GirlyBoy

A Mother's Journey
Editor’s Pick
FEBRUARY 9, 2010 2:03AM

Much Ado about a Dress

One Friday a few weeks ago, Alex dressed himself in a pink striped sundress over his jeans and t-shirt. As he was slipping his feet into his shoes, I broached the topic carefully.

 

“Are you sure you want to wear that?”

 

“Yeah,” he replied dismissively.

 

“O… Read full post »

Editor’s Pick
FEBRUARY 4, 2010 1:09AM

Finding some balance in the gender spectrum

Gender fluidity is a phenominally cramazing ("crazy" and "amazing") thing. Every so often when I start to feel like I’ve got a handle on what it all means, it is only precisely then—and not a moment sooner—that “Alex” (aka GirlyBoy) reminds us of his color/… Read full post »

JANUARY 30, 2010 1:49AM

Gobsmacked by Gratitude

Have you ever been gobsmacked by gratitude? You know, one of those moments when the lightbulb appears over your head and some kind of smoke screen clears and you suddenly take stock of everything wonderful that exists in your life? The kind of realization that brings you to your unreligious knees,… Read full post »

JANUARY 18, 2010 10:31PM

Intolerance reaches a new low

In response to the latest in the case of the 4 year old who was suspended for having hair covering his ears (yes, this is in OUR country!)...

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/13/education/13hair.html?scp=1&sq=James%20C.%20McKinley%20Jr.%20A%20suburgan%20Dallas%20school&st=cse> Link to a… Read full post »

NOVEMBER 18, 2009 2:41PM

Doing Wrong by Trying to Do Right

I should have listened to my gut telling me to let it go. “It’s not important in the bigger picture,” it said. “What he wears on picture day should be a reflection of who he is today.” “But no”, my brain rationalized, “Remember that god-awful flower priRead full post »

NOVEMBER 6, 2009 6:24PM

Human Rights Abuses Against Transkids

The following video is absolutely heartwrenching and a dramatic account of what many parents of gender non-conforming and transgender children must deal with. 

Get your kleenex handy; you're gonna need it. If this doesn't pluck at your heart strings, you have none to pluck...

A

Read full post »
Editor’s Pick
OCTOBER 26, 2009 1:45AM

A boy named Sue. Or Jessie. Or Alex...

One of the fun aspects of any pregnancy is choosing what to name your child. The name you ultimately choose is most likely one that had bubbled to the top of a list of others that for one reason or another were eventually rejected. The name you finally arrive upon is… Read full post »

A few weeks ago, things came to a head in the sleep department. Only now that our life has somewhat stabilized have I found the time to write about how we finally resolved the cootie bed situation. There had been a “little” drama leading up to the pivotal moment that I… Read full post »

OCTOBER 18, 2009 10:28AM

An Activist in the Making

As I have mentioned in a few previous posts, GirlyBoy embodies all things musical. If he’s not sleeping or eating, he’s singing and dancing. It’s debatable that even when he’s semi-conscious, he’s got music on the mind and a song in his heart. And actually, come to thi… Read full post »

OCTOBER 7, 2009 3:10PM

Birth of a New Trajectory

In early August, GirlyBoy and I flew to Denver for a long weekend to meet up with some family who was celebrating a marriage and birth of a child. A week before this, GirlyBoy celebrated his sixth birthday and received a Nintendo DS game system, which I was soon to find… Read full post »

SEPTEMBER 30, 2009 2:16AM

Salvation through a Nose Hose

In our town, pediatricians are slim pickins. Choices here include the regional member-only HMO, take-a-number clinics, and a few practitioners committed to the field due to a higher, more noble, calling. Of those in the last category, only two or three were under age 60 when we were shopping… Read full post »

Editor’s Pick
SEPTEMBER 28, 2009 12:48AM

The Ballerina Within

When I learned I was pregnant with my first child, GirlyBoy, you could say I became a bit emotional and philisophical. About everything. Hormones made me find new meaning in the sun that shined and feeding the dog. Although I do not consider myself religious, I do believe in a higher… Read full post »

Ukraine should be ashamed of itself. The country has single-handedly stripped itself from any respect it may have ever deserved. By denying Sir Elton John and his partner the right to adopt an underprivileged boy who would otherwise be destined for a very hard life, Yuriy Pavlenko (Ukraine's Family,… Read full post »

Editor’s Pick
SEPTEMBER 21, 2009 1:23AM

No one said sleeping is easy

When I'm tired and my defenses are down, I forget how to deal with GirlyBoy's anxiety attacks. Take tonight, for instance. .. (No really. Take it. Please?)

What a weekend. Can't say it was the most relaxing one, but we did get a lot done. BoyBoy (who just turned 3)… Read full post »

SEPTEMBER 18, 2009 1:42PM

Phone Style!

Phone Style

 

One of GirlyBoy’s long-time obsessions has been cell phones. For as long as I can remember, he has stopped at nothing to open-close-open-close them, press the key pads and feel the resistance meet his fingertips, tuck them into his pocket, (repeat 42 times), and spend hours at… Read full post »

In a daring and heartfelt gesture and testament of true friendship, Barry Delaney of Dundee, Scotland wore the lime green sundress they each had promised the other to wear to the funeral if killed in the line of duty.

Barry Delaney at the late Private Larry Elliot's funeral

Source: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/fxmqJgqa9Dw/Funeral+Held+Late+PrivatRead full post »

SEPTEMBER 16, 2009 12:58PM

An Open Invitation for Further Reflection

When I began thinking about what to title my blog (and possibly the memoir for which I am collecting these thoughts), the first thing that came to mind was “GirlyBoy.” Mostly it was because it perfectly describes my six year old son. However, it could have also been in part for… Read full post »

At age of 3, GirlyBoy worshipped the Disney Princesses. His favorite was Cinderella (he said it was because she has blonde hair like his own), but really, he was starstuck by all of them. All the shimmering pink dresses, sparkly jewelry, long flowing hair… he adored it all. So much of… Read full post »

SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 1:13AM

The Color of Anxiety

The thing that landed us a referral to the child psychiatrist was not the feminine behavior, perse. It was an off-handed comment to the pediatrician that GirlyBoy had been washing his hands to the point of being cracked, dried, and even bleeding. His constant talk of germs and the… Read full post »

SEPTEMBER 8, 2009 9:38PM

Ode to the GirlyBoyPapas of the World

In my humble opinion, the one voice that has gone utterly unrecognized in The Community is that of the girlyboy fathers. I often wonder about these men: who are they and where are they at in terms of acceptance of their child’s path? Do they unconditionally accept their sons… Read full post »

Editor’s Pick
SEPTEMBER 2, 2009 1:54PM

Sure they have kids, but can the Duggars see rainbows?

WARNING: This post contains completely subjective and cynical, albeit justified, commentary. If you don’t like it, then you know what to do…

 

By now, the world knows that the Duggars are at it again. They’re on number 19. Nineteen children, “Praise the Lord.” Where/… Read full post »

SEPTEMBER 1, 2009 1:56AM

The Beautiful KRXQ Debacle

Shortly after May 28th this year,  someone from the parent support listserv I belong to brought it to our attention that the morning program on KRXQ radio had aired some sound bytes that not only glorified intolerant viewpoints, but actually went so far as to condone abuse. Abuse to children, sp/… Read full post »

AUGUST 30, 2009 7:52PM

You want me to do WHAT to my child?

I am certain there are people who question my parenting style and those who suspect I am not hard enough on my kids. I can assure you that I am no pushover. I, like most children, thrive on structure and consistency. I have often been accused of not seeing “the grey… Read full post »

Is my child gay? Straight-but-effeminate? Transgendered? Is he behaving in this way to please me? Am I somehow encouraging him to act this way, that is to say, am *I* to blame for the situation we find ourselves in today? Is all of his anxiety, aggression, and confusion somehow brought on… Read full post »

Editor’s Pick
AUGUST 28, 2009 1:28PM

If adults don't understand, how can we expect kids to?

I remember being a kid and suffering (like I'm sure everyone did at some point) cruel words spoken to me, and behind my back. By all accounts, I was a pretty "normal" kid. As I matured into a "normal" adult, I set my focus on establishing a "normal" job with a… Read full post »