parenting dilemma

[sgtiger]

As a parent, I'd have no problems letting my daughter wear a suit if she so chose. I'd deal with any reactions that fellow classmates and their parents have after the fact. Who knows, they may not react in the way you fear. If their reaction is not positive, it's an opportunity to sit down and have a talk with her about not always taking others' opinions to heart and the importance of being herself.

My son, when he was little, really wanted a baby doll. Most of the people we knew didn't have a problem with it, but there were a few who commented that they wouldn't encourage that kind of thing with their boys. I even got a comment that we needed to toughen him up. And my MIL freaked when told what her grandson wanted for his birthday. She eventually calmed down and sent him a raggedy Andy doll. She didn't think that was too "girlish." He also got the baby doll he wanted and was happy as a lark. He eventually grew out of it, but will sometimes play with one if he's playing house with friends or his sister. To this day he loves babies and is very nurturing towards them. One of the possible career paths that I can envision for him right now is working in a neonatal unit.