Let's Pretend

Well, it’s getting down to the wire around here and with so many project yet to be done before Baby Day I thought I’d tackle some of the smaller tasks left on my to do list. First thing up: finish my birth guide and pack my hospital bag.    

I thought I’d pick up a little gift for Harper to bring along to the hospital. You know, a gift “from the baby” as an olive branch. I figured on her way to the hospital to meet her baby brother Brad could stop by a drugstore and let her pick up a little gift for him, as well (she has her heart set on a rattle) to start things off on the right foot. I’m a little emotional thinking about them “exchanging gifts” at their first meeting. (Jeez, I am SO pregnant.)

In my planning I had decided to get something that would keep her busy (as an added bonus) so I settled on a magnetic dress up doll kit, which she has been admiring for a while. In case you are unfamiliar with the concept, they are reminiscent of the beloved paper dolls of my childhood but made of wood so they are a lot sturdier.    

Searching for what I had envisioned turned in to a little bit of a project. I had seen several varieties and wanted a girl version of the Joey Magnetic Dress Up by Melissa and Doug.

Joey is well rounded and his aspirations are embraced by the society he lives in.

Joey’s wardrobe includes a nice mixture of both “career” type outfits as well as “fantasy” ones.  He can dress up like a fire fighter, police officer, doctor, pirate and superhero amongst other things. The only problem is there is no female equivalent.

I found princess dress ups, fashion dress ups and ballerina dress ups. I even found mermaid dress ups (how many sparkly rainbow tails does a fish-girl need, anyway?) But no “career” oriented or other powerful female icon dress ups. I almost can’t believe it. I mean, it’s 2013 for heaven’s sake. Has no one thought that a girl might want to pretend to be a doctor or a superhero?  

I guess I could have just purchased the Joey and been done with the whole thing, but I wanted a figure Harper could relate to (she’s really in to the whole “I’m a girl, he’s a boy” thing lately.) After an exhaustive search I found a two for one deal, and purchased both a princess dress up and the Julia set (Julia apparently likes sports). That’s the best I could do, but I’m still a pretty disappointed.

Julia likes sports, but she also knows not to rock the boat.

  

Why do I feel like gender equality just took a big step backwards today?