Toy make-up
I happened to look at my daughter’s toy make-up set the other day, and I could not believe my eyes. Keep in mind, this was targeted to 2 year olds. She’s had it since Christmas, but clearly, I never looked that closely at the toy concealer bottle. Did you catch it?
Is it REALLY that big of a deal?
Some of you may be thinking right now, come on! Is that really THAT big of a deal? Toddlers aren’t going to be looking at that. You’re making a mountain out of a mole hill. But I’d argue that we absolutely have to push back on this. These small, subtle messages is how Western culture dies – by a thousand paper cuts. Not that it’s about Western culture that needs saving, per say, but it’s about the biggest influence on Western culture – Christianity.
Honestly, just take a minute and think what this is communicating to some of the youngest in our community. Concealer can be worn by anyone! Men or women. Everyone uses it! Men and women must be the same.
We can’t let these things go unaddressed for the sake of keeping the peace. This won’t go away if we ignore it.
Different
I realize we do not live at a time when there is any particular punishment if men and women wear each other’s clothing (Deuteronomy 22:5). However, the sentiment in God’s Word remains. Men and women are different. And attempting to androgenize the two genders, especially communicating that to toddlers, is frankly wicked.
Our kids naturally perceive differences between men and women. As parents, we need to add Biblical context, wisdom, and truth to that natural perception. Of course, we are both made in the image of God, and we are both equally valued in the eyes of the LORD. However, we are different. And that is not just OK, that is beautiful.
The differences that the LORD has hard wired into men and women should never try to be “fixed” in order to flatten the playing field. I was listening to Albert Mohler the other day, and he was talking about how baby formula is apparently something to be embraced so that fathers can get up just as often as mothers do during the night. The job of being mama is just too much, therefore dad must get in there and feed the baby too. Preferably just as often as mamas do. And since breastfeeding (although leaps and bounds better for baby and mama, but whatever, let’s skip those pesky details) falls primarily on mama’s laps, that’s just not fair. Therefore, formula for the win. Down with the patriarchy! Equality for women!
Not fair
I’ve been around the block a time or two and can most definitely say that yes, breastfeeding is hard. And it’s not fair. At all. Especially at night. The demands on a mama those first few months of a baby’s life are extremely challenging. I’m not trying to downplay how hard it is (I’d be the last person to do that! I’ve been there and done that a LOT! I know how difficult it is). But just because it’s hard and “unfair” doesn’t mean it’s not good and an enormous blessing.
First of all, the LORD never promised us that life would be fair. But we can trust the LORD to do what’s right and know that what He created is good. Again, yes, it’s hard to be a mama those first few months. But the responsibilities of a father are extremely hard as well. Those responsibilities generally won’t look the same as mamas, and/or they will show up at different times. And that’s OK.
Fathers provide what a child needs in very different ways than a mother. And they are just as essential as us mamas are. When it comes down to it, the LORD designed a family to function this way, and I’d say the Designer knows best how to make it all work, wouldn’t you agree?
There may be overlap in our responsibilities, and there may be times when fathers take an overnight shift. And that’s fine! But the point is that men and women are different. To emasculate men so that men and women are more similar than not, only hurts our culture. And to make women more like men hurts families. Really, no one wins when we try to make men and women the same.
Clarity please
As Believers in Christ, we need to be very clear to our children that there are differences between boys and girls. And those differences are God ordained and wonderful! I loved reading God Made Boys and Girls to our children. It’s a very straightforward book that recognizes there may be artistic boys and athletic girls, but that doesn’t mean those children are in the wrong bodies or that they can somehow change their body to match gender stereotypes. The LORD gives both men and women a variety of gifts and talents. But with respect to gender, there are two. And whatever your gender is, that will never change.
Elephants are not birds by Brave books is another fantastic book on this topic! And for other children’s books that unintentionally address the topic of the immutability of gender, I’m a Frog and A Porcupine Named Fluffy are awesome too!
For older kids, It’s great to be a guy or It’s great to be a girl helps kids understand their changing bodies and celebrate how the LORD made them. And for adults, Love thy body is EXCELLENT! It helped me understand so much of what is happening culturally right now, especially with respect to the gender confusion being pushed right now. I wrote a review on the book HERE.
We have several resources for the entire family. But best of all, we have the Word of God. The choice is ours. Will we coast and ignore the elephant in the room? Or will we stand for truth and inoculate ourselves and our children against the madness of our current culture?
CHECK OUT:
The Family Book Savings Club REBOOT!
Remember, we’ve updated the Family Book Savings Club! We think it’s going to work much better than before.
We are offering discounts now based on the billing cycle. The Monthly Book Club offers flexibility, the 6 Month Book Club offers stability (7% discount), and the 1 Year Book Club offers the largest discount (12% discount). For more information, click HERE!
You can also adjust your membership based on the number of people in your household. We will communicate with you via email to assure you have fantastic books that are curated specifically for your family every month!
Still not sure? You can cancel any time!
Click the button below to find out more!
