"I Like To Think Of It By Myself"

Yesterday, there were several three-year-olds at the snack table, including some girls costumed in our fancy dress up clothes, a couple with baby dolls on their arms. Normally, we have a policy of not bringing toys to the table, but it's not strictly enforced. Clara handed me her doll, the baby she had been breast feeding all morning, and asked me to be the babysitter while she ate. Naturally, I agreed, asking, "Is this a girl baby or a boy baby?"

There was moment of what I took for confused silence before Cecelia laughed, "Teacher Tom, it's a girl baby because it's wearing a dress."

Callie replied earnestly, "Boys can wear dresses."

There was then a short, general discussion around the table on the important topic of boys and dresses.

At some point I said, "I'm a boy and I've worn dresses before."

"Teacher Tom, you can't wear a dress!"

I answered, honestly, "Oh, I really don't like when people tell me what I can and can't do."

Yuri, who had stayed out of the conversation up to this point, replied, "I don't like when my mom and dad tell me what to do . . . I like to think of it by myself, then do it."

I said, "I'll be the boss of me and you be the boss of you."

And Yuri answered, "Right."

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