I don't love being a girl mom OR being a boy mom.

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I just can’t with this one.

I can’t with the attractive wooden swords. Weaponry but make it pretty. Make it cute. Make it whimsical. Make it Montessori. (Dear fencers, please don’t @ me).

I can’t with stupid internet identity markers like #girlmom and #boymom. Making your kid mac ‘n cheese, cleaning up your kid’s vomit, and teaching your kid how to say thank you is the same work regardless of your kid’s gender.

I can’t with the bizarrely self-conscious performative adult playing which you probably can’t see anymore because (mercifully) Instagram stories don’t last forever. Balletic toe pointing! A flounce off camera! Wait jk you can totally watch it for yourself here in the “littles” highlight album. Also how does one determine to film something as spontaneous as play? Do you find yourself playing with your kid, stop playing, find your phone, prop up your phone so it captures the scene, re-prop up your phone somewhere else because the first set-up’s lighting sucked, and then re-engage your kid? Sorry but I’m lost in the logistics.

I can’t with the gilt mirror and wooden panelling simply because it sorta looks like these people live in a castle and therefore I’m jealous. Plus they’re in France so I’m jealous again.

But MOSTLY I can’t with the idea of gender-specific parenting, which assumes that, depending on their sex assignment at birth, certain children will have certain needs, and those needs will be determined by gender essentialist bullshit. Girl children will need and enjoy toys and games rooted in caregiving, adherence to beauty standards, and domesticity. Boy children will need and enjoy toys and games rooted in action, STEM, violence, and physical exertion. This is how we keep toxic masculinity alive and how we ensure that domestic labor remains disrespected and undervalued 🎶🎶🎶

Related:

Are gender reveal parties cursed?

Let this be a lesson to us all.

We have to (be able to) talk about it.

Boys have feelings.

Sparkle unicorns for all.

Ok, they win.