WWYD? Girlie backpack

**Cricket1** · 06-30-2008, 02:48 PM

We went to LL Bean's yesterday and the boys picked out there backpacks. DS#2 is going into kindergarten and picked out a red one with a shark on it. DS#1 is going into the second grade and picked out a light blue (almost hydrangea blue) one with lime green and a panda bear on it. DS#2 told him that it was for girls. He looked kinda sad and then went and found an all black one instead! I told him that if he liked the panda one, he should get it. He decided to go for it and brought home the panda.

It really is girlie, though. He even found it in the girl's section. I don't want him to get picked on at school, but I want him to be an individual, too. If he likes it, he should use it. DH thinks it's too girlie and he'll get picked on.

What would you do?

**Greebo** · 06-30-2008, 02:54 PM

Keep the receipt and be prepared to exchange it for an all black one after the first day of school?

Or teach him to say, "I'm not girlie, I'm metrosexual! What are you, a homophobe?" (But I hope he's got good playground battle skills then...)

**Cricket1** · 06-30-2008, 02:54 PM

Here's the link so you can see it. It doesn't really show the lime green. http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/sto...Search&feat=sr

**Greebo** · 06-30-2008, 02:55 PM

Oh THATS not too bad. He can get away with, "My mom made me take it", in that case.

**Cricket1** · 06-30-2008, 02:57 PM

Greebo--the beauty of LL Bean is that you can return something anytime for any reason, so you do have a point there. His playground battle skills leave a lot to be desired. He's a lover, not a fighter.

**Russ** · 06-30-2008, 02:58 PM

tell him to "blame mom" as Greebo said. I blame my wife for lots of things.

**AmyBoz** · 06-30-2008, 02:59 PM

Personally, I'd keep it. He likes the lime green panda backpack, he gets the lime green panda backpack.

I'm so against things like gender roles for kids, even though I know they are so ingrained in society. My daughter loved to play with matchbox cars when she was little. My youngest son carries around a baby doll that he "feeds," "washes," and cares for. My middle son wants to have his nails painted because his sister does. Who cares? They aren't hurting anyone, and I've taught them to say things like, "You may not like it, but I do," and we constantly work on we don't do things to be "cool", we do things to be right and happy. If they are happy, I am happy.

It's also a great opportunity for a conversation with your older son about how words can hurt. "I would hope that you would never make fun of someone at school for carrying a backpack like that." "How would you feel if someone called you a name," etc.

I wouldn't sweat it. And, the truth is, peer pressure is the great equalizer. He may very well go off to school with the lime green backpack and come home and demand a different one. It's how most kids stop sucking their thumbs...first day of school, one kid makes a comment and whammo...no more thumb sucking.

**Izzy0906** · 06-30-2008, 03:01 PM

i'm going to be completely honest... I don't think it's that girlie at all. I doubt he'll be made fun of. But kids their age do get made fun of for silly things. My DD is going into first grade this year. Last year she had a horse lunchbox she loved and got made fun of because it wasn't princesses. Kids are so silly at that age. if he gets real upset, just return it.

**Greebo** · 06-30-2008, 03:02 PM

Originally Posted by Cricket1

Greebo--the beauty of LL Bean is that you can return something anytime for any reason, so you do have a point there. His playground battle skills leave a lot to be desired. He's a lover, not a fighter.

By the way, just in case you take what I say too seriously, I refer you to the picture to the immediate left of my posts.

Except for the blaming mom part - I'm totally behind that idea.

**Lady_V** · 06-30-2008, 03:09 PM

It's a light blue backpack with a panda... it's not a neon pink and purple Bratz

I think he will be fine.

**heartofmine** · 06-30-2008, 03:10 PM

Been there done that so be prepared to return it if necessary. Kids can be cruel sometimes.

**itsahumanzoo** · 06-30-2008, 03:12 PM

I don't think it's really gender specific. If he likes it, he likes it. I don't think he'll get made fun of, but kids are weird. When I was in grade school I got made fun of for the dumbest things, but I definitely didn't change anything because of it.

Anyway, he likes it and that's what matters.

**Mom23boys** · 06-30-2008, 03:22 PM

I think he should be fine and I would let him carry it. Has he seen the movie, "Kung Fu Panda" yet? Maybe that is why he picked out one with a Panda on it. Most of the other children might think it is from the movie and never say a word.

**Cricket1** · 06-30-2008, 03:47 PM

Yes--we've seen Kung Fu Panda and I think that's one reason he picked it. You can't really get the whole pic on the ll bean site. It has zipper pulls that are flowers. I really don't care what he takes. I guess if he gets made fun of for his backpack, it won't be for anything else that day.

Greebo--I get the humor. I know you weren't really recommending that he performs martial arts on the first kids that says something!!! LOL.

**McD** · 06-30-2008, 04:24 PM

Is there a way that you could let him pick some other iron on patches or sew-on patches that could be put on there to make it more rugged and manly? Just a thought.

He might get made fun of...but if you really wanted to strike back at the little haters that are making fun of him...you can always tell your son to say something along the lines of pandas being a respected and almost revered part of his culture and if they continue teasing him, he will turn them in for discrimination. HAH. That would show the little jerks. (Totally teasing!)