When my son was little he loved to wear dresses. It started at my best friend's house...she had a little girl with amazing dresses in her dress-up box. So, I stocked our dress-up box at home with dresses (along with cowboy boots, scarves, a firefighter's hat, etc).1/

He chose a variety of items to wear on a daily basis, but the dresses and 'clippity clop' shoes were by far his favourite. When he was 5, my best friend sewed him his very own dress. He loved stars at the time (thanks to Dora the Explorer) so she chose fabric with a star print.2/

The dress had a scooped neck, short puffed sleeves, a long skirt and a matching headband with a big bow for his hair. It fit him like a glove and he LOVED it! When Mother's Day arrived, his daycare, Sardis Children's Center, hosted an evening tea to honour the moms. 3/

My son had been told by his teachers to dress up for the tea. He decided he wanted to wear his star dress. Unsure of other people's reactions, I questioned his choice, reminding him that his friends and their moms would be there. He insisted, so I relented. 4/

He was so excited for the tea...right up until the moment that we climbed out of the car and he caught a glimpse of one of his friends. Then he panicked. Looking at me wide-eyed he asked to go home to change. I refused, reminding him that he chose the dress, that he looked 5/

amazing in it and if that's what he wanted to wear, then that was perfectly okay, no matter what anyone said. I told him that he would need to be brave but that I was there with him and he could do it. As we walked towards the building, him hanging back a bit, partially hidden 6/

behind me, I questioned myself and my decision. It was going to hurt my heart SO badly if somebody teased my little boy and possibly shattered his love of his special dress.Taking a deep breath, we stepped inside to be greeted by one of the teachers, who smiled and told my son 7/

that she loved his dress! That entire evening, not one person said anything about his dress that wasn't complimentary. No one told him "boys don't wear dresses". No one teased him about his clothing choice. Every single person was gracious and kind and he loved every minute 8/

of that special evening.
I asked his permission to share this story b/c when I hear hateful, hurtful, devisive things that some people in Chilliwack spew, I think back to that evening, 13 yrs ago, and I know that THAT was more representative of the inclusive nature of this town.

The few do not speak for, or represent, the majority.
Btw...when I talk to my grade one students about discrimination they look at me with wide eyes and can't understand why people would be mean based on the way someone looks or talks. Their sweet, innocent hearts are not yet

corrupted.They have already started to absorb gender stereotypes, though.We have to talk about the fact that there are no 'boy colours' or 'girl colours' and that it's okay for girls to wear pants and boys to wear dresses. 11/

And then I tell them the story of my son and the star dress. (they ask for the story over and over again throughout the year.) My hope is that hearing that story will help to give them the courage to be who they are, as well as tolerance towards others. #ThisIsMyChilliwack #bced