To be shocked at how my friend responded to her daughter?

[dorindasinger]

Was over visiting my friend today as I hadn't seen her since October. Was having a nice visit and her 9 year old daughter was telling me about the gifts she got. She then came down the stairs with a massive, oversized teddy she got. I said, 'oh wow, he's big, what's his name?' To which her daughter replied, 'non binary'.

My friend then laughed and said, 'where did you hear that?' The daughter replied saying she didn't know. Her mum then replied, 'well don't be silly, that's not a real thing', her daughter replied, 'some people are non binary', and mum responded, 'I know but it's still silly and it's still made up'. And that was that.

I didn't say anything, but was quite taken aback. Regardless of opinions and thoughts on the whole gender thing, surely we should be teaching our children to respect it. I would be worried now that she goes to school voicing those opinions too. For instance, 'my mum said non binary is silly and not real'. That wouldn't be great.

AIBU?

our opinions are polars apart

dont be grizzly op.

Yes,.op apparently didn't know how polar-rising this topic is though.
Still, perhaps it's given them paws for thought.

Ladies?! I'm no lady, and nor is my wife.

Ok just for the hell of it: had this in fact happened, your horror should have been at the way the mother let her 9-year old daughter chatter on about some people being non-binary, and her new bear, and pooh-poohing this mixed burst of enthusiasm (oops, bear jokes there)
Poor kid could have had a decent exploratory chat with her mum, rather than being brushed off like this. I dunno how true it is that children must respect all issues no matter what may be the opinions and thoughts of adults on the matter, but adults ought to respect a kid’s eagerness to learn. (The fact that you were there in this scenario, on whatever astral plane it took place, is I think unimportant, and might have encouraged the child to expand in her questions and responses; you know, like the child conversing with the elders etc)

I'm furrly sure this didn't happen ...

OP, to be sure your friend’s reaction is a troubling (ur)sine.

do you have a sore head op?

Can’t believe how many bigots are on this. We’re all here because we are mainly parents and any one of our children could be transgender. Just because it’s something we mightn’t go through personally doesn’t mean it’s ‘made up’ as someone said. Those who are transgender often feel ashamed and no bloody wonder with attitudes like some on here and your friend, OP. Non binary means something to some people and it’s how they feel and identify, who’s right is it for anyone to say it’s non existent? That’s disgusting. OP, what your friend said is bigoted in my opinion, she’s probably afraid of her DC growing up to be non binary but that’s either fear, bigotry or ignorance. I don’t think you should intervene as often you can’t change bigots minds but just teach your own children to be tolerant and kind to everyone.

any one of our children could be transgender

Children aren't transgender.
They can have gender dysphoria. Which most over eighty percent grow out of.
They can be groomed by adults into talking about sexualities too early.
They can be raised to think stereotypes are real and hence non binary and trans are things.
They can be gay with parents who'd prefer a 'trans' child than a gay one.
They can be victims of munchensens by proxi.

But seeing as every cell in your body knows what sex you are, including your brain, no they can't be born in the wrong body or whatever nonsense is being touted nowadays

”Can’t believe how many bigots are on this.”

There’s always one…

Relax, Rookie, otherwise life will become un-bear-able in the long run.

Trans issues can be Polar-ising, you know, but it’s best to Pooh Pooh it all and just concentrate on the bear necessities of life.

I am always amazed that anyone can be stupid enough to not look below the surface at all this stuff, and rock up with their virtue signalling outrage.

It's not just Pooh who is a bear of very little brain...

Yes YABU. 🙄

Where can I vote YABU?

Non-binary isn't just made up, it's regressive and dangerous.

Explain how someone can be neither male nor female.
What is the 3rd sex?

If there was third sex that would make someone non-TRInary not non binary.

Or the addition of non binary places everyone into categories of either binary or non binary which makes you binary again.

It gives you a beary bad headache..

No, they are hilarious! What happened to your sense of humour?

Look for the bear non binaries
The simple bear non binaries
When gender non conformity is rife

We call it personality
They call it 'bear non binary'
To make it a more interesting life

Say if I like knitting
And fixing my car
And glittery dresses
And pints in bars

And if I want the world to see
How great I am and look at ME
All the socials I'll employ
Announce I'm neither a girl or boy
A million likes ensue

The bear non binaries of life will come to you!

Ha ha ha ha 😂 😆
Genuinely hilarious 😂

With any luck she'll grow up resenting her closed minded mum, go low or no contact, and her mum will realise being a lonely angry bigot isn't worth it, whilst her daughter enjoys her life without a head full of negativity.

Nothing but the destruction of a family will do will it letsplay

no taking the high ground

I think that the little girl is lucky to have a mother who understands reality in this maelstrom of narcissistic gender woo that we're being bombarded with. It's great that the mother was calm and reasonable and in touch with reality.

Bravo 👏