A blast from the past!
This morning as I perused my mail, I got my usual notice from Pinterest giving me suggestions that I've looked at in the past. The notice was about toys from the 50s and 60s. As I looked at many of the pictures, I saw a few of the toys that gave me great pleasure before I turned 8. So many of the dolls and kitchen sets that I shared with my sister. I also noticed some of the clothes that were hand me downs from her and some of my female cousins before everyone convinced my Mom that I should be wearing nothing but boy clothes.
I wore Capri pants with sleeveless tops, short shorts with halter tops and I even have a picture from when I was 5 of me in my polka dot dress. I worn girls panties, some were hand me downs from my sister that she grew out of and camisoles that I learned later were like a form of training bra for little girls. That was also when I was being schooled on how to stand and sit so I didn't expose my undies. I even remember learning to walk with a book on my head.to learn poise like every other young lady. I remember spending time with my older sister teaching me how to style my shoulder length hair. That was before my expulsion from the feminine world.
The expulsion started when I had my hair cut in a crew cut and was told that I could only play with other boys. I lost almost all of my girl friends. I had to start wearing jeans and boys shirts. It drove me crazy having to learn how to button my clothes on the wrong side. I even had to start wear a suit on Sundays and special occasions. I hated my life because I would look at the other girls I grew up with wearing pretty dresses and clothes I was forbidden to wear. I also hated that I was forbidden to play with anything that even resembled a toy that girls played with.
I learned how to fight like a male because I was teased for having a few female mannerisms. I was called names that cut to the bone even to today. I became a hermit by staying away from others and only going out when I was told to. When I did get involved with others, I always tried to act as macho as possible.