What Will Society Do To My Sweet and Sensitive Son?
I already see what it’s doing to my fierce and prickly daughter
About halfway through the movie, my son put his arm around his friend’s shoulder. His friend did the same. They sat there like that for a good 15 minutes, their arms loosely draped around one another’s shoulders, their legs dangling, their feet not quite touching the floor. They are in first grade, both seven years old.
I glanced at his friend’s mother, and we both instinctively placed our hands on our hearts. Partly because it was so adorable — two boys expressing human affection for one another, understanding that it feels nice when someone has an arm around their shoulder, and not yet caring what gender that person is or if they will get teased.
My heart felt full, but it also hurt. My son has always been cuddly. He still likes to sit on my lap, even though it’s becoming increasingly hard for him to comfortably arrange his lanky body in it. In the morning, he demands several hugs before leaving for school.
His disposition is naturally gentle and sweet. He’s a formidable opponent on the basketball court or soccer field, but his aggression is playful, not mean. He loves to giggle, begs to be tickled, and doesn’t mind spilling some tears if he gets hurt or things don’t go his…
