Microblog: Teaching my son about love, no matter what form it takes

A few days ago, my son and I walked into a specialty grocery store to buy some treats for our friends who are new to Texas. We headed for the registers, and I scanned to see who was open. I steered my son toward a checker with a name tag that read "Chloe" - the employee was born with male features, but wore long earrings, purple lipstick, mascara, and a studded collar. I saw it as an opportunity to show my son different kinds of people and offer kindness to someone who dressed atypically. There was one customer in line in front of us, and we waited for our turn.

I didn't think my son noticed Chloe's appearance until we got in the car, and he said to me, smiling, "Hey, mom, did you see that man wearing lipstick and stuff? Was that funny?"

I explained to him that some people who look like boys like to dress in what are typically considered girls' clothes, and vice versa. And that's all OK, because everyone is different. I reminded him that not everyone is exactly like us, and that some men marry men and women marry women and that we accept everyone as they are. He nodded, taking it all in.

Today, while back-to-school shopping, my son said to me, "Mama, there's no such thing as girl things or boy things. Because some boys like things that girls like. And some girls like some things that boys like." That's right, sweetheart, I said. Thank you for listening.

I'm trying to teach him open mindedness and diversity and kindness to all, the way my mother taught me. I hope that these lessons stick and he can share them with others, and find confidence in his own differences, embracing diversity instead of shunning it. I may not always get it right, but we're trying.