Yesterday, I saw Josh walking around the house with a baby doll that he was calling Max.

At first I thought…WHO IS THIS BOY? I mean, my son, who has grown up with two sisters and a plethora of “girl” toys has never once wanted to play with them. Barbies, princesses, dress-up clothes, strollers, babies, castles, my little ponies. Our house is full of them. But my boy has always been into trucks and trains and dinosaurs and Bakugan and Star Wars and Indiana Jones and his DS and his wii and his light sabers and Avatar the Last Airbender and baseball and fart jokes.

A doll, a doll, Joshie wants a doll
A doll, a doll, Joshie wants a doll

Then I thought…Is this weird, my boy cuddling a baby?

Then I thought…No, it’s NOT weird even a little bit. It means that he’s sensitive. It means that he’s going to be a good father. I am an equal opportunity parent, I’m Marlo Thomas and Alan Alda! This is 2010! My son can be anything he wants – isn’t that amazing?

A doll, a doll, Joshie wants a doll
A doll, a doll, Joshie wants a doll

I remember when Josh was a wee little thing and my mother-in-law wanted to buy him a Cabbage Patch Kid. At the time, I politely refused the offer. I hadn’t taken the time to think about it and my first instinct was just, probably like many parents, why does my boy need a doll? But I realized, yesterday, watching my son walk around with his baby, that I should encourage this. Not only was this baby doll NOT ELECTRONIC (wheeee!) but I was seeing a different side to my son…a nurturing, caring side.

It was kind of wonderful.

Until he went and stuck his light saber straight through Max’s chest and then told me that he wants to be a Sith Lord when he grows up.

SITH LORD. You know, like this guy…

….and people worry about their boys wanting to play with dolls.