So I got a Spiderman school bag for my 4 year-old daughter, she looks at it and smiles, ‘mum, I like it!’
I’m happy she does because the whole Barbie-thingy isn’t really working for me – the pinky brights get easily dirty and I find myself scrubbing bags every other day, so I conveniently opt for the black and red colours of Spiderman. I like its aesthetics better, its lovely silver webs embellishes the face of the bag, and the mysterious red mask jumps off the black backdrop. Nice!
So I was a tad bit disappointed when she returns from school the next day and starts crying for a ‘Cinderella bag’.
‘I thought you liked your new Spiderman bag,’ I queried, curious as to what must have transpired in between 24 hours.
‘No, I want a Cinderella one, like the one I had before.’
After a packet of cheese-ball and a cup of Ribena, she confesses that the boys in her class think it is silly for her to carry a bag like theirs.
‘They said I should get a Cinderella bag like Bukky and Chidera.’
Ok, I know peer pressure is a common thing, but for a 4 year-old?!!! Lol!
I try, really hard, not to live a life of stereotype. I do not want to be placed in a box, so I stubbornly refused for her father to replace the Spiderman bag.
It is only a bag, it should not define who she is….it should not matter!
Personally, the whole Barbie-girlie thingy gets on my nerves! You walk into a shop with two girls and the shop attendants start thrusting pinky-barbie stuff at you, when all you want is a pair of brown sneakers that are comfortable for the girls to run in.
My girls have lots of pinky stuff, but graves aren’t going to roll on my side of town if I decide to balance their wardrobe with more, well, sensible stuff.
It may be a little selfish on my part – you see, Spiderman school bags come in black, so I get to wash only twice a month. Spiderman bags are bigger, so her food flask sits well in it, and those extra-long class books have enough space…
The next school day, I told her it was cool to carry whatever bag she fancies, and if she wants a barney bag next time in purple; or a winnie ‘d’ pooh, it’ll be fine, BUT the Spiderman bag MUST serve its course.
Children should be allowed to be children.
Call us at JollyKids SERVICE EXPRESS…we shop for your baby. 0803-328-6604, 0702-808-9176
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Hello Isi,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful idea for a blog and I find your service very interesting as well. I believe there is a market for it and I bet you must have had your 'eureka' idea out of a desperate need.
Good on you and congratulations.
What a way to instil self esteem into your 4 year old daughter!
I should be back, wishing you all the best and thank you for stopping by at mine.
God bless.
Hello Isi,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful idea for a blog and I find your service very interesting as well. I believe there is a market for it and I bet you must have had your 'eureka' idea out of a desperate need.
Good on you and congratulations.
Waoh, the boys told her it wasnt cool to carry spiderman bag, talk of gender roles. I like what you told her. It's good you let her know she can carry any bag she wants.
ReplyDeletethanks jide for stopping by twice, lol! i'll be visiting you more often. thanks again!
ReplyDelete@activist: abi o, its funny that even little children are caught in this peer pressure thingy. thanks for stopping by!
na wa o. i weak!!!!!!!!!!!! in my days, there were no distinction between a girls' bag & a boys' on. bag na bag. see wetin disney dey cause.
ReplyDeleteI can't just stop laughing at this post...
ReplyDeleteGuess peer pressure has no limits then!!!How's the spiderman bag these days anyway? ;)
@fluffy: i like this your name o! lol! its crazy o, all this peer pressure stuff. spiderman bag is great, am loving it every day, and my girl has gotten over her issues with the bag. lol!
ReplyDelete