Lucy is very analytical for a 4 year old. She always has been. Where simple answers like “the cat died and is with God” would suffice for most 4 year olds with Lucy it is not enough. She is a thinker, she mulls, she stews, she questions, she reflects. So, it wasn’t all that surprising that we had this conversation this morning (while she sat on the toilet).

Lucy: mommy, do I have a beard?
Me: Nooo, you’re silly
Lucy: Will I ever have a beard?
Me: No, beards are only for boys
Lucy: That’s okay. I like being a girl. Do you like being a girl mommy?
Me: Yes, I like being a girl just fine.
Lucy: Me too. Do some girls, who are girls, not like being a girl?
Me: Um, some don’t like it.
Lucy: Why?
Me: I don’t know. I suppose some just don’t like being a girl
Lucy: Are there boys who don’t like being boys?
Me: Yes, I suppose so.
Lucy: Do they want to dress like girls?
Me: (starting to squirm at where these questions are leading) I don’t know, I suppose so.

Lucy takes a minute to reflect. This is when I get nervous. I know she’s working all this out in her head. She’s wondering why a boy wouldn’t want to be a boy and why would he want to wear girls clothes and I’m holding my breath in anticipation of the bombshell that is surely to come.

Lucy: (as she wiggles off the toilet) well, I LIKE being a girl.
Me: yep, me too.

And that was it — FOR NOW. I know the follow up questions are not too far behind. It may take her a couple of weeks but it will come up again. That is Lucy – that is her little analytical personality trying to get all the puzzle pieces of life to fit together into a nice, neat package. All the numbers need to add up, all the lines need to be straight, life MUST make sense to her. I bet my parents are loving this.