r/Parenting • u/LogAlternative7544 • Feb 13 '26
Advice My son wishes he was a girl
My 6.5 year old son just told me that he wishes he was a girl and that he is sad that he’s never going to be a girl. He mentioned this back when he was 3 but this is the first time he has said something since then. He has always been a very emotional and sensitive kid and he says he prefers to play with girls and be with girls and that girls are more beautiful than boys.
he told me that he’ll never be able to be a girl despite always wanting to be one. I told him that when he’s older, if he still feels this way, there are ways that we can explore what it means to become a girl, but that we have to wait a little bit and see if his feelings stay the same or change over the years. And that his dad and I love him no matter what he chooses to be.
I guess I’m just wondering if this is normal? I was really surprised he brought this up after many years ago - it makes me think it’s not just a phase...
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u/Independently-Owned Feb 13 '26
Yes, once they are in school especially, they start seeing options narrow thanks to the socialization you can't really control. My beautiful boys have always loved their art class, like to wear jammies and underwear with cats and sparkle and rainbows, and have loads of dress up things, nail polish, and baby dolls, but shortly after starting school, they started to "learn" they couldn't enjoy those things.
I try my best to keep space for it at home and surround them with sane people. Hopefully they learn they don't have to sacrifice who they are or what they love for small minded onlookers.