I don't know if I'm doing the right thing or if I should be taking a different tack.
Her absolute best friend (lifelong) is a boy, and she does seem to be very drawn to playing with boys (although she gets on with pretty much any child really). She loves trainsets, cars etc, but also likes her dollshouse, soft toys etc. Neither to the exclusion of the other. I've talked to her about whether she thinks she might like boys better/think they are better (which is what she tells me) because she hangs out with them more (most of my friends kids are male) and suggested that I arrange some playdates with girls and she thinks that would be fine too..
I don't want to make this a big issue with her at all, as far as I am concerned she is who she is and will be who she will be, but I just want to help her feel happy in herself and happy to be a girl. I suppose I am worried about self-esteem issues down the road if this stays an issue for her.
Anyway, sorry for the rambling. Anyone else had anything similar, anyone read any good books dealing with this kind of thing ?
Thanks
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almost 4yo dd really (REALLY) wants to be a boy - experience? advice?
motherpeculiar · 30/04/2006 21:32
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