Whatever makes you happy.
Brad wrote…
It was Christmas Day, and I was wearing the earrings I had just bought. My little brother approached me, a disconcerted look on his face.
“You look a girl,” he said.
“Sometimes I feel like it,” I replied.
After a moment of comprehension, he hugged me. He said, “Whatever makes you happy.”
This experience still makes me smile.
What’s your experience?
Posted by julian on June 14th, 2010 at 08:00 am
Category: your voice 7 comments »
June 14th, 2010 at 9:14 am |
It would be wonderful if we could have your little brother’s attitude become the dominant cultural norm.
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June 14th, 2010 at 9:28 am |
God, if only my sister were like that! My mother actually doesn’t mind at all; however my sister’s still in high scholl and it bothers her when her friends make comments about me. Now, what 15 and 16 year old girls think about my appearance doesn’t bother me in the least. But it makes her feel uncomfortable. Her response to this is just to yell at me about my appearance. It’s a little immature, I suppose, but I know she loves me and that’s why she does it. Even if she isn’t conscious of that fact.
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June 14th, 2010 at 1:15 pm |
I am so happy for you!!
I had a similar experience this weekend with a close friend who I’ve not seen since I got my ears pierced and grew out my hair. I can tell my appearance made him a little uneasy, but eventually he just rolled his eyes and said “whatever”. I’ve never know him to be too open minded about gender, so eliciting a non-negative response made me happy.
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June 15th, 2010 at 10:12 am |
Aw, that’s so cute! And what a wonderful response to get.
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June 16th, 2010 at 1:50 am |
i wish i had a brother like that
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July 8th, 2010 at 9:36 am |
You are so lucky to have someone like him in your family. My mom’s supportive but doesn’t understand. My dad trys to sweep it under the rug. And my little brother is the biggest bigot I know.
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July 8th, 2010 at 9:52 am |
@Nora et al… That’s hard. Your parents are supposed to disapprove of you and make life hard for you – that’s their job, but when a brother or sister says they hate you because of who you are, that’s doubly sad.
When my sister came out to my mother as a lesbian (in the 1980’s) all my mother said was, “does than mean I get a t-shirt?” I am very fortunate not to have any regressive ultra-right relatives – or I do, they disowned our branch of the family years before I was ever born.
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