Children's Book Week, Day 5: Cheryl Kilodavis & Jodie Patterson

My Princess Boy                                                    Born Ready: The True Story of a Boy Named Penelope
Written by Cheryl Kilodavis                                   Written by Jodie Patterson
Illustrated by Suzanne DiSimone                           Illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow
Aladdin, 2009                                                         Crown Books, 2021

Can we agree that, when states equate trans-affirming health care with child abuse, when parents are prosecuted for defending their kids, when unreasonable people would have you believe doctors are taking a scalpel to the genitalia of kindergarteners, it is time for voices of reason?

In both these books, parents are presented with the unexpected. A young child expresses gender dysphoria. It appears in different forms. The Princess Boy likes to dress up; Penelope wants to be treated as a boy.

An unsympathetic soul might immediately leap to all the scary what ifs. What happens when the bullying starts? Does this mean you want surgery? What happens if you change your mind? Does this mean you're gay/lesbian?

Someone who's read these books, however, will know what to do. First respond with love. Don't ask "Why do you want that?" Don't assume you've failed in some way as a parent. Let your initial reaction be acceptance. If you react with fear or disapproval, you've just told your child they're not safe in their own home. Bad decisions will ensue.

Start the transition in the safety of the home, where the child knows they're seen, heard, and loved. Work out the details out as you go. You're allowed to take baby steps, and it's in no one's interest to rush blindly into the unknown. Educate yourself; advocate for your kid with the administrators, teachers, coaches, etc. Don't let uncertainty or preconceptions paralyze you.

Let your child's gender diversity be their superpower. Be the Alfred to their Batman. 

Let love be without hypocrisy (Romans 12:9)