Anonymous
07/18/2012 15:15
Subject: DS keeps calling our female neighbor a man
I don't think it's necessarily related at all to assuming a couple is a boy and a girl. I attended a summer camp when I was 4-5 and to this day, my only memory is spending the whole 2 weeks wondering if one of the teachers was a man or a woman. I'm about 80% sure it was a woman, looking back, but who knows.
Anonymous
07/18/2012 15:07
Subject: DS keeps calling our female neighbor a man
I assume your neighbor is really butch?
Anonymous
07/18/2012 15:03
Subject: DS keeps calling our female neighbor a man
OP, I would ignore it for a few months at this point. Let Mary know abou this confusion so she's not hurt if she overhears it. Let her know that you've tried to correct him but he doesn't seem to get it. I am sure in time he will come to understand. Right now it sounds like he comprehends a couple to be a boy and a girl. Whatever he chooses to think Mary is doens't change who she really is - a friend.
Anonymous
07/18/2012 14:58
Subject: DS keeps calling our female neighbor a man
Anonymous wrote:It's the age. They are categorizing everything and trying to make sense of their ever growing world. My DD does this with everything, every physical characteristic. She even puts value on these characteristics. And it is no shock that "better" things are more like her (red hair, curly hair, brown eyes, etc.) It is mortifying!
I have checked out books in the library (and bought a few too) with photos of real children and people who have a wide range of physical appearances. We read these books and talk about it in a casual way.
You seem like a sensitive person and I am sure you are raising a sensitive child. We did it to our parents too! My sister once asked my father when we were in line at the grocery store "Why does that lady have a mustache, Daddy?"
My earliest memory -- being at the Hot Shoppes as my brother interrogated the waitress about her mustache.
Anonymous
07/18/2012 14:25
Subject: DS keeps calling our female neighbor a man
It's the age. They are categorizing everything and trying to make sense of their ever growing world. My DD does this with everything, every physical characteristic. She even puts value on these characteristics. And it is no shock that "better" things are more like her (red hair, curly hair, brown eyes, etc.) It is mortifying!
I have checked out books in the library (and bought a few too) with photos of real children and people who have a wide range of physical appearances. We read these books and talk about it in a casual way.
You seem like a sensitive person and I am sure you are raising a sensitive child. We did it to our parents too! My sister once asked my father when we were in line at the grocery store "Why does that lady have a mustache, Daddy?"
I have checked out books in the library (and bought a few too) with photos of real children and people who have a wide range of physical appearances. We read these books and talk about it in a casual way.
You seem like a sensitive person and I am sure you are raising a sensitive child. We did it to our parents too! My sister once asked my father when we were in line at the grocery store "Why does that lady have a mustache, Daddy?"
Anonymous
07/18/2012 14:09
Subject: Re:DS keeps calling our female neighbor a man
You're doing just fine OP.
Anonymous
07/18/2012 14:09
Subject: DS keeps calling our female neighbor a man
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My grandfather did this to my brothers girlfriend for years-it happens.
LOL you're kidding, right? That's almost as funny as the sheep comment . . .!!!!!
No, it was awful! He called her "son" all the time! How you doin son? Here you go son! Sit here son!
It did make the evenings more entertaining though. She had very short hair, but she was very pretty and very feminine so she had the confidence to just ignore it I guess
OMG!!!!!!!! LOL!!!! That's hilarious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anonymous
07/18/2012 14:06
Subject: DS keeps calling our female neighbor a man
I had short hair for years and I think once a month small kids would ask if I was a boy
Anonymous
07/18/2012 14:05
Subject: DS keeps calling our female neighbor a man
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My grandfather did this to my brothers girlfriend for years-it happens.
LOL you're kidding, right? That's almost as funny as the sheep comment . . .!!!!!
No, it was awful! He called her "son" all the time! How you doin son? Here you go son! Sit here son!
It did make the evenings more entertaining though. She had very short hair, but she was very pretty and very feminine so she had the confidence to just ignore it I guess
Anonymous
07/18/2012 14:01
Subject: Re:DS keeps calling our female neighbor a man
Little kids have rigid categories for the universe based on their own limited life experience. I agree with the poster who said he may believe that in a marriage there has to be a boy and a girl. This is not anti-gay -- it's just his life experience so far. You may want to explain that two girls can be married.
Anonymous
07/18/2012 13:20
Subject: DS keeps calling our female neighbor a man
Does he know or has her heard of anyone else named Mary?
While there are certainly plenty of unisex names out there, maybe his only or most memorable association with the name is this woman who he thinks looks masculine. Maybe try reading some picture books with females named Mary and it'd help his name association? The only examples I can think of off hand would be nursery rhymes or christmas stories or little house on the prairie, but I'm sure there plenty.
While there are certainly plenty of unisex names out there, maybe his only or most memorable association with the name is this woman who he thinks looks masculine. Maybe try reading some picture books with females named Mary and it'd help his name association? The only examples I can think of off hand would be nursery rhymes or christmas stories or little house on the prairie, but I'm sure there plenty.
Anonymous
07/18/2012 13:20
Subject: DS keeps calling our female neighbor a man
I insisted Boy George was a girl when I was 5. It took time, but I later realized he is a man.
Anonymous
07/18/2012 13:19
Subject: DS keeps calling our female neighbor a man
Funny. My DS has long hair (we live in california) and he is constantly being referred to as a girl. whatever....
Anonymous
07/18/2012 13:06
Subject: DS keeps calling our female neighbor a man
Anonymous wrote:My grandfather did this to my brothers girlfriend for years-it happens.
LOL you're kidding, right? That's almost as funny as the sheep comment . . .!!!!!
Anonymous
07/18/2012 13:03
Subject: DS keeps calling our female neighbor a man
My grandfather did this to my brothers girlfriend for years-it happens.