My little wise man and I headed to the store tonight to pick out a birthday present for one of his classmates who will be a big girl of 5 tomorrow.  First of all, I am trying to figure out when my son got old enough to have friends turning five.  How fast he has grown from his 3 pound 3-ounce self to this solid, broad shouldered little man. But I digress. Prior to seeking entrance to our favorite all-purpose store, we discussed that we were there to buy for her, not for him and he was agreeable.

We entered through the automatic door after a brief pause at the not automatic door wondering why it wouldn’t open and battled our way past the piles of temptations strategically placed to add to our basket. We navigated unscathed to toy aisle where the siren song of race cars, dinosaurs and music games began their seduction.  He became entranced by several different items, giddily pointing out their finer attributes. We strolled each aisle and he carefully perused several items.  I watched as he bit his lap, wondering if he dare ask, finally braving rejection to ask when the desire for a really cool race track broke through the discipline he was so desperately trying to maintain.  He was satisfied that we’dreconsider as a prize for a great week at school – yes I am that kind of mom-judge if you will.

He went on to choose a puppy in a purse for his friend and we were off to cards.  Card selection gave me some insight to how he views his friend.  The selection of the pink skirted, bow wearing puppy in the pink patchwork purse, led me to offer a selection of frilly girly cards. Those were summarily rejected in favor of a large card bidding well wishes from our pal Optimus Prime. I think my son has encountered a woman that defies stereotype at age 5.  Thank you.

I tend to categorize almost automatically. This goes with this, that goes with that, pink is girl, blue is boy, on and on. It is automatic.  What my son showed me is that there is no reason a pink skirted fluffy dog in an impractical bag isn’t well accompanied by a transformer bearing good tidings. I reset my thinking a bit.  I realized I don’t have to expect a result or an association since that is what has “always been” or “goes together”. Expect the un-expected; let it be what it will be, embrace reality.