My son does ballet on Fridays. That is not intended as a loaded statement. He loves music and dance and wanted to take lessons like his sister.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Watching him leap around with all the little girls in their pink tutus is the most joyful part of our week. I mention it because I was asked to write a letter for the newspaper for International Women’s Day, and I chose to write it to my son. I talked about his love of prams, dolls and tutus at this young age, about his desire to emulate his sister, and how I hoped that their relationship engenders in each other an understanding and empathy for the opposite sex.
The majority of feedback was lovely, but I was surprised by the layers people added to my words about gender politics. He is three. He loves dress-ups.
That is the extent of it. I turned to parenting guru, Maggie Dent for her advice on allowing our kids to be kids, even if adults want to read between the lines. We caught up while she was rushing to make a flight and I was rushing to get back on-air for Sunrise.
I hope our conversation is helpful to other parents trying to raise confident children who are not afraid to be themselves. Edwina I wrote an article on the weekend about my three-year-old son, who has just started doing ballet. He is just gorgeous.
It hit me that there is a sweet spot for kids, where they don’t care what other people think about them. I’m sure at some point, that switches, as it does for all of us..
