General Chat

As there's 4, 6 & 7 years between me and my siblings, sister had to 'look after' me during term time, brothers (who went to boarding school - there's sexism) during the holidays.
Brothers regularly left me to my own devices, but if we turned up for dinner at different times - it was my fault for wandering off!
Sister was made my legal guardian when she was 19, I was 15 (parents moved abroad). I moved out within the year.

Three of us moved around a lot in adulthood, - sister to Ireland, me to Shetland, eldest bro to Thailand, but now we live within 50 miles of each other and are lucky in that we now get on really well.

We have a family get together at least once a year.

People frowned when they saw my small son come back from a neighbour's child's toy sale with a little buggy, he wanted for his doll he had asked for a while before. He played with it as much as he played with his 'boy's toys' but it hasn't done anything to alter his masculinity. I didn't like the idea of buying him guns but he made a shape of a gun from lego and used it as a toy gun. It's much easier to let a child chose their toys 'within reason of course' . like letting them use their right or left hand, no forcing these days.

My son is very good with young children so maybe the buggy and doll brought out his nuturing side.

I think it's good that the young girl noticed the mistake and with the help of her Mum, did something about it. Teaches her how to go about challenging some sterotyping etc.

Lizx