A Scottish mother’s letter to the family that shamed her son has gone viral. Shona Campbell, mother to a 3-year-old boy named Harry, has written an open letter on Facebook to the family that mocked her son for wearing “girly” socks. The letter, posted by Campbell on Thursday, March 24, 2016, has been shared over 100,000 times.
According to Harry’s mother, the 3-year-old was teased for wearing pink heart socks to daycare—by another mother and her child, nonetheless. Campbell added that Harry loves the color pink and specifically asked for the heart socks himself when they were out shopping one day.
Campbell’s letter contributes to the imperative discussion of breaking gender roles. What would you do in her situation? Let your child freely explore their identity, or control your child’s decisions in order to protect them from the merciless ramifications of bullying?
Attn reported that supporters were taking to facebook to show Campbell and her son some well-deserved love.
Read Campbell’s letter below:
“To the mother at nursery picking up your child. You may have thought I didn’t hear you but let me assure you I did!! When your child pointed out my SON had love hearts on his socks, and mocked them for being GIRLS socks you absolutely tore apart my faith in this world, because you agreed and laughed along with your child.
My son is 3 years old, he loves love hearts, he loves the colour pink, he loves to play with dolls and prams. But what he loves more than anything, is having the independence to make his own choices. He chose these socks in the shop, and he chose to wear them today.
Why should we teach our children that certain things are for girls/boys?? If my son wants to wear a dress, he can!! If he wants to wear a big fluffy hat, he can!! And if he wants to wear socks with love hearts, HE CAN!! I am bringing up my son to be whoever he wants to be and I do not appreciate people like you poking fun at him, telling him he’s wrong for what he wears or dictating what he should or shouldn’t do/wear.
This is the perfect age to allow our children to make their own decisions and let them figure out who THEY want to be, not who society says they should be! This is MY SON. And I love him. Love heart socks and all!! Feel free to share. I’d really like to make sure she, and anyone else that thinks it’s ok to specify gender in clothes/toys etc, sees this and hopes narrow mindedness is replaced with open mindedness.”
Images via facebook / Shona Campbell
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