have you heard of this?

autumn wren

https://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110524/ts_yblog_thelookout/parents-keep-childs-gender-under-wraps

The parents of this child aren't announcing the gender of their child...even after birth.

Kind of interesting. Definitely different. What are your thoughts?

twoBECAMEone

I read that earlier today. I think it's ridiculous, honestly. How do you not use he/she when talking about your child? It seems distancing to me.

Kflie83

I think they are freaks...like Michael Jackson.

eec129

Yeah, I read that....total freaks! Poor kids. They also don't believe their kids need school...go figure.

namara5532

Letting their kids dress unconventional does not make them freaks.  It's all cultural stereotypes anyway how someone should look.  If they were forcing their little boys into dresses, then that's not ok.  Letting a kid express themselves with their appearance doesn't make them freaks.

With that being said though, the parents should make it clear to their kids that people are going to react different ways to their true gender compared to how they may dress.  As long as the parents are supportive of what the kids want and understanding when others don't understand, there isn't a reason why they shouldn't be allowed to break some social dress code rules.

ChenoaF

Maybe the "intense" issue with gender that the one kid was feeling is because he's not being taught how to convey his gender to those around him. He's picking things on his own but he doesn't seem to know that that's the reason they are confusing him for a girl. This must be a really confusing lesson for a child that age.

It's a different story if the kids understood the differences and chose to take a stand and accept the repercussions on their own. 

namara5532

That's a good point.  It's why I argue it's the parents' responsibility to explain why people may react strangely to their appearance.  There is a way to do so without telling them they're not allowed anymore.  Hopefully the confused little boy will have it explained to him so he can make an educated choice.

Kellyinpink

Ahhhh...thats weird! I don't even know what to think about this one!

califorever81

A lot of kids don't need school. I think their schooling choices and gender neutral views are separate.

besu-chan

ChenoaF:

Maybe the "intense" issue with gender that the one kid was feeling is because he's not being taught how to convey his gender to those around him. He's picking things on his own but he doesn't seem to know that that's the reason they are confusing him for a girl. This must be a really confusing lesson for a child that age.

It's a different story if the kids understood the differences and chose to take a stand and accept the repercussions on their own. 

this

As for their schooling, while yes, there are kids who "don't need school", everyone needs an education. And if they aren't trained or at least using materials that help them to know how to get a child to understand concepts, or even what concepts they should know at what age etc, then the parents are doing their children a disservice in my opinion. There's a reason I went to school and took many certification tests to learn to be a teacher, and am now still in school working on my masters- knowing how to teach young children is a very difficult but very important task and cannot be replaced by simply "following the child's whim" or whatever. Do they also get to just eat whatever foods they want too?

aemmert360

Kflie83:

I think they are freaks...like Michael Jackson.

I have to completely agree. This is absolutely ridiculous.  Did it harm any of us for our friends and family to know our gender growing up? I was a little tom-boy for several years, because I had two brother and wanted to hang out with them. That was still my choice regardless of my gender.

Also, the un-schooling thing is stupid, How is your child ever going to function in the real work world when they turn 18? School is about more than just learning you subjects, but socialization skills and social norms.

Good luck with getting a 'perfectly normal' child if you try this approach!