Don’t Tell Me I Can’t Do Something!

I was lucky enough to grow up with parents who didn’t buy in to gender stereotypes. They supported and encouraged anything I wanted to do. When I was about 7 or 8, all I wanted for Christmas was a fishing pole. I can still remember a family friend telling me that it wasn’t a good gift for me because I should be playing with dolls instead. I was so angry, it just made me want to fish that much more. That feeling stuck with me and has carried me through life whenever anyone insinuates a trait or activity is for men. When I got older I joined the high school wrestling team and went on to join the Army as an adult. And as a mother to a daughter, you can bet I’m encouraging and supporting her to do whatever she wants to do. The sky is the limit!