Being a parent is hard work...painstaking, actually. As a parent, we feel the highs and lows of our children, do our best to shelter them from pain, criticism, and lose sleep over how well they are getting on in life. We stress over whether or not they'll have friends, will they play a sport well, will they be smart, get into college?...will they be safe and listen to our advice about the dangers of drinking and driving, drugs, sex, and yes, rock and roll?...we all know it rots our brain. But the biggest fear many parents face is: Does my boy really want those hot pink crocs...huh?
My nine-year-old boy is a rockstar in his own mind. He wants to be an actor, he wants to play the electric guitar in a rock band, and yes, he wants to wear fuchsia crocs. As a mom, a stylist, and a lover of all that is pink, I say, "Go for it!", but as a realist, I fear he will be teased, called a girl, and his little heart will be broken. I have shared these fears with him and he is willing to "take the risk".
So this morning, I sent him off to school with his flooded jeans, tye-dyed hoodie and hot pink crocs. I, just in case, tucked his sneakers into his backpack. But while I was having my morning coffee, sending off an email to his teacher to please keep an eye on Noah, I was scrolling though the world news...maybe, just maybe, there are bigger things to worry about throughout my day? Perhaps.
Why do we put our own prejudices and fears onto our children? Why do we make color an issue in a world where we preach diversity? Why can't a boy wear pink and a girl like football? What does color have to do with gender, sexuality, popularity, and most of all, acceptance?
We live in a multi-colored world, and I hope as parents, we encourage our children to embrace all the colors of the world...not just the ones that feel safe.
Rock on, Noah! Rock on!
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