This is going to be a pretty short post because it is primarily an anecdote about something my son has started doing. At almost two years of age, he has already developed a strong interest in his surroundings and has been exploring every aspect of it. That includes the shoe rack I have in my office at home which contains most of my high-heel shoe collection (see the photo of it below).
At one time or another, he has pulled out every shoe on it and tried to put his foot in it. Since I wear a size 13 US (46 EU), not only will his entire foot fit in it, but also most of his leg. However, for some reason, he has taken a particular liking to a black pair of heeled boots I have from Anna Field (see the photo of them both below and above).
He pulls these off the rack daily and carries them around with him. I haven’t been able to figure out why since I don’t wear them and more or less than any of the others, but I do find it amusing. I suppose he is already developing preferences and his taste in fashion. Occasionally, he gets frustrated when trying to put them on because he can’t get up when his legs are entirely buried inside them. I find it amusing.
However, in lieu of him not being able to wear them himself, he thoroughly insists that I wear them more frequently than I otherwise would. That comes in the form of bringing them to me, dropping them at my feet and saying “put on”. If I refuse, he gets upset. Once I do put them on though, he will get upset if I take them off which means my wife has started asking me if I am trapped in my boots again if she sees me wearing them.
While it’s become a running gag between us that I am trapped in my boots again, there is a certain truth to it in that there are consequences if I take them off: a crying child. I don’t wear them for long if I really don’t want to, but usually, I don’t mind humoring him at least a little bit.
All in all, I find the situation rather amusing, but there is also something important that deserves to be pointed out. My son’s behavior shows the innocence of such a young child and the fact that he hasn’t yet been socialized to believe men wear certain clothes while women wear others. There is nothing “natural” about men wearing bifurcated bottoms and flat shoes while women get to wear skirts, dresses and heels. It’s entirely learned and is something that can absolutely be changed.
Such a nice report!
Kids don’t start wars, have no prejudices, and are the epitome of what humans should be…
You, my friend, is definitely raising an excellent human being!
On behalf of your son (and humanity), I thank you profusely. He will be a better person than most, just for learning acceptance.
I agree! Kids are also just authentically themselves without worrying about what others think at all. It’s really refreshing and inspiring to see.
That is really nice of you to say. I appreciate it!
When I was a wee lad, it was my mom’s high heels that I gravitated toward, and never once did I want to put on my dad’s shoes. I just never found what my dad wore appealing where as what my mom wore were just my jam. I have never wanted to be a girl though, (If I ever did, it was so I could dress and look how I liked). I had all the “normal” interests that boys had (well aside from sports). You story here does illustrate something, and I am hoping this sort of thing is happening in a majority of families, and that is parents letting the boy indulge in “feminine” fashion and NOT be chided for it (like I, and I am more than sure many boys end up have happen).
It seems my son doesn’t gravitate to his mom’s high heels but rather his dad’s high heels! And he will absolutely be allow to indulge in anything “feminine” as much as he wants to. He has cars to play with but also dolls. He loves playing with both.
As a child, I gravitated towards my mom’s dresses because she had several hanging up in my closet that didn’t fit in her own. I’m planning on writing a post about that soon.
Cool – I’m not sure why he developed such “feeling” towards these boots, maybe there’s something we just can’t understand as adults. Just make sure that you are able to “stop” kid at some point from requesting too much from you – we all have seen situations in various shopping malls or any other places where kid tries to “terrorize” father/mother by demanding this and that and crying/shouting as loud as possible to get what he/she wants.
I don’t know either. I would understand it if I wore them more than the others, but I don’t. If I wear heels at all, then I tend to mix them up. Of course, I don’t wear them if I really don’t feel like it and he does quickly get over it, but I generally don’t mind humoring him for at least a little bit. 🙂