For the past several days and nights, Graham has been pointing to a picture in an etoys catalog, begging for this:

B-E-G-G-I-N-G.

At least begging for Graham, which is a softly spoken want with a whisper of, “I want this. I want this. I want to dress up like a Princess.”

Oh, dear Lord.

Although my liberal friends, bless their bleeding hearts, might argue and plead for me to indulge his desire, citing the unfair societal restrictions and expectations on my gender focus. They might claim it’s good for him. Put him in touch with this feminine side, and be a better person for it. They might encourage me to break down those old fashion gender roles and celebrate his inner princess.

There’s only one problem with that. Given that he has self-awareness issues which stem back to his 2 month premature birth, many years of Early Intervention would tell me otherwise. It has taken longer than normal to try to help him differentiate between boys and girls and I promise you, he has no political agenda.

Even this morning he walked into my husband and my room and announced in a soft, shy and insecure tone, “I want to be a Princess.”

“Well, you can’t,” I replied.

“Why?” he asked,head tilted.

“Because that is for girls and..you. Are. A. Boy.”

(I can hear the gasps through the computer screen.)