Christmas List

Like most parents, I have my kids make out Christmas lists every year. B's list had the kinds of things you might expect from a 13-year-old: iPhone 7, XBox games, a tea kettle, grey and black zip-up hoodies.  There was also something she didn't want listed.  In big letters it stated: NO MAKE UP.

B has worn make up for a couple of years.  At the beginning of this school year (you know - in September, just three months ago), she was wearing make up daily.  Her older sister, CJ, is almost 16 and wears make up.  They both have been known to watch youtube tutorials about how to apply make up.  But I guess part of the process of B exploring her own identity is that she doesn't want to look girly right now.

A couple of weeks ago, she was telling her dad that she wanted to get her hair cut again.  She has had a rather short cut since September.  She said she wanted to shave the sides and back (I believe this is referred to as a high and tight).  Basically a traditionally masculine cut.  Her dad said something about it not sounding very pretty.  He is kind of oblivious, but when B had left the room, I reminded him that she is exploring her identity and part of that is developing a more masculine look.  So he went and told her that he thought the new cut sounded fine.  He really is trying, but I guess just isn't very tuned into identity issues.

I must confess that this is all pretty foreign to me, as well.  I don't have any close friends who are lesbians.  Our youth pastor and next-door neighbor (same guy) is gay, but he is like 26 so we don't socialize as friends.  Really I just have a couple sets of FB friends who are married lesbians.  I am listening and trying to be understanding.  I am also asking my oldest daughter for help, like when I wanted to better understand the term pan-sexual or when I wanted to know more about the little relationship B had over the summer.

B has been going to an LGBTQI group at the community center on Friday afternoons.  Her best friend is gay and we try to ride-share.  I assume that she is learning about her identity as a lesbian from the kids in the group.  It is kind of interesting if you think about it.  While I know that lesbians don't have a certain look, it seems that queer youth start with the stereotypical identifiers (i.e. lesbians don't wear make up and have short hair) as they begin to establish their identity.

I guess we all do that, really.  We probably all did it multiple times.  Small children begin understanding the world with very rigid sexual traits.  Men have beards.  Women wear dresses.  Later we pick looks that appeal to us and mimic elements. Which explains why I chose this look in 1987:

Or does it?

 
 Here is a photo of my dog, Sam, and our Christmas tree.