The other night at dinner, Mike and I were talking about finances and how much we were putting away into the kids’ 529 accounts. Violet asked us what a 529 account is, and we explained that we are saving money for when she and Hayden are old enough to go to college. We talked about school and what college is. The conversation proceeded something (okay, word-for-word) like this:
Violet: What college will I go to?
Mike: Well, it depends on what you want to be when you grow up, and you don’t know that yet.
Violet: Oh, but I already know what I want to be when I grow up.
Me: Yeah? What do you want to be?
Violet (looking at me very seriously): Rapunzel.
Mike and I are looking at each other trying oh so hard not to laugh.
Mike: Sorry, sweetie, you can’t be a princess when you grow up.
*GASP*
I jump in: Well, you can’t be a Disney Princess when you grow up. There are real princesses though!
Violet: Okay. I don’t have to be a princess. Maybe I’ll drive a garbage truck!
Oh, to be three again and know what you want to be when you grow up.
princesses and garbage truck drivers are on the same level? Looks like all your efforts to not force gender stereotypes are paying off : )