On expressing themselves

Just read this thought provoker over on Heather's blog. Having been reading about, and seeing pictures of her boys for quite some while... they are all boy. Even with pink tutus on... they are all boy. It made me think about my own kids.

With four boys, none of them have similar hair styles. I do the haircutting here, and give them free reign over what they would like done. One likes a conservative military cut, one has dreadlocks, one has hair to his shoulders, and one (as you see in the last post) is loving his new mohawk. The thing is... their personalities are as different as their hair. I couldn't imagine doing anything to stifle that.

I was the youngest child of 3, and the only girl. When I was about 4 years old, my older brothers dressed me up in their hockey equipment as a joke. My mom had been so happy to have a little girl in the house, and to buy little dresses. They dressed me all up, helmet, stick and all, and called my parents in to laugh at how cute and funny I looked. My mom had other plans though, and when I was old enough, had me out on figure skates, with visions of frilly little skater outfits. I would have none of that. I saw my brothers in the next rink, flying around with their friends, clearly having more fun. My parents knew my personality had been there for the get-go, and weren't about to stifle it. 14 years after my brothers dressed me in their equipment, I was dressing myself to play division 1 college hockey.

What would life have been like if my parents tried to mold me into what they thought I should be... if they had forced the figure skates. If having 7 kids has taught me anything, it's that no 2 are alike. They come with ready made personalities from the start. And that what makes things beautiful... even when they dress like this...