The 3 Most Damaging Words You Can Tell Your Son

[Bettie]

59. We're older parents too

I'm 47 (DH is 52) and we have a five year old as well (and 11 and 13 year olds, all boys).

Your son sounds a lot like my little guy, especially with the whining, but that's a 5 year old thing.

All three of mine cry, sometimes more than they need to, but I'd rather see them able to show their emotions than bury them. My husband had to learn how to accept that he even has emotions.

My oldest played with dolls until he became more interested in legos. Not for any boy/girl reason, but because he loves babies and little kids. He's the first one wanting to hold babies or help out with the little ones. He's a nurturer at heart and I hope he never loses that trait.

My son comes home with the same things that yours does. Girls play with dolls, boys play with trucks...pink is a 'girl' color, blue is a 'boy' color.

I'm fat and he loves snuggling with me because 'mama is made of soft and warm', but he also cries when he comes home some days because 'fat bellies are ugly and will make you die'.

You sound like the same kind of mom I'm striving to be (unless you're a dad, can't really tell from your SN).

But it is hard to raise boys that aren't exactly like all the other boys.