Thursday, September 13, 2007

Every mother's dream: 1st place in the tractor pull

Being the mother of a girl is a tough, scary job. On top of general health, happiness, and welfare, you have to worry about plummeting self-esteem, body image issues, an overly sexualizing culture.


So when it comes to my little xx-chromosome bearer, I praise her athleticism in addition to her adorableness. I ban Bratz dolls and their skanky sisters. When, a few months ago, a classmate told Jo she had fat legs (!) (I know), we talked about strong muscles and how it's not kind to call anyone fat or skinny.


And today, I'm going to pat myself on the back just a little because I think some of this is sinking in. We stayed after school yesterday afternoon, hanging around at the playground as many kids and moms do. As we left, Jo told me that one of the girls had been telling her about the "secret pee places" (!) (?) (I know) in the schoolyard. "Like places you can go pee if you need to. When you are outside."


I reminded her that we most certainly do not pee in the yard. She replied that her friend said she had to or else they couldn't be friends.


My mind raced, trying to think of the best way to respond. Then Jo nonchalantly added that she didn't have to pee, so she just told the other girl that she didn't need to go right now, and they both carried on. Minor peer-pressure crisis averted.


On a roll, once in the car I reminded her of the birthday party invitation she'd received recently, for an "utimate hula girl party." And I quote: "Each girl comes in her swimsuit, gets a hula skirt to wear and is treated to a Hawaiian makeover with up-do, make-up, and nail polish. Then the whole group learns the hula!"



Win #2: She stands by her first instinct, to decline the invite. She'd said she wanted to go, but she did not want to "wear the bathing suit or do the part with the lipstick or the dancing." That's my little feminist! When I told her that she couldn't really avoid that stuff if she attended the party, she decided she wouldn't go at all.


Oh, and win #3? That would be the tractor pull she won this weekend. Oh yeah. At "family farm" day at the zoo (where, how lucky are we, we also got to meet two lovely residents of Binkytown), she pedaled a mini John Deere more than 8 feet -- the second-place finisher eked out 3.5 feet.


tractor pullin' girl



















You go, girl. (Also, tell those guys to get out of my shot.)

19 comments:

Christina said...

Woo-hoo! You've got a tough one there who knows her own mind! I'm so proud of her. Winning the truck pull is impressive, too.

Magpie said...

What a great post! I hope mine turns out as sensibly as yours. I had to decline a "come as your favorite princess" birthday party last winter because I just couldn't do it (and I loathe the kids and their mother, but the princess thing was over the top).

Bea said...

Wow, that invite really has a "you will be assimilated" vibe, doesn't it?

Anonymous said...

You go, Jo! Be your own girl. It's the best way to be. :-)

GHD said...

You have one very awesome little girl.

PunditMom said...

I think PunditGirl would enjoy hanging with your daughter. Right now she's in her "sporty girl" phase -- T-shirts and sport shorts are the wardrobe every day! And the tractor pull -- hey, her grandpa is a farmer, so we're down with that!

Julie Marsh said...

"Secret pee place"? "SECRET PEE PLACE"?

Holy farking shee-it.

I love that she knows what appeals to her and what doesn't, and that she's not swayed by peer pressure. But I'm not surprised either. :)

Shelby said...

enjoyed the post :)

Suzanne said...

Go Jo! She certainly seems to know her own mind. That hula party sets my teeth on edge, and unfortunately I bet Allie would just love it...

Jennifer (ponderosa) said...

Minor peer-pressure crisis averted.

I read that as "pee-pressure crisis." Ha!

Go go wee girlie! You've made all us feminists proud.

Alex Elliot said...

Way to go, feminist Jo! I'm also a little disturbed by the secret pee place.

Girlplustwo said...

you go girl, indeed.

and i love the secret peeing place.

Unknown said...

Great post. Big claps and smiles.

Lady M said...

Pee-pressure, tee-hee!

Way to go on that tractor pull! We need to find us one of these festivals.

Damselfly said...

How mature she is!

Anonymous said...

I know it's going to be difficult to teach Myles everything he needs to know about gender and the fact that we don't have to apply traditional roles, but I think having a daughter would be that much more difficult.
You're doing a great job.

Kimberly said...

Very cool little girl you've got there. :-)

Tanya Siekman said...

What a lucky Mommy you are. She's making wise choices already! Good going Mom! I only hope I'm that lucky when my triplets get into school!

Tanya

Anonymous said...

Mayberry Mom, you rock! And your daughter is awesome! Love that tractor pull victory.

Social pressure, wow! We didn't have forced make-over parties when we were kids!?! Since when is nail polish an essential for the hula? Gee whiz.

You are a great example. I can't believe the peer pressure stuff kids have to face. Yikes! I hope I can help my little one navigate with such ease when the time comes.