Keeping an open mind (Non-technical)

In an earlier post, I told a story about finding out my wife was pregnant with our second child and converting my home office into a nursery. Here it is months later, and today we found out we're going to have a little boy.

Now, my wife and I are completely against "gender roles" as deemed appropriate by society. What's wrong with a man knowing how to cook, or a woman that knows how to handle a rifle? Nothing, IMHO, and enforcing such artificial constraints is not only harmful, it's abusive. Enforcing "roles" based on an individual's gender restricts that individual from fully exploring life. Enforcing such artificial limits based on a physical characteristic is no better than racism or tyranny.

So there's the theory, now on to reality. I can't help but think that there's so much I'd like to teach my son. Things that I also would like to teach my daughter, but the feeling behind it is different. It's not that I don't want to teach my daughter about science, and computers, and all of the things that as a child I was completely fascinated by (and, to this day, remain fascinated by), but I realized something today. Sure, I've talked the talk when it comes to rejecting gender roles...but can I walk the walk? It's always eye opening when you realize that reality and theory are not one in the same, but when it comes to your own beliefs and morals, it's exceptionally humbling.

I still have a lot to learn when it comes to parenting (hey, it takes more certifications and degrees to write code than it does to create a child...think about it), but in my ongoing fight against the dangers of "hive-mind" thinking, I've uncovered an area in my own mindset that needs work.

I would venture to say that nothing on planet earth is more powerful than suddenly realizing you're wrong and being determined to do something to correct it. Nothing has more power to change the world than being open minded to improving yourself.

I'll leave this post with a quote: