As a mother of 3 girls and 1 boy, I am inclined to mold my 4 year old son based on his gender. I am worried that my son fall to act like his sisters: soft and sensitive and his masculine gender might suffer. I want him to understand what it means to be a boy or a girl so as not to feel confused about it. I noticed that there are some instance that a boy with all girls siblings became gay, and a girl with all boy siblings became lesbian. And I don’t want this thing to happen to my only son.
My worry is common to many mothers raising boy surrounded with girls siblings. The environment plays a vital role in the development of boys, so with the girls. During the early childhood years, boys learn about gender roles through socialization with family and peers. Gender typing usually peaks during the early preschool years.
So,as early as now, I want to monitor and mentor my son for him to know the difference between the two genders. I tell my son that wailing just because of a minor scratch isn’t becoming of a man and that he has to show that he is strong and brave. I encourage him to talk to anyone confidently because shyness has no room for a man. If I see him fall or slip, as long as he suffered no major injury, I just encourage him to carry on. And as early as now, I expose him to sports such as basketball and all other rough and tumble plays so that he will not be interested to play with her sisters playing dolls and kitchen toys.
I hope that with thorough and proper guidance, I will be able to raise my son as a proud gentleman in the real meaning of the word.