So, my wife’s sister and her four girls have been here a full week as of today.
My son E has loved the company of four kids to play with. The youngest of them is a few months younger than he, the oldest is nine. He is learning to share his toys (with varying degrees of success) and he is also learning to share their toys.
There’s one in particular he has taken a shine to.
In fact, you can say he is transfixed. The other day, I noticed he was sitting quietly at a table. Quieter than usual. His back was to me, so I couldn’t see what was holding his interest so much. Then he turned and I saw in his hands, a purple horse.
No, not a horse, but a purple pony.
A purple My Little Pony.
And he was brushing its hair.
Woah, my inner guy said, that’s a girl’s toy!
Being an open minded sort, the idealist in me has always said that I won’t force my son to play sports, play with masculine toys or do typically ‘manly’ activities like some dads I’ve known. I’ve always been of the opinion that my kids will like what they like and I won’t try to influence them.
However, I don’t want to push my son over the edge by giving him a girly toy. I mean, this thing couldn’t be more feminine if it were pink with a big flower on its rear!
I didn’t react, though. In fact, it was cute to watch him pay careful attention while brushing the horse’s mane with the tiny plastic brush.
To date, he has gravitated towards boyish toys such as cars, trucks and it took him a while to actually WANT to sleep with a teddy bear in his crib.
Suddenly, his cousin realized that E had her pony and snatched it back. She’s not so big into sharing.
E’s mouth opened wide, his face turned red and he burst into tears. My son was crying over a My Little Pony.
“Horse,” he cried out, pointing to the toy which was ‘stolen’ from him.
Something about calling it a horse made it a bit less girly, though.
I began to have an internal debate whether or not I should actually buy him a My Little Pony he can call his own (and brush its pretty hair).
Is this a gateway to Barbie Dolls?
Speaking of which, have you seen how revealing Barbie’s clothes are these days?! I almost felt like I might be carded if I bought one. I won’t even get into the Bratz dolls, those little streetwalking tarts.
So, later on, while I was at my ‘favorite’ store (Target), I decided to look for a My Little Pony. However, none of them had brushes! All of the ponies came with other accessories such as a purse, a hat and a tennis racket. A tennis racket! How the hell is a pony supposed to play tennis?! I would not at all have been surprised to see a My Little Pony with a chef’s hat and a mixing bowl strapped to its leg.
And all the ponies were SUPER GIRLY! Yes, they even had a pink one with a flower on its rear!
I just couldn’t bring myself to buy one. I guess I’m not nearly as open minded in practice as I am in thought.
Then this morning, as my son was waking up, I heard him mumbling to himself as he tends to do, each word ramping up in frustration to be rescued from his crib, eventually becoming words cried out. Oftentimes, he’ll say stuff like mommy, daddy, or he’ll mention something he really wants to do, like watch the movie Cars or play Word World.
Today, he said something else upon waking.
“Horsey,” he cried.
So, I’m going to find a store that has a My Little Pony with a brush. And I will buy it for my son.
Unless its pink and there’s a big flower on its butt.
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You could always just get him a stuffed horse and a hair brush. I bet it would do.
Funny, my poor nephew is the only boy amongst all of his sisters and girl cousins and he took to my daughter’s My Little Pony too. Hmmm… I think the pony people might need to put out a boy pony with a firecracker on his butt, don’t you think?
Ts last blog post..Perspective
How funny but bless his heart. Get the boy a HORSE, it’s not like he’s asking for makeup and skinny jeans….. yet!! ;0)
Dave, you’re so mean. Why don’t you just let E have one of yours you selfish parent, you.
Dave Fowlers last blog post..How To Delete ALL Your Twitter Direct Messages In One Go
Just don’t give him one of those mannequin heads with the toy make up and brushes! I’d say that even if he were a girl. Those things freak me the word you aren’t going to say anymore out.
Tracy O’Connors last blog post..Money Money Money, MONEY!
“they even had a pink one with a flower on its rear!”
You totally stole my comment. LOL The minute I first read that I knew how I wanted to respond. LOL Maybe you could find him a different kind of horsey that he would be happy with. Our Target has an “animal” section with all different kinds of little animal figurine things. Obviously I don’t know the proper name, but I’m sure you understand what I’m getting at.
Jennifers last blog post..She was a damn good mother.
Okay, you all have given me inspiration for another post – boy’s versions of My Little Pony. Look for that on Thursday. I’ll respond to each of your posts in a bit – got more family coming over right now.
Growing up, I always thought girls had the cooler toys. Don’t get my wrong, I loved my GI Joes and Ninja Turtles, but I also really wanted a My Little Pony, and a Strawberry Shortcake doll, and an Easy Bake Oven, etc… Seriously, boys get/got the short end of the stick.
I’m with T, I think they need to come out with a My Little Pony for boys. Boys still like combing hair and stuff, and it’d be far less girly if it was a black or blue with something like a firecraker or skull and crossbones on it. Then it could be a pirate My Little Pony, now that would be awesome.
christophers last blog post..Garden Update
I think a My Little Pony is great for a lad. I think it would much worse to stop him from having something to play with. Boys like girly colours, and I think, it is because girls wear girly colours.
SingleParentDads last blog post..My Son is a Compost Heap
Get the boy his stinkin’ pony.
I hate how certain toys are geared toward one certain sex or the other. I’m sure there are lots of boys out there dying to play with My Little Pony but their dear old dad (or mom!) wouldn’t buy one for them. And hell, if Disney can crank out FISHING RODS with Disney Princesses on them (I kid you not! Isn’t there something a little wrong about a FISHING ROD with The Little Mermaid on it???), then why the blue hell can’t they put out a My Little Pony with a racecar on its butt, hmmmm?
MommaSunshines last blog post..Inspiration
Darn it! I just got rid of three of those ponies and their brush at our moving sale, or I would have happily sent them to you. Ironically, I didn’t want them because I don’t like how stereotypically “girly” they are either—for our little girl. And, more importantly, I think they’re ugly as sin. If I’m going to trip over cheap plastic crap left lying around my house, it shouldn’t also give me psychedelic nightmares!
Wendy
Wendys last blog post..All That You Can Leave Behind
When I was a tween, I wanted a track racecar set SO BADLY. I asked Santa for it 3 years running. But I never got it.
After all, those were BOY toys.
It seems that there is a blue My Little Pony out there somewhere… I remember buying one for my daughter ages ago.
GreenJellos last blog post..Random Tuesday Thoughts
Like I said in response to your tweet, no problem with Ponies.
My sister gave (loaned?) me one of her Ponies when I went to university.
It was Minty.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minty_(My_Little_Pony)
It was a total chick magnet.
Get him the Pony
Brett Legrees last blog post..seemingly random thoughts on a rainy tuesday evening.
Believe it or not, back in the day, my little sister was in love with My Little Ponies. This is the little sister that wouldn’t play Barbie with me, unless I could incorporate her Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars (and later, the ponies, too).
They used to have “boy” ponies, too. You might have to shop vintage, but I recall some blue ones – and T made me laugh, since yes, I think there was a pony named Firecracker, with a firecracker on the butt.
Okay, now I have to go try and get the My Little Ponies theme song out of my head. Maybe some Strawberry Shortcake memories will help.
RC – Rambling Alongs last blog post..Celebrating today
Three daughters and working on not getting anyone a “sexually stereotyped” toy…we had paints and crayons, and lincoln logs, puzzles, and lego and clay, and science kits and everyone loved building with Dad in the garage…We still have an historic wooden chair one built, and 2 doll houses one with furniture from England and lots of paintings on our walls…
They all loved their My Little Ponies – yellow, green, blue, pink and purple (we had some Barbie moments too) and all the little boys in our play group made a bee line to My Little Pony and the brush and the doll houses and the store with the real working cash register ( one of our first computers). My friend Joel at age 5 summed it up very well when he said, ” I am practicing taking care of someone”
You comb E’s hair and bath him…he is learning to care.
What a lovely post and sharing Thank you
Patricias last blog post..What is Marriage?
I’m conflicted.. I have no problem with my three year old daughter playing with pirates or learning ninja moves from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles..
It makes me proud to see her enjoy a good action flick with me. She gets concerned when the girl in the movie gets hurt..
But my 19 month old son playing with Ponies???
Those cousins will not be allowed in my house EVER again…
Boltons last blog post..My Economic Stimulus Request – Drying Time
You have nothing to worry about. My son was seen many times at age two parading around in his sister’s blue Cinderella dress and high heels, but now he’s four and he wouldn’t be caught dead in it.
Coreys last blog post..Ramblings of a Delirious Mom
when my boy turned 5 he wanted a Barbie, and the Barbie Volkswagen… we are NOT, repeat, NOT Barbie people here, his bigger sister didnt even own one… but he was quite insistant… as it turned out, he had a crush on a girl in kindy who LOVED Barbie, she gave him one for his birthday, we bought the Volkswagon and a Ken
He played with the Volkswagon a ton, it had wheels and a horn…. now at 12, he’s all boy. Oh yes, we have pics of him in a sparkly dance leotard too….saving that for Grad or wedding.
you are somewhat like trapped between the idealism on letting a little boy discover things around him and the masculine part of you ehhehe…
there i think lots of horsey out there that are more masculine in features. but i think you should not worry that much
elmots last blog post..Who is the Emerging Influential Blogger? Poof!
Loved this! My friend thought she’d got it sussed when she bought Kens and Action Men for her boy and Barbies for her girl till she saw her boy making the two Kens kiss in a Californian open top sports car.
janices last blog post..Birds, Bees and Blogging
As I Tweeted you before: you think you have problems, my 6 year old son has discovered High School Musical.
If he asks me to take him to see Hannah Montana, I’m giving him back . . .
Tara@Sticky fingerss last blog post..Wordless Wednesday: Part girl/part mountain goat
My oh my!!!
LOL!!!!
how about a playmobill horse?!?!?!?!
UrbanVoxs last blog post..Who’s afraid of chages?!?!
Having grown up with one brother and one sister I played mostly with boy toys like Thundercat, He-Man dolls and Transformers.
We did however sit down and play Sylvanian Families with my sister.
It’s probably a good way of achieving a healthy balance or as Patricia so aptly puts it teaching him to care.
Marc – WelshScribes last blog post..SEO 101: An Overview
I totally would have bought the pony too. He’s only little, let him play with what he wants. There’ll be plenty of time for gender stereotyping when he’s older.
Lady Mamas last blog post..The (cat) fight to see who has it the worst
I hear you about the inner guy thing. I think I would be pointing out the exploits of a new truck or something, but if he really wanted it I would do the same.
James (Seattledad)s last blog post..On Travel With Friends
That’s really hilarious… on the contrary it is not as shocking and unusual for a girl to play with toys aimed towards boys.
a father’s diarys last blog post..Personality Development
T- You have given me an idea for my followup. Thanks!
OMG – LOL, thanks.
Dave – Because last time I lent out one of MY girlish toys, you never returned it!
Tracy – If it weren’t for mannequin heads, Fowler would never of had a date in high school!
Jennifer – I am sure those cheapy looking plastic animals have lead in them.
christopher – Thanks for adding to my follow up post – a pirate pony!
SinglePArentDad – Yeah, our liking of girly colors makes us that much more manly!
MommaSunshine – MAybe they can do a Pixar Cars My Little Pony!
Wendy – LOL, trippy ponies! And thanks for the thought, I’m sure E woulda loved a whole stable of ponies!
GreenJEllo – I found a blue one for him tonight!
Brett – And where is Minty nowadays?
RC – I’d stay away from any vintage toys, what with the whole lead in the toys thing. I found him a blue one today. I’ll update with a post tomorrow.
Patricia – Thanks, I hadn’t thought of it that way!
Bolton – LOL
Corey – Well, I guess I can be glad that his cousins didn’t bring a bunch of dresses with them.
Trina – I’m sure your son will be glad to see those photos someday!
elmot – Thanks. It’s not like I’m all that masculine myself. Most of my friends are women and I’ve never been into typical guy stuff like cars and fixing things, etc…
janice – Now, there’s a therapy session waiting to happen!
Tara – Well, he could have a crush on Hannah Montanna. And he has that whole pretty boy look that the popular boy bands have, so he will likely be a lady killer once he hits his tweens.
UrbanVox – Not sure what that is, but we resolved it tonight with the purchase of a blue pony. Pic forthcoming.
Marc – He-Man rocked! Never saw a Thundercat toy, though. Also liked Transformers, though we couldn’t afford them, so I wound up with the less than ideal and much cheaper lame ass GoBots.
Lady Mama – Thanks, we are.
James – Well, I am encouraged that he likes animals. At first, he was scared of many of them.
a father’s diary – Thanks. And the girls are having a ball with his cars and his basketball hoop and stuff.
Did I ever tell you that one of my son’s favorite things is his night night? And that that night night is pink? Yup, he never cared for the blue one we bought him and traded with his sister a looooong time ago. So pink it is.
Writer Dads last blog post..My Dad – A Father’s Day Poem
Minty is living with her “mom” and all of her siblings, in Toronto.
(My sister and her husband currently have no kids, but they have a million My Little Ponies, a bunch of cats, mice, you name it…)
Brett Legrees last blog post..seemingly random thoughts on a rainy tuesday evening.
wow, good thing to know that you actually grew up in a household and with the circle of friends which are not imposing the rigid masculine atmosphere. or worse a chauvanist culture.
elmots last blog post..I Can’t Understand Why Politicians Say the Darndest Things?
It takes a real man to give his son My Little Pony. Kudos.
Pingback: My Little Ponies for Little Dudes — Blogger Dad
BloggerDad. There are actually Male My Little Ponies. They’re called the ‘Big Brother Ponies’
There was ’4-Speed’ with a dumptruck on his rump, ‘Salty’ with a tugboat, ‘Slugger’ with a baseball bat and glove, ‘Steamer’ with a train, ‘Tex’ with a cactus and ‘Score’ with an american football/rugby ball.
I don’t know if they were made as toys though. I do recall having a blue one with orange hair when I was younger so maybe they do…..
…. Okay I looked it up and found Tex!
http://www.retrojunk.com/img/art-images/tex.jpg
Obviously since these were for sale all the way back in the 80s you might not find them new anymore. I’d suggest going somewhere like Ebay. Or Collectors stores.
EDIT – Or you could always get him one of these XD
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2008/04/master-chiefmy/
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Aww, My Little Pony isn’t that bad!! I know several boys that like them (though my boyfriend would probably rather make a bonfire with them). Good luck in finding a pony for your son!
It may be worth it to look around on ebay a bit
There are “boy” ponies, called Big Brothers and are far less “femme”, so maybe you’d feel a bit better about giving him one of those 
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I featured your purple pony on my blog (about horses) and you can bring your little guy over anytime so he can brush away to his heart’s content. My Horses have tons of mane and tail, and they love to be brushed! And they’re not pink.
Love your post!
.-= heidi´s last blog ..Gray Factor in Horses =-.
P.S. I also linked back to you, of course!
.-= heidi´s last blog ..Gray Factor in Horses =-.