I watched children in my neighborhood follow their mom or dad into the nearby Halloween Spirit store after school yesterday. I smiled, because I know how kids love the fantasy and imaginative play of Halloween. But then memories of my worst Halloween mistakes as a mom flooded in.
BIG HALLOWEEN MISTAKE #1
I excitedly explained to two-tear-old Harry all that would happen at our annual Halloween block party in Milwaukee: trick-or-treating at night, a piñata, fireworks, and everyone dressed in costumes. I told him that he could be anyone he wanted. As you’ll read in my first big Halloween mistake, I surreptitiously re-directed him from Wendy to Peter. Harry, now 27, reminded me decades later of the irony in that decision.
I worried about what others might think of his dad and me for letting our boy be a girl.
BIG HALLOWEEN MISTAKE #2
Then when Harry was four, skipping the year he wanted to be a skeleton, I made my second biggest Halloween mistake. That mistake used to haunt me more than the first, because Harry remembers that one.
On both occasions my gender nonconforming Harry wanted to go trick-or-treating as a girl. But I didn’t let him. I cared more about protecting him from teasing. And I worried about what others might think of his dad and me for letting our boy be a girl. See the pattern: I, I, I and me.
I’m going to cut myself some slack now. At least that’s what my closest girlfriends tell me to do whenever I bring up the errors of my early Halloween ways. I knew Harry liked Barbie dolls and other so-called “girl toys.” He had, after all, told me at age two, “Inside my head I’m a girl.” What I didn’t know were the terms gender nonconforming, gender creative, gender expansive, gender diverse, gender fluid or transgender. Those words didn’t exist in the early ’90s. And I had no idea what gender identity meant either. In fact I’d never heard of it.
WHAT GENDER CREATIVE KIDS NEED
Even though I have forgiven myself those two big Halloween mistakes, I still wish I’d been secure enough to let Harry be a two-year-old Wendy or the Pink Power Ranger at age four. How fun it would be to share those photos here today and inspire other worried parents of gender expansive kids. But I didn’t know then what I know now:
- Children’s gender identity and expression develop over time, and they may or may not match society’s established gender stereotypes.
- Kids need freedom of expression to discover themselves.
- There is no such thing as “girl” or “boy” clothes, toys, colors or costumes.
- A happy child’s likes or dislikes are not about you.
- Let your child be. Especially at Halloween.
If Harry were a pre-schooler this Halloween, he could be Wendy, Moana, Wonder Woman or anyone else he wanted to be. I just wouldn’t care, and neither would his dad. We’d tell him there might be people who will think he’s wearing a “girl costume,” but that there is no such thing as “girl costumes” or “boy costumes,” just as there aren’t differences between any other clothes. And if someone asked me, “What’s up with Harry’s costume?” I’d reply, “Isn’t it great? He’s so happy.”
There are many parents who celebrate their children as perfect just they way they are. But gender stereotyping is alive and well in this world. Let’s all question our assumptions everyday. Resolve to allow kids to be kids. Try not to make the same big Halloween mistakes I made.
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“The first Halloween my boy wanted to be a girl.”
Times, and thinking, are changing for the better! Keep up the good work mom!!
Thank you, Patti. I’m so focused on those changes and the belief that it gets better! Julie xo
Harry doesn’t seemed as affected as you might feel? This past weekend, I LOVED every outfit he wore. They were colorful, mixed and awesome just like they are! They’re strong because of the great parenting they had. OX
Hi Kat! I”m so glad you and Harry got to spend some time together. The kid does know how to turn a look! Thanks for the parenting compliments for Ken and me. Harry’s confidence, resilience and self-love are qualities his parents aspire to, also. I hope all children can live as open and free as Harry. Hugs, Julie xo
Dearest Juliska,
It is tough to rid people of preconceived notions and stereotypes especially when it comes to their children. I agree that the thinking is changing and needs to keep changing but we all need to clear our minds and start self acceptance and then acceptance of other ways, thinking, behavior and on and on.
Imagine a world without all this clutter, where all are free to be what they want and to express themselves their own way!
Many thanks for your wise words, Rickshala. I’m with you and so many other on imagining the world as we want it to be. Much love, J xo