I have two sons aged 3 1/2 and 5 1/2. My older son, when he was 2 to 3 saw me breastfeeding his younger brother. He used to imitate me. He pretended to nurse his doll. I encouraged my boys to pretend in general. They pretend lots of things mostly imitating what adults do. Pretending is a normal part of development. My son pretended to breast feed because that is what he saw me doing and he was just imitating it.

I am proud to say at both of my sons are both caring and nurturing individuals. They have 3 cousins that are age 12 monthes. They are both very nuturing towards there baby cousins. I think we have an opportunity to teach our boys that is is okay to have a range of emotions and roles especially at such a young age. Toddlers and pre schoolers are just figuring out what a boy is and what a girl is. There is plenty of time for socialization and finding out what their roles are and what cultural norms are. I think that if a child wants to pretend it is their way of learning. If a child wants his hair longer maybe he just likes the way it feels or the warmth of it.

I think you are taking a leap by suggesting that a parent that would let their child pretend will lead that child to become become a non-functioning adult.

Frankly many of the negative comments of the article make me wonder about homophobia and intolerance. If intolerance is dying too, don't fight it just let it slip away.