Forever and a day aog, I worked at a large, independent toy store. For much longer than I would like to admit. But, at the time, I loved it. It was SO me.
But while there, I used to think about boys and girls and whether or not our toy choices for them influenced the way they played or what they wanted to play with. Why was the girls section glaringly pink? Why was the boy’s across the store from the girl’s where there could there be no mixing of toys, with only board games, Crayloa or bikes in between them? Should little kids toys not be fun for boys AND girls?
And then I had a daughter. And we dressed her in pink – all the time. And we bought her cute girly toys. And pink blankets. And pink soothers. I didn’t realize I was doing it, but this is how it was. And often still is.
But as she got older, the toys became more and more gender neutral. They were learning toys and books and they weren’t really geared towards boys or girls. And then someone bought Jaia a doll around her first birthday, and it was all over. She was in love. It became her favourite toy, one she wants around AT ALL TIMES.
So…now I wonder if our early pink invasion caused it, or if girls really are maternal by nature. I’m thinking the latter.
