A boy or a man?
September 2004.
Dinner conversation…
Maya: When I grow up, am I going to be a boy or a man?
Mommy: No, Maya, you’ll probably be a woman.
Maya: Pwobably?
Mommy: Yes. You’ll grow up to be a woman. Girls do grow up to be women. But some people choose to change that.
Dad: (eyes roll)
Adin: Yeah, like those people in Provincetown. They seemed like they were men, but they have long hair and breasts (stood up, wiggled, using hand and arm motions)
Mommy: And some women can make changes too.
Maya: Will I have breasts like this (cupping hands in air over her chest) when I gwow up?
Mommy: Yes. Do you think you’re going to have babies?
Maya: Uhhh,…yes!
Mommy: If you have babies, your breasts will get even bigger to fill up with milk for the babies.
Maya: Will I have a penis?
Mommy: …
Dad: Don’t even go there. Can you please pass the salad?
(Here’s Maya with my parents, “Grammy and Pop”, aka Irv and Nina.)
Hilarious! Love Dad’s reactions..
And amazingly beautiful child!
Welcome to our dinner table, Mark!
Thank you, Elise. Provincetown ….second to last time I saw Maya. She and Matthew were just coming out of a movie that they had both enjoyed. They were smiling ear to ear. It was thrilling for me to run into them there. Love.
Sara, I just love those serendipitous moments. Glad that you had one!
Elise, I did get a good chuckle from that conversation. These pictures portray Maya’s exquisite beauty. ❤️
Lynn,
So glad to know this. I remember chuckling then, and yes, I still get a laugh from this now! I can just hear Mathew saying, “don’t even go there!”
Ever so adorable… and heady. Love the pics of Maya with Mom and Dad. A real “antidepressant” for mom, a playmate for dad.
Jody,
Yes, yes and yes to all!
I never got the chance to ask about Maya’s explorations about male/female identities, although observed some, and here they are. Another aspect of her adventure, her curiosity, her honesty, and your finess at addressing Maya’s inquisitions. I can picture it all, including Mathew’s input.
Claire, yes. This is a good snapshot. For that moment, anyway. Maya had many explorations. I hope to share more as we go on.