The Gift of Children

“It isn’t often that I sit and cry,

but I did today, after seeing

a child at the store.

He was about 6, maybe 7, with short

hair, wearing grubby jeans

and a defiant expression.

His face had tear streaks on dirty cheeks,

and the mother looked embarrassed.

She held up a pair of pink sneakers in elegant hands,

and walked steadfastly to the checkout

counter. The child trailed behind her,

staring at the floor,

‘I wanted the shoes like Daddy’s,’ I heard him mumble,

his voice a choked whisper.

‘You’ll wear these, Mary,’ the mother said,

paying for the sneakers.

They left, walking out of the store in a cloud 

of resentment and confusion.”

-Mac McCord

A few years back I had the opportunity to work with a little boy about 6 years old. His parents were very abusive (which is why I was working with him- he was in the care of my team of co-workers at a home). This little boy came into the home very quiet and did not want to share any of his interests with anyone. After a little bit, though, he expressed that he had always wanted his fingernails painted but his parents would never let him. I don’t believe that this little boy had any question about his gender- he knew he was a boy. But he was a boy who liked fingernail polish and didn’t care what anyone thought of that. During his stay with us we helped him paint his nails as often as he wanted. And he proudly wore his paint to school and elsewhere. It’s too bad more people can’t be like this little boy and rely on their inner strength to wear whatever they want to and to be themselves (I’ve worked with many other youth who have wanted to wear certain clothes and certain colors but never did because they were afraid of what other people would think or say.) Hooray for children like this little boy and like Mary from Mac’s account above. They are such a breath of fresh air!!