Proper Princess?

My wife had a retirement party to go to last night. She works with her best friend so her best friend went as as well as did her husband since he works for the city too.

Is that clear? Probably not. Anyway, the result is that I watched my Little One and our friend's two little ones; a girl who's my kid's age (they're best friends) and their 2+ year old son.

Both kids are adorable and reasonably well-mannered so it was a pleasant evening in spite of the fact that they totally trashed Little One's room to the point where they were falling over stuff at every turn.

Of course the two girls, being four and a half and five, are all about princesses. Mine owns no less than 4 play outfits and each thoroughly enjoy dressing up complete with mock jewelry. Then they trade clothes and do it all over again. Its really cute and they have an absolute ball and I thrill in listening to their interaction and little princess stories. No doubt, they are totally girly-girls.

Apparently caught up in the excitement, the little boy comes to me with a Snow White dress wearing only his underwear. He wants me to help him put it on. Little One told me that he's worn princess costumes at home when she's stayed over. I guess the kid's dad is a bit bothered by it, but lets it fly.

Its a bit weird if not a big deal. I like to think I'm pretty liberal-minded. Who someone chooses to love, live with, marry or have sex with is their business. What gender someone wants to be is perfectly ok with me. Activities people do in the the privacy of their own bedroom don't phase me in the slightest. And if some dude wants to wear a dress or panties in his spare time, what do I care?

Usually if it doesn't affect the price of beer I don't really give a crap.

But.

This one bothered me a little. Maybe I feel he's small and impressionable. Maybe being a friend's child I feel a bit protective. I just didn't like the idea of him slipping on frilly dresses and ballerina tutus and whatnot. Is he merely wanting to be like big sister? Is it just play to a kid that age? I would guess so. But, could it be something "inside" the kid or something that could be guarded against to perhaps make his life easier down the road? Probably not, but who really knows?

I was a psychology major in college. I'm sure at some point we broached this and it was credited to just being a curious, fun-loving child and not subjecting himself to modern mores or societal stereotypes and inhibitions. I don't really remember though. Maybe I was hung over and missed that class.

Well, I decided to help him zip it up. It was weird and I thought he looked too feminine. However, if his parents don't really care then I shouldn't. Again, its their business.

I was, however, relieved later when he brought me his pajamas to change into. They had cool trucks all over them!