Thankfully as time goes on, stereotypical gender roles are becoming more and more watered down and we hope generations of the future will hold the same values we do. However, one mum was seriously concerned after a comment, which could be deemed as sexist, was made by her three-year-old son.
She took to Mumsnet to explain the situation and to ask other parents for advice about what to do.
She wrote: "My son is three. He is potty trained and has been dry for months, but recently has started peeing on stuff.
"I think it's probably for attention (isn't most stuff to do with toddlers?) and he does it when I'm tending to the baby. Working out what to do about it is another thread I guess.
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"Anyway - it's really winding my husband up. He gets so mad. Today our son did it in our bed. He just started peeing all over our pillows.
"My husband went mad and my son cried. My husband went out the bedroom. My son followed him and said: "Sorry Daddy for peeing on bed. Don't be sad. Mummy will tidy it up".
"I don't know why but it's pushed me over the edge. I do tidy it up all the time. But I just think GOD - what am I doing? What am I showing my son?
"I said to my husband "Don't you think it's worrying? Our son knows that daddy gets angry and mummy tidies everything up. That isn't healthy role modeling etc."
"My husband has said that I'm being over the top and kids just say stuff, but am I being unreasonable to think this comment by my son means something and that we are giving him unhealthy images of women and men and their roles? Or am I being OTT?"
People were encouraging the mum to make her son help with the tidying up so he understood that his actions have consequences.
One wrote: "I think it's time he started helping you clear it up. He's three and needs to learn his actions have consequences and mummy won't just sort it out for him!"
"I hope you made both of them clean it up", another commented.
Another mum suggested: "I completely agree with you and ds should be involved in the cleanup process. He can take the pillow cases off and put them in the washing machine. He can help peg them out, he can have a conversation about why it’s not mummy’s job to do this and your husband should be the one ‘helping’ your son to do it not you."
"Why are you running around after both of them? Stop doing it!", one fumed.
One Mumsnetter wrote: "He's three. He knows not to pee on someone else’s pillow. Make him tidy it up himself - it’s still gentle parenting
"When we pee in places that aren’t the toilet we have to clean it up."
What would you do in this situation? Let us know in the comments.
