June 02, 2006
Gender Confusion
Gender Confusion
In Hippy German School, all the children in Kindergarten sew a baby doll and a sleeping bag for the baby. The dolls are simple, but take the kids who are learning to sew almost a whole semester to complete. In the end they are a source of great pride for their makers. When everyone has finished their baby, all the dolls get a name and are sent home with their owners.
Today is the last day of Kindergarten for The Boy, so yesterday he very proudly brought home his baby, sleeping in a pink rosebud covered sleeping bag and bearing the name "Sandra Boynton" in honor of one of The Boy's favorite authors.
He told me all about his baby and its "history." It's wearing a bandana (of rosebud covered flannel) because, according to The Boy, "It's a pirate." Then in the course of telling me all about Sandra Boynton, the doll, The Boy suddenly got a strange, some what confused look on his face.
"Can Sandra Boynton be a boy's name, because this is a boy doll?"
I told him that Sandra really was never used as a boy's name.
"That's ok. Sandra Boynton is really just his nickname. His real name is Sandrio Boynton. He's a Spanish pirate. Does Sandrio sound Spanish?"
I decided not even to mention the possibility that Boynton is not a commonly found name among Spaniards.
So cute! Between this and the chicks at school, the Boy has demonstrated a charming innocence. May it substantially survive for years and years to come!!
Posted by: Lenise at June 2, 2006 09:43 AMHe did a wonderful job on the doll and bag. As for the name - although I haven't heard it in a long time, "Sandy" has been used as a guy's name (although it could have been in a 1930'2 era mystery novel I read a long time ago...)
Posted by: Diane at June 2, 2006 09:46 AMWell, there is Sandy Berger, former NSA, of the documents stuffed in his pants and socks fame. Maybe "Sandrio" is better.
Posted by: Jordana at June 2, 2006 09:54 AMI was at a kinder graduation yesterday... they do grow up too fast...
As for the name, I have known two males named Sandy... though none named Sandra. But as for the last name... it is a little known fact that the Hispanic last name of Obregon is derived from an Irish last name (like O'Brien, or similar such spellings) and that Boynton could easily become something like Boeneton...
I have an Uncle Sandy, a wonderful man. His given name is Carl Sandford and he was called Sandy because his father was Carl. Now my father-in-law's name is Sherrill. Of course, you never call him that.
Posted by: earth girl at June 3, 2006 06:48 AMThat's wonderful.
My little boy, 3 1/2, insisted yesterday on a pink balloon and then asked, "isn't it a pretty pink, Pappa?"
Colors. Only significant if you let them.
Posted by: RP at June 5, 2006 08:38 AMThat is GREAT. Lovely doll, too. He did a wonderful job.
Posted by: Another Jordana at June 8, 2006 06:53 AM
Jordana Adams, Chief Pontificator