The Katie Chronicles: Tomboy Edition

It’s been fun as a parent watching all of the identity-development theories I learned about play out in the growth of my kids.  I recently picked up Katie from her day camp and, as usual, we chatted in the car on the way home.  Katie informed me that she – my Frozen-memorizing, nail polish-loving, pinktastic daughter -- and some of her camp friends have formed a tomboy club.  I asked her what a tomboy was and she said it’s a girl who likes boy things. Simple enough.  I asked her what boy things were and she said “Skylanders, Pokemon, Transformers, and stuff like that that boys like.” A few months ago, her brother defined boy stuff as burping, farting, and explosions, so I was grateful that we seem to be progressing.  (At this point I was thinking, “Wait…if girls like something that boys also like, doesn’t that make it a ‘people thing’?” but I didn’t push in that direction.  There’s plenty of time for applying logic to irrational situations later…like when we start discussing politics.)  I learned that the club is led by a team that includes a boy and when I asked her why, she said he was nice and they wanted him in the club, so I’m guessing the admission criteria and terminology are a bit fluid at this point.  But at least they’re inclusive.  She said the club has six rules.  It’s apparently important that you be nice, not use words like dumb, lame, or “the s-word” -- not THAT one, the other one…”stupid” -- and you have to like the aforementioned “boy things,” which also includes boy music like “Justin Beaver” and The Story of My Life.  (I’m sure the macho dudes down at the nearest biker bar would love to hear some the Beebs or One Direction rocking out of their jukebox).  Katie said these fall under “boy music” because…wait for it…they’re sung by boys (duh).  Later, she asked me if I was a tomboy and I said no…I’m a goddess.   And then, less tongue-in-cheek, I told her I don’t categorize things as “boy” things or “girl” things.  I like what I like and that’s it.  There was silence from the back seat, so I might have blown her mind.