I myself when I was 5 or 6 told my parents that when I grow up, I want to be a bear. I didn't have the rational understanding that I cannot become a bear. Why not? They do it on cartoons all the time. In short, I didn't understand a lot of fundamental things at that age. I was in an age where anything is possible to imagine.
If a boy is raised with girls and plays with girls, or if maybe he had a bad experience with bullies, he might well think it could be better to be a girl. But he doesn't have the mental concept of things yet. This is where parents and teachers should come in and gently explain the situation.
You can like girls, and bears. But you really can't become one. Now, how about some more Ovaltine?
I love your answer! It not only made sense but it made me laugh! Thanks!
You make excellent points. I was the oldest child, a girl, and I had two younger brothers. My parents and us kids had many conversations when we were little about how one day my brothers would both be bigger and taller than me, but they would never be older than me. We just couldn’t understand that at all.
These parents are doing a serious disservice to their child.
I had one son who totally believed he was part wolf. We were at a BBQ and he was telling my friends husband about his special powers. He insisted that the man hide and he would find him. The guy hides and my son comes out goes to the middle of the yard and puts his nose in the air to catch his scent. He takes off on all fours (btw, he could move, he was as fast as a kid running on two legs.) Gallops around the yard and finds him. It was hysterical, the BBQ was with HS friends and none of them had kids yet. Another time we were separated from my brother at an airshow and he told me not to worry because he would sniff him out.
Needless to say, he’s 17 now and he is not a wolf.
I think the school staff seem to be having just a little too much fun with this whole thing. They are busy busy busy.
And can you imagine if your parents called a press conference and stated: "Our son is now a bear. He's exploring his right to be whatever species he wants. It's only conservative christians who want to deny him his freedom to be whatever he wants. And we'll sue anyone who tries to impede his desires."
I am one who usually does not agree with the social warriors on this forum, but your response was perfectly sensible to me.