We hurried into the swimming school, running late as usual. I manoeuvred the buggy at speed, little C clinging on for dear life, as G ran ahead. We came to an abrupt halt in front of the cheery receptionist.
She knows us now so it doesn’t matter that I’ve lost the girls membership cards. She issued their tickets and smiled vacantly as she handed them over.
G spotted the lines of colourful swimmers', goggles and overpriced swimming nappies behind the reception desk.
“I need new gobbles, Mummy” she piped up.
I’d forgotten that she broke her goggles. We didn’t really have time to faff about, the clock was ticking and I still had to get us all changed (which on paper doesn’t seem like a big deal, but trust me… with both my daughters hopping about pretending to be frogs, or hiding in the lockers, it’s easier said than done).
“OK, G” I said, summoning up my inner calm.
“I’d like to buy some new goggles for G, please”
“OK!” The cheery receptionist sprang into action.
G looked up at the lines of goggles on display, and pressed her hands together with glee.
The cheery receptionist picked out a couple of pairs to show G and lent over the desk…
“Would you like the pink ones with purple stripes, or the purple ones with the pink stripes?”
It was one of those moments. You know, when you despair for womankind.
“I want blue ones” said G, pointing wildly at the bright blue goggles on display behind the cheery receptionist.
I smiled. That’s my girl. She’s nobody’s stereotype.
“Oh! Yes, here you go” said the cheery receptionist pulling the bright blue goggles off the shelf and handing them to G.
“I just assumed she would want pink ones… all the other little girls want pink ones”
I handed over the cash, glancing at the clock. I wondered about all the other little girls. Did they really all want pink? Or did they choose pink because it all there was on offer?
Not that there is anything wrong with pink. Pink is great. Pink is fine. If that’s what you choose. But don’t forget all the other colours on the shelf.
I smiled at the cheery receptionist, I didn’t need to say anything else. G had said it for me.
She knows us now so it doesn’t matter that I’ve lost the girls membership cards. She issued their tickets and smiled vacantly as she handed them over.
G spotted the lines of colourful swimmers', goggles and overpriced swimming nappies behind the reception desk.
“I need new gobbles, Mummy” she piped up.
I’d forgotten that she broke her goggles. We didn’t really have time to faff about, the clock was ticking and I still had to get us all changed (which on paper doesn’t seem like a big deal, but trust me… with both my daughters hopping about pretending to be frogs, or hiding in the lockers, it’s easier said than done).
“OK, G” I said, summoning up my inner calm.
“I’d like to buy some new goggles for G, please”
“OK!” The cheery receptionist sprang into action.
G looked up at the lines of goggles on display, and pressed her hands together with glee.
The cheery receptionist picked out a couple of pairs to show G and lent over the desk…
“Would you like the pink ones with purple stripes, or the purple ones with the pink stripes?”
It was one of those moments. You know, when you despair for womankind.
“I want blue ones” said G, pointing wildly at the bright blue goggles on display behind the cheery receptionist.
I smiled. That’s my girl. She’s nobody’s stereotype.
“Oh! Yes, here you go” said the cheery receptionist pulling the bright blue goggles off the shelf and handing them to G.
“I just assumed she would want pink ones… all the other little girls want pink ones”
I handed over the cash, glancing at the clock. I wondered about all the other little girls. Did they really all want pink? Or did they choose pink because it all there was on offer?
Not that there is anything wrong with pink. Pink is great. Pink is fine. If that’s what you choose. But don’t forget all the other colours on the shelf.
I smiled at the cheery receptionist, I didn’t need to say anything else. G had said it for me.
Go G! JJ has green ones :)
ReplyDeleteI just showed this to JJ and she said "She's got goggles like mine. Did she borrow my goggles? Does her Dad have spikey hair?" :)
ReplyDeleteThat is adorable! I love that JJ has green ones! I just found out that my nephew has pink ones. All the gender stereotype crap comes from the adults, not the kids! Grrr xx
DeleteCutie patootie! Excellent colour choice.
ReplyDelete#Fybf
Oh who wants to be average, "normal" or a stereotype - you go girl!
ReplyDeleteBtw, my son thinks you look just as good as him - how you doing???
Becc @ Take Charge Now
Cute!
DeleteGood point, I was absolutely gobsmacked when friends started giving me their hand me downs for my little girl... everything, but everything was pink. I'd been a mum of boys for donkeys years and had never seen a pink item prior.
ReplyDeleteWe do mix and match now I'm glad to say... and I even got a few pink clothes myself... but well observed, and well done little Ms. AND finally... cossies on at home is my motto!
I found it frustrating when I was pregnant and wanted to bye neutral clothing because we were having a surprise - blue or pink and not much else at all.
DeleteI do like pink, but was shocked by the assumption.
When Tamika was young she refused to wear pink. Green was always the colour of her choice. The other week I let Jarvis choose a new drink cup, he went straight for the hot pink. Now I am sick of the question "why has Jarvis got a pink cup?".... Ummm because that is the one he wanted, at 14 months he doesn't know this world likes to gender colours.
ReplyDeletehttp://iliska-dreams.blogspot.com.au/
It's crazy isn't it?
DeleteGood on you G!
ReplyDeleteYou had me at "gobbles" , what a darling !!
xx
I do love it when she says it - it's very cute.
DeleteMy boys love pink and purple and it makes my heart swell with pride!
ReplyDeleteGood for your little G for speaking up! Blue gobbles ROCK!
That was well done! Yes, too often little girls are drowning in pink & fairies & ballerinas. As a child I loved dinosaurs but there was never anything for girls :(
ReplyDeleteI really don't care what colour stuff Mia has but I have to say the majority of her wardrobe is green and pink. Why? Because green is her Dad's fave colour and, like her mother, pink really suits her colouring! Not to mention the fact that pink and green were the colours we had at our wedding and so her grandmothers remember this and often buy stuff (for all of us I might add) because it matches 'our' colours!
ReplyDeleteThat's lovely!
DeleteLOL - go G !!! No stereo types needed for sure !
ReplyDeleteK didn't wear much pink or dresses when she was little. Now she is 20 she still doesn't wear pink but will occasionally throw on a dress !
Have the best day !
Me
You GO GIRL! She's just adorable. I SO know those moments - when there's JUST enough time and you hope there's no curveballs to tip the delicate timing over the edge. DEEEEP BREATHS. I was in hysterics the other night when I came to tuck the girls in, and found them both fast asleep in bed wearing their swimming goggles. I think they've got some mama crazy in them, somewhere, somehow!
ReplyDeleteWe seem to have them all the time, I never allow enough time to get anywhere!
DeleteGrace hasn't worn her goggles to bed yet, but sure it's only a matter of time :-)
Wicked!! Another little Miss I-won't-be-put-in-a-gender-based-box! We've been doing a lot of blue wellies, brown and ornage leggies and pink tutus lately - colour be damned
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a great combo!
DeleteBeautiful blue gobbles :-)
ReplyDeleteCUTE - gobbles - my daughter is going through an anti-pink stage - which I'm quite stoked about - I was starting to feel like I was in Mr Willy Wonkers factory :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a really nice memory to share!
ReplyDeleteShe looks beautiful in her bright blue gobbles.
And oh how she rocks those blue gobbles :) Good for her (and you!)for marching to her own beat, not the one society expects x
ReplyDeleteI have four boys and have often bought them dolls and prams - which they love! Most little boys get to play with their sisters dolls and prams and I didn't want mine missing out just because they don't have sisters. I have had some funny looks from check out assistants when I have let my sons hand over the money themselves for their new doll pram. My three year old wanted a kitchen for christmas last year and my FIL was mortified when I dropped it off at his house to store before the big day - I told him that most of the world's famous chefs were male!
ReplyDeleteIf it was my girls, at ther age it would have been pink or purple! Ava is obsessed with pink.
ReplyDeleteThe older two are more diverse in their colour choices now, but we've never pushed it either way. :)
Go G! She's such a little champ :)
ReplyDeleteThis is gorgeous and sounds just like our mad dash to swimming lessons each week! My miss 2 has green froggy goggles at the moment (she is a total dag- they are actually shaped like frogs!) and my miss 7 has surprise, surprise pink. She is a total pink and tiara girl always has been, just drawn to all that girly, girly stuff but my miss 2 is so different she loves Buzz lightyear, toy cars, frogs and likes to wear purple and gumboots ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat story. Its so true that people can assume girls must love pink before blue! My daughter chose a car toy one day and an old lady asked her if she was holding her brother's toy for him!! Thanks for stopping by my blog too:)
ReplyDeleteMy son tends to gravitate to the pink, purple or more "girly" things when given a choice - I honestly think it's because girls stuff is often more decorated, fancy and interesting that the boys stuff, which is often very plain and "grown up" looking. I cringed a few months ago when my son chose the Pink goggles, and I am chagrinned to say I suggested the blue ones, because there's a particularly annoying little boy in his swimming class who likes to make much of everyone else's choices. We had worked long and hard to get him to put the damn goggles on - like months, and damn it I wasn't going to let that little drowned rat tease my kid out of wearing his new pink goggles. So we got two pairs in the end, one for "best" (pink) and one for "everyday" (blue). The lightning quick thought process in my head is what's more important really? A stand about my son's right to choose, or the fact that he needs goggles, any goggles to protect his eyes.
ReplyDeleteI do so hate stereotypes too. Yes, my Miss 4 now loves her pink through no influence of my own but I'm glad she mixes it up too. Don't get me started on the clothes stores. My Miss 2 loves dinosaurs but they put them on clothes in the boys section. I don't mind buying from there but gee, why can't they make them in a unisex section. Why? And why is Hootabelle purple and pink instead of blue and orange like Hoot?! Miss T wants Barbie for her birthday and I've refrained so far but for how long?! Ok, rant over.
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My girl, obsessed with pink "and being pretty" *vomit* has blue googles - but I picked them buying bulk online for $7 a piece (zoogs) after having to pay $24 for a pair for my eldest. Wtf!!!!
ReplyDeleteThey may gravitate towards the stereotype but there's no harm in offering the other choices too...