My daughter wears boys underwear and James Dobson can kiss my fat ass.

I didn't really say that.  I said "my son has a vagina and James Dobson can kiss my fat ass."  OK- I didn't say that either. I don't think it's true, and it seemed argumentative.

Anyway, I was at Open Gym, which is a great program in my town- for $30 you get five months of indoor play in the gym at the local recreation center, and the kids run around and ride tricycles and drive little play cars and fire trucks and throw themselves around on gym mats and it's a blast.  Yesterday I ran into a mom whose kids I watch each week while she's at bible study, and she pointed out to me that my daughter is a bit of a tomboy.  And she said she was too, but she grew out of it.

Then I shared how my daughter (who's four and a half) refuses to wear girls underpants, so I let her wear boys underpants.  I said there's nothing I can do.  She said "Oh yes there is- talk to your pediatrician!  Take her to a child psychologist!  And have you read James Dobson?"

That's when I lost it.

I said I dislike James Dobson so much I stay on his email list so I can email and call congressmen and senators and ask them to do the opposite of whatever James Dobson tells me to ask them to do.  I told her a few years ago I even called the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to tell them they really should keep Chris Rock as the host of the Oscars- why does James Dobson care who hosts the Oscars, and how does it hurt America if Chris Rock hosts an awards show?

She said Dobson really helps her family, and she likes how he defends the sanctity of life.  I told her I don't like how he lies about emergency contraception, and I didn't see why if my doctor tells me another pregnancy will kill me that my children should be orphaned.  Or why if I'm raped and want emergency contraception a hospital can deny it to me.  Or why a pharmacist can take my prescription and say he disagrees with me and my doctor and my husband and refuse to fill it.

We parted and she asked me if we could stop talking about it because we weren't going to agree and she's sorry I feel that way about James Dobson, because he has really helped her family.

And I didn't even bring up Ted Haggard.

Anyway, it's not a question of my daughter wearing girls underpants or boys underpants.  It's a question of her wearing NO underpants or wearing boys underpants.  Or a third option might be we just never leave the house again because I will spend the rest of my life wrestling with her on the floor in front of her dresser.

•  so, I take it

  daddy spanks the kiddies (and the wife) in her family.

  by Crisis Corps Volunteer on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:30:35 AM PDT

  •  yes, i'm sure he does- in the name of the lord nt

    by thankgodforairamerica on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:36:33 AM PDT

    •  use the above as diarist's tip jar...

      ...if the diarist doesn't post another one somewhere...

      by G2geek on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:48:07 AM PDT

      •  thanks for looking out for me

        that's what i love about this place-

        i posted one a little too late- it's down the page a bit

        by thankgodforairamerica on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:27:41 AM PDT

•  your daughter should

  be who she is

  and she's got you for a role model, so I have every expectation she'll do a fine job of it.

  by condoleaser on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:30:52 AM PDT

  •  thank you-

    i feel like you just gave me a hug!

    by thankgodforairamerica on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:36:56 AM PDT

    •  excellent reading comprehension!

      by condoleaser on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:38:29 AM PDT

    •  i'm with you on this.

      I'm with you and against all the stupid busybodies.  

      WHO CARES what kind of underwear a kid wants to wear?   Holy cow, it's not going to do any physical harm.  And it's not going to do any mental, emotional, or spiritual harm either, unless busybodies get to your daughter when you're not looking and give her some kind of grief for it.  (And then you can explain, "they're being like a bully, and they're full of baloney.")

      If needed you can always come up with an excuse.  "The doctor recommended it because of her bone structure" sounds pretty decent to me.

      You could also teach your daughter to say that if anyone asks.  

      No one in their right mind is going to object to that, and if they do, you (and your daughter) can tell them, "Sorry, you're not our pediatrician, so please mind your own business."  (she could say it a little differently when talking to grownups, for instance, "You're not my doctor, so you'll have to talk to mommy about that."  And then give 'em hell for bugging her.

      Guess what?  I'm a guy and I sit down to pee.  Why?  Because when I moved into my own place a long time ago, I figured out pretty quickly that cleaning the bathroom is a heck of a lot nicer when you don't have to scrub the accumulated pee droplets off the wall that occur from splashing in the toilet when you pee while standing up.  And if anyone duoubts me on that point, try pouring yourself a beverage into a glass from a pitcher held about three feet above the glass: the little splatters will get on your shirt.  Or look at the patterns of rust on the partitions in poorly-maintained mens' rooms.  Ewww.

      See, all this "gender" stuff is obsolete.  The only useful definition of male or female is chromosomes and genitalia, and even those items have more variation than you might expect (e.g. XXY chromosomes).  Beyond genes and genitals, it's all a menu, so choose what works for you and be confident in who you are.  

      And, dear readers, if you ever run into another Dobson fan, say "Oh, didn't you know?" in a slightly shocked voice.  They'll naturally say, "No, what...?" and then you can say, "There's another woman.  I'd rather not talk about it..." and leave it there, and excuse yourself.  Or "He has, well he has a man in his life... I'd rather not talk about it..." and excuse yourself.   You can call this one "planting the seeds of doubt."  May they bloom and spread!

      by G2geek on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:07:23 AM PDT

    •  a hug from me too

      Really, with the Britneys of the world showing their cooters in public, tell that busybody to be GLAD your daughter puts on underwear, period!

      Actually, my 8 year old son would be mortified if I shared info like that with another parent, but good you found out her biases and don't let her babysit!

      My son likes to cook and I have had to explain that to some foreign visitors who don't think it is manly, somehow. My boy has a black belt in tae kwon do and I see a lot of bachelor years ahead(because he is very strongwilled, not an easy guy to find a mate) so he'd BETTER learn to cook!

      by Chun Yang on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:09:17 AM PDT

      •  Ask them if they know how

        much good chefs make.

        by dogheaven on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:10:40 AM PDT

      •  If he's a really good cook,

        he might have a lot easier time finding a mate.

        I tell everyone I only married my hubby because he likes to cook and I don't. :-)

        by MichiganGirl on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:29:07 AM PDT

    •  At that age

      my daughter refused to leave the house unless she was wearing one white sock (on the right) and one purple sock.  I am pretty sure she is scarred for life because we indulged her.

      by mcinma on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 11:01:34 AM PDT

      •  I love the sartorial choices

        of little kids.  My son preferred Halloween costumes, every day of the year.

        by beagledad on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 11:40:25 AM PDT

•  These are the things that convince me

  to stay here and raise my child, due July 30th, in Europe.

  I don't think I can get the same in the US: full coverage health care, my fiance gets 18 months maternity leave at 70 or 80% of her wages, we get around 170 euros a month for "child money", and I just found out that Montessorri school is state sponsored public education, i.e. free.

  And I just haven't seen religious fanatics running around trying to tell people how to raise their kids or get an exorcist is, gads, they turn out to be homosexual.

  by Jeffersonian Democrat on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:33:23 AM PDT

  •  Got room for two more!?

    I will do light housework in exchange for rent!

    Sounds like you live in bright utopia that we dreamed about here in the US in the 60's!

    by DevonTexas on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:38:15 AM PDT

    •  not exactly a utopia, yet

      but on a costs based analysis, it seems we are better off staying here.  Though I won't paint a rosy picture, there are problems unique to here as well.

      by Jeffersonian Democrat on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:45:27 AM PDT

      •  Where is "here"?

        and, wonderful news about the pending birth. I wish you all the best. Having a child is the MOST important thing I've done in my life! It really brings many other aspects of life into persepective. I've learned more about myself from being a parent than 18 years of schooling and 30 years of research could ever teach me!

        by DevonTexas on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:51:46 AM PDT

        •  Germany n/t

          by Jeffersonian Democrat on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:52:22 AM PDT

          •  170 euros a month is not chicken feed!

            You can buy quite a bit of diapers and baby food for that amount!

            by concernedamerican on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:16:03 AM PDT

            •  yes, and thank goodness too

              That is exactly what it is meant for, and clothes, etc.  I think that goes up with COLA and last until they are 18.

              by Jeffersonian Democrat on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:28:12 AM PDT

  •  Really, there are lots of places in the U.S.

    that are just fine for child-rearing, if you can dredge up medical coverage somehow.  Dobby has had nil influence on child-rearing among anyone I've met personally, and I spend time with a lot of parents.

    by beagledad on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 11:43:10 AM PDT

•  These people that believe in Dobson....

  are the scariest people on earth to me.  I rec'd your diary.  Stay away from that crazy woman. Thanks.

  by jdmorg on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:33:42 AM PDT

  •  i'll have to keep seeing her every week

    i really like her, so i don't mind seeing her.  and i love her kids, i do.

    but you're right- it sure is scary.  

    by thankgodforairamerica on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:40:28 AM PDT

    •  That's the hardest part - when good people

      fall for those shysters.  I've known too many like that woman myself.  And it's unlikely anything you do or say will ever change her.  But continue dropping little, friendly hints.  Something just might register one day.

      by gustynpip on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:52:34 AM PDT

      •  i hope something might have already registered

        she's known me for a year and a half, and i take care of her kids each week at church, and she's even asked me to help her at home (i can't- i have two jobs and the times don't work) so i know she doesn't just like me- she trusts me w/ her kids

        i'm one of those liberal democrats she was warned about. i'm hoping she doesn't think i'm so sneaky and deceitful i infiltrated her life like they said i would.  i'm hoping she still likes me and ends up thinking liberal democrats might not be so bad after all.

        by thankgodforairamerica on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:09:18 AM PDT

    •  I like a couple

      who voted for Bush and now are Paulbots.  But I love  them and their children.  We just steer clear of the yucky stuff.

      by dogheaven on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:13:07 AM PDT

    •  It is very likely that one day her kids will look

      to you for a safe haven from the religious nuttery.  Unless they end up being totally brainwashed.  Very bright kids often reject it when they get to the age where they question and develop thinking skills.

      by 417els on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:28:50 AM PDT

      •  if she'll let them go near me! n/t

        by thankgodforairamerica on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 11:24:27 AM PDT

        •  They will come to you, permission will be moot

          at a certain point.  You will be a safe, calm and non-judgemental haven for them.

          I've been there and see it coming up again with a new generation.  The hardest thing, for me, was/is to be an example of tolerance without ranting about how insane the thing is they are no longer at ease with...to wait for them to ask questions and then answer in an honest way, but not out & out condemn the parents/Dobson/etc.

          It can take 'tactful honesty'...rather than the loud tell-it-like-it-is-they're-crazy-hateful-loons! that is what I REALLY feel!

          by 417els on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 04:27:22 PM PDT

          •  'tactful honesty'

            there's strength in not saying what you really want to say!!

            by thankgodforairamerica on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 04:20:22 AM PDT

•  James Dobson Should Focus on His Family

  and leave mine the flock alone.

  by Ex Con on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:33:45 AM PDT

  •  Good one, Ex Con. n/t.

    by jdmorg on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:38:37 AM PDT

  •  There is a bumper Sticker

    that reads "focus  on your own damn family"

    by SloMoDem on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:42:23 AM PDT

    •  like

      this one.

      by Eddie Haskell on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:22:55 AM PDT

•  tip jar

  by thankgodforairamerica on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:34:37 AM PDT

•  I have a southern baptist aunt

  who sent me a Dobson book when my wife & I announced our pregnancy.

  I thought it best to hold my tongue, send a thank you note, and place the book in a box of future garage sale items.

  by DPear on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:40:33 AM PDT

  •  Maybe you should have...

    sent the "thank you" note written on the inside cover of the book? A clever way to return it and say thanks at the same time!

    by DevonTexas on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:44:02 AM PDT

  •  Please don't send those books on!

    I am a co-librarian at my (Lutheran--ELCA) church, and we (the other librarian, the pastor, and I) have a policy about what comes in as donations:  If it is from "Focus on the Family," it goes into the dumpster immediately.

    We do not donate this stuff on to a thrift shop--someone might read it.

    Dobson is in favor of wife-beating and child abuse.  I won't have his stuff in my church library.

    by Dar Nirron on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:01:55 AM PDT

    •  Oh, I wish my church library would do this.

      They mean well, but they just put in anything with a remotely religious basis.

      It's ELCA, and we have the frakking "Left Behind" series on the shelves. That's not even remotely part of our theology!

      by Magenta on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 11:21:34 AM PDT

      •  Yes, I discard "Left Behind" books, too. n/t

        by Dar Nirron on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 11:43:53 AM PDT

  •  Make something useful with it.

    Here's a video showing how to hollow it out as a secret compartment.

    http://www.boingboing.net/...

    by Capn Guts on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:05:02 AM PDT

    •  Is his book

      thick enough to accomodate a vibrator?  Or should I just use it or stashing weed?

      by martydd on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:10:15 AM PDT

      •  Is that how you hide a vibrator?

        great idea.  Wished I had thought of that before now.

        by dogheaven on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:14:40 AM PDT

      •  Perhaps Dobson could be persuaded

        to publish a giant, hardbound anthology of all his scribblings.  Something large enough to hold a whole toolkit.  Like a bedroom-coffeetable book.

        by Capn Guts on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:25:15 AM PDT

    •  Like Robert Mitchum...

      in Five Card Stud, when he mixed the 1st & 2nd Amendments?

      by Downpuppy on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:10:20 AM PDT

•  I wonder... did your friend's parents...

  take her to a psychiatrist because she was a Tom Boy? She's lucky she "grew out of it"! /snark

  How wonderful that your child can make her own choices! I would just caution that her selection of underwear might not be shared with others until you know their "political leanings". It seems important to them they they have an opinion on this matter of personal choice. But that's the world they live in, eh? Today underwear, tomorrow life partners! Where will it all end!?

  by DevonTexas on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:42:30 AM PDT

  •  Don't let her find out

    that the reason your daughter wears boys panties is early exposure to Tinky Winky.

    She's already having enough nightmares about the secular evils you must be putting them through. Do you even say grace before milk & cookies?

    by Downpuppy on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:55:43 AM PDT

  •  egads

    I thought I had a problem because sometimes I wear mens underwear under my pants
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    very old Steve Martin joke.

    by Jeffersonian Democrat on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:00:49 AM PDT

•  You don't even have the poll choice

  that I would have picked.

  And even if you did and he heeded our advice he's probably so busy butting into the world's business he would miss and hit someone else.

  by Detroit Mark on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:43:30 AM PDT

  •  what is it?

    can i still add choices?  it's my first poll- i don't know how things work

    by thankgodforairamerica on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:45:42 AM PDT

    •  I'd have liked B&C :)

      by tony the American Mutt on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:49:15 AM PDT

    •  add away

      You just cant edit choices that are already there.

      by Downpuppy on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:50:19 AM PDT

    •  that could be an old inside joke

      around here due to a hellacious argument over an ad.

      the choice in polls, usually the last, is "pie" and it;s become somewhat of a snarky tradition.

      come to think of it, it actually would be appropriate here.

      by Jeffersonian Democrat on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:06:20 AM PDT

•  Wow I just had a

  1987 flashback...

  The "concerned" part of the family letting the heathen (me) part of the family know that I am forcing my son to be gay.

  Yep he only wore sweat pants with hawaiian shirts.

  At the time they were appalled that I said that I wish I could, then he might grow up and have better taste in clothes.

  by housesella on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:45:58 AM PDT

  •  Hee.

    That's exactly what I'd say.

    Although I don't get how sweatpants and Hawaiian shirts are especially gay. Perhaps this explains my nearly non-existent gaydar. I was notorious for hitting on gay men in my single days.

    by Magenta on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 11:24:28 AM PDT

    •  my husband said he used to pretend to be gay

      in order to get (and i'm using his words here, not mine) better quality pussy.

      by thankgodforairamerica on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 12:26:07 PM PDT

•  Are you kidding me?

  Does this woman even look at what is the "in" thing with kids any more? I've seen more girls wearing boxer shorts than I have boys doing so. What the hell is wrong with being a tomboy, anyway? My 10 year old is something of a tomboy (she likes to play football, baseball and basketball and eschews "girl sports" like volleyball) but she also enjoys cheerleading, gymnastics, experimenting with makeup and hairstyles and talking about boys. Personally, I am all in favor of allowing children of either gender to explore their interests and develop their individuality. I am sick and tired of "boy stuff" and "girl stuff" (though I still think it's a guy's duty to take out the trash :) )

  by LynneK on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:50:38 AM PDT

•  good for you

  It's nice to hear that you're letting your daughter be herself. Kudos to you for being such a good parent!

  I have some friends whose 3-year-old son is obsessed with princesses. His parents are wonderful. When the kid wanted a princess dress, they got him a princess dress.

  by astraea on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:53:03 AM PDT

•  Boy do I feel bad for her kids!!

  Seriously, what year is this? 1956? Who cares if girls are tomboys?

  Kudos to you for letting your daughter be who she is.

  by brklyngrl on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:54:44 AM PDT

  •  Especially when the girl is under 5!

    WTF? Let her be a tomboy.  Let wear boy's underwear.  Hell, I still laugh at my mom for insisting that men wear pants, and women wear slacks.  I wear whatever is comfortable, from whichever department I find it in!

    by oortdust on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:27:04 AM PDT

    •  my stepsons are from england

      and laugh when i tell my son to go put on pants- they said pants means underpants, not trousers

      by thankgodforairamerica on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:53:53 AM PDT

•  Dobsonian emails

  I get the FOTF email too, for exactly the reason you do: to know who they're calling, so I can call and cancel out one of their votes.

  As my bumper sticker says:

  Doing My Part to Piss of the Religious Right.

  by astraea on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:56:30 AM PDT

  •  Was that bumper sticker ...

    Doing My Part to Piss OFF the Religious Right.

    or

    Doing My Part to Piss ON the Religious Right.

    Either works for me. ;-)

    by ohiolibrarian on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:23:31 AM PDT

    •  oops

      piss OFF

      Though I sort of like the piss ON idea too.

      by astraea on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 12:28:14 PM PDT

•  bad flashbacks of Dobson, too. . .

  My parents took us to listen to the Dobson Tapes when we were in grade school, hosted in the school cafeteria (catholic school). . . I think they were looking for advice on how to "deal" with me and the issue of "self-abuse/pleasuring" whatever you want to call it.  

  To this day I'm p'od that my mother couldn't figure out how to talk to me about normal sexual behavior without subjecting me to that CRAP.  

  I bet my mother would say that Dobson helped our family, too.  He definitely helped me. . . continue to beat myself up over being a bad person for years to come until I finally realized I was NORMAL!  

  Now I thank Dobson for helping me realize what not to say or do as a parent!!  

  Good for you for doing the opposite of what Dobson says!  And accepting your daughter for who she is and what makes her feel most comfortable in life.  You're a great mom!

  by Great Lakes Gal on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:01:32 AM PDT

  •  i know what you mean

    Now I thank Dobson for helping me realize what not to say or do as a parent!!  

    i think in most situations we should just do the opposite

    by thankgodforairamerica on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:25:39 AM PDT

  •  Dear Great Lakes Gal ...

    My 2-year-old constantly plays with her nipples. Do you have any insight from your Dobson days or should I be sane and figure she'll grow out of that? ;)

    by Magenta on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 11:26:55 AM PDT

    •  Yikes! Send her to Jesus Camp right away!!! nt

      by beagledad on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 11:56:29 AM PDT

    •  no insights on that one. . .

      wonder if my mom would have been concerned about me had that been my "problem"

      As a parent of a 2 year old boy, I'm definitely learning that dealing with what to say about our bodies and behavior is a challenging thing.  But I definitely won't be seeking advice from Mr. Dobson!  (I'm about to have our #2 and I'm totally curious as to how we are both going to handle the issue of breastfeeding. . . . )  I would imagine showing a breast to a 2 yr. old would not fly in the world of Dobson!

      by Great Lakes Gal on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 07:07:31 PM PDT

      •  Doubtful.

        I just let my son see me breastfeed, and explained he'd eaten the same way.

        When my daughter first got dolls, he'd explain she needed to nurse them. Hmmm. Maybe that's where the nipple issue started. ;)

        by Magenta on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 06:22:43 AM PDT

•  relevant quote

  "Mark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the (Republican) party, and they are sure trying to do so, it's going to be a terrible damn problem. Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they cannot and will not compromise. I know, I've tried to deal with them."
  -— Barry Goldwater

  by NCrefugee on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:06:09 AM PDT

•  Living in a very red state like Idaho

  I used to wonder who were the crazy people that voted for people like Larry Craig and Bill Sali.  Then I had a couple conversations with people who I had previously assumed to be normal, thoughtful and intelligent.

  Ha!  I soon learned that they're like pod people.  The look and generally behave normally, but deep inside they have some mighty fucked up ideas.  Spoon fed to them by even more fucked up people, such as Dobson.

  I've learned to beware of the pod people.  In some areas, they're the frightening majority.

  Sounds like they've gotten to your gym friend.  

  by martydd on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:06:49 AM PDT

  •  i worked with a guy who was a total wingnut

    i knew he was, a neo-con but most of our co-workers  didn't. a few commented to me, that they thought he was ok but once in while he would just spout off something totally nuts and usually racist.  on the surface, he seemed so normal, but i wasn't surprised. He  was a delegate for McCain in '00 and used a Ronald Reagan calendar. (oh yeah, he went the same high school as Billo, but that's another story).

    by mad cow on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:20:42 AM PDT

  •  the frightened majority

    In some areas, they're the frightening majority.

    when i first read that i misread it as frightened majority

    by thankgodforairamerica on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 11:21:19 AM PDT

•  geez, my son wears girls underpants,

  i should go get him deprogrammed or somethin'

  by mad cow on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:10:42 AM PDT

  •  you're reminding me of my friend and her son

    years and years ago my friend's (another friend) little boy desperately wanted little mermaid underpants, and he couldn't understand why they wouldn't make them for boys

    by thankgodforairamerica on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:20:35 AM PDT

    •  .

      i think it's because he doesn't like the feel of the seams for the fly, god i hope it's not the flowers and Disney princesses that he likes. he's 7 year old, so we have time.

      by mad cow on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:23:12 AM PDT

      •  So what if it is the flowers and disney

        princesses he likes?

        by AUBoy2007 on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:33:23 AM PDT

        •  that was poorly excuted snark

          by mad cow on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:46:16 AM PDT

          •  I assumed it was a serious question.

            Really, so what if it was?  No big deal in my book.

            by beagledad on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 11:50:27 AM PDT

      •  do seams in socks bother him too?

        you can turn the socks inside out and then it won't bother him so much.  don't know about the underwear, though.

        i have a fourteen year old son who was head over heels in love w/ kimberly, the pink power ranger, when he was three or four.  he had a costume, two dolls (one of them life size) and a chair

        i think he loved her so much he was just trying to be close to her

        he also had a red power ranger costume, and a ton of power ranger toys- he just loved the pink one the most.

        by thankgodforairamerica on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:39:47 AM PDT

        •  thx, i'm lucky on the sock front n/t

          by mad cow on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:47:08 AM PDT

        •  Which Power Ranger series?

          Ninja Storm was the best.  Tho' I see there's a new Power Rangers - Jungle Fury series coming up soon.  I'd love to be the pyrotechnician on those shows.  :)

          by beagledad on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 11:53:06 AM PDT

          •  whatever the first two series were

            he's fourteen now

            one time his best friend threw his pink power ranger into the pond and i was afraid he would attack his friend so i ran over while my friend fished kimberly out of the water. but he didn't even try to hurt his friend- he just stood by the pond doing all of his power ranger moves while my friend rescued kimberly.

            by thankgodforairamerica on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 12:29:28 PM PDT

            •  Cool that you still remember the PR's name. /nt

              by beagledad on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 12:48:10 PM PDT

              •  of course i do-

                she was my son's first love!!

                by thankgodforairamerica on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 12:51:46 PM PDT

                •  Good for him to start out loving strong women!

                  Even if they wear a pink catsuit.

                  by beagledad on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 12:58:54 PM PDT

                  •  make that especially! n/t

                    by thankgodforairamerica on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 02:38:32 PM PDT

  •  Walkin' 'Round In Women's Underwear

    One of my favorite xmas tunes.

    Lyrics

    Later on if you wanna
    We can dress like Madonna
    Put on some eye shade
    And join the parade
    Walkin' 'round in women's underwear

    etc.

    by Eddie Haskell on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:29:55 AM PDT

    •  Um...Eddie?

      What would Mrs. Cleaver think of that?

      by dov12348 on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:33:09 AM PDT

      •  June isn't speaking to me anymore

        ... since I borrowed one of her vee neck pastel mohair sweaters and haven't returned it.

        by Eddie Haskell on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:39:21 AM PDT

•  forgot to mention

  Really, in those pants, your ass does NOT look fat at all.

  Hang in there, motherhood is not for wimps.

  by Chun Yang on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:13:45 AM PDT

  •  i can't stop laughing- thank you n/t

    by thankgodforairamerica on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:19:05 AM PDT

•  Here's a message you can use for her

  

  Similar ones can be found at evolvefish.com

  by Eddie Haskell on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:21:05 AM PDT

•  I wore my brother's underpants

  when I was little too, until my mother gave up and started buying me my own boys underpants. I didn't start wearing girls underpants until I was in Jr. High and had to change in the locker rooms for gym.

  Boy's underpants were more comfortable and didn't wedge up like girls underpants did and that was really all there was to it for me. I wear the boy-shorts now that I'm an adult and they're available... but if they had never been invented, I'd probably still be wearing men's underpants, because I cannot stand creeping underpants.

  It's got to be one of the most uncomfortable feelings in the world to me, so maybe your daughter is the same way I was as a little girl and just likes to be comfortable? Or maybe not... Who really cares what kind of underpants a child wears anyway?

  Like any of it matters, you know? If it makes a kid happy to wear one kind of underpants over another kind... Does it really matter enough to want to make a child unhappy? That woman's just crazy and has a totally messed up set of priorities and there's nothing wrong with your daughter or you.

  by MichiganGirl on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:22:59 AM PDT

  •  i had to go out and buy them

    one day last year i just couldn't get her underpants on her so i let her go to school w/ out them, and in addition to not wearing any underwear at all, she kept kept rolling the waistband of her pants until it got so stretched out it was falling down and when i picked her up she was holding up her pants around her waist and her tushie kept peeking out

    she loves "boylie" clothes and toys- her word, not mine.  and she doesn't like grilled cheese sandwiches- she likes "boyed" cheese sandwiches

    by thankgodforairamerica on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:49:04 AM PDT

    •  Funny.

      Although I hope she starts to appreciate that she can be a girl and do all the things a boy can.

      by Magenta on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 11:31:12 AM PDT

•  I feel sorry for kids raised by the Dobson books

  It's child abuse!

  by Barry in MIA on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:26:08 AM PDT

  •  BTW - I can't wait for Dobson's scandal!

    by Barry in MIA on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:27:03 AM PDT

•  I'm so tired of this shit

  from "religious" people.  I have not dealt with this before, my daughter goes to a great daycare where the boys where dresses and the girls play with cars, etc.  They are encouraged to be themselves.

  My daughter has "boys" nighties beause she wanted to be Superman, who am I to stop her?  Let her!  She's an awesome kid, she plays with the boys and then wants to wear a princess dress while she plays with her transformers.  I don't tell her who she is, she tells me.

  And the time I did deal with some asshole behavior about it being an issue of her sexuality, which it's not, I said I'd rather have her grow up to be a lesbian than an uptight, Christian Republican who has no idea what it means to accept people for how God created them.

  I recommend the movie "So the Bible Told m SO".  Dobson has done more damage to the family than helped in my mind.  

  The sanctity of life?  How does James Dobson feel about those young gays and lesbians who have killed themselves because they were forced to live as something they were not through shame?  How about that?

  Good for you, thank you for speaking your mind.

  by Ellinorianne on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:33:09 AM PDT

  •  that's how i feel too

    I'd rather have her grow up to be a lesbian than an uptight, Christian Republican who has no idea what it means to accept people for how God created them.

    i think it's so sad  

    by thankgodforairamerica on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 11:13:42 AM PDT

•  sounds like a job for "Free to be You & Me"

  wiki link, classic progressive t.v. from the 70's

  by mad cow on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:55:14 AM PDT

  •  now i hear mel brooks in my head

    saying "i want to be a cocktail waitress!"

    by thankgodforairamerica on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:58:55 AM PDT

    •  i'm a lumberjack, and i don't care

      by mad cow on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:59:44 AM PDT

•  You get a Rec on the diary just for the title.

  Funniest damn thing I've seen all day.

  by wobbledon on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 11:03:01 AM PDT

  •  thanks- i try not to swear...

    but i couldn't think of another way to write what i was thinking.

    by thankgodforairamerica on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 11:16:00 AM PDT

•  I'm late replying to this

  but I wanted to add my comment:

  MY daughter wears boy's underwear too. And she's 23! AND a SOLDIER!

  But it's not cuz she's a tomboy, or because she needs psychological help.  It's because she says they are more comfortable. (When she dresses up, she wears thongs, so....)

  Many of the underwear companies manufacture "boys underwear for girls".

  by second gen on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 11:01:44 AM PDT