“Soft”

Disclaimer: If this offends, then, yes…I AM talking to YOU. Yes, there will be lots of capitalized words in this one.

I have a 12 year-old son.

My boy is quirky and hyperactive, as boys tend to be. As children are.

He’s also extremely polite and sensitive, and because I’m a little rough around the edges, I’m aware of the times I hurt his feelings.

I try not to do it, though it happens.

Some men (Rick, I’m looking at YOUR dumb ass, specifically), have told me my son is too soft.

A child. Who hasn’t seen many, if ANY, hardships in his life, because I make it so he knows he’s loved and will do all I can to ensure that he doesn’t suffer like I did.

Is “soft.”

Because he’s not outside running wild or picking on kids, or just being the asshole that some kids with shitty parents (cuz yeah. Bad parents start kids on the road to being assholes) often grow into?

What you’re really saying is that a CHILD is WEAK.

Well, duh, you stupid bitches. They’re FUCKING KIDS.

Why does a CHILD need to navigate the world the way an ADULT does?

Here’s what we’re NOT going to do, yeah?

We are NOT going to spew toxic masculinity at ANY child, let alone my own.

We are not going to be ignorant BERKS. I don’t care if that’s redundant.

We will NOT diminish a male child for being kind and polite.

We are NOT going to make them feel bad because they AREN’T naughty.

We are NOT going to PROJECT onto KIDS in ways WE lack as ADULTS.

We are not going to belittle SINGLE MOTHERS for raising male children to have EMPATHY.

Y’all mofos need some soul searching. And again, if I don’t say it often enough…try THERAPY.

The world is a wonderful place full of SHITTY people (those who find offense in that statement, be less shitty. Please and thank you). Why wouldn’t I want my kid to be one less shitty person?

I grew up rough. A lot of my childhood was traumatic, as was many of us who are just trying to stay sane amidst the chaos.

My son has been spared a lot of that trauma because I make damned sure his life is different.

You think I’m gonna let some idiot with lunatic ideals about what being male is about undo the lessons I’m teaching my boy about being a HUMAN BEING in this shitshow of an existence?

I’m the teacher, and you gonna learn today that I’m from the school of FAFO.

Do. Better. Also, for a person with no sons, it’s not YOUR job to try to school someone on how to raise THEIRS. Maybe, be a better father to your DAUGHTERS, yes?

Effing clod.

Liz K