In 2009 an Oprah Show audience member stood up after the taping and related the story of being bullied because he was undeniably gay, even as a little boy. The kids called him sissy. He said, “Here’s how gay I was, I carried a pink Cinderella lunch box in grade four!” Listen to his story to get the details of how that lunch box delivered his emancipation from bullying. Click the link to Oprah’s site: http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Audience-Member-Tommys-Lesson-on-Bullying-Video/topic/oprahshow
As I watched, it occured to me that he had amazing parents. How many fathers would tolerate having their little boys go to school carting pink Cinderella lunch boxes? I think it is quite wonderful how they allowed him to have the lunch box he wanted. They had to know that he was going to get teased for having it, but they allowed him to have it.
There’s an example of positive parenting- letting your kid be who he is, and letting him make his own decisions!
Okay, dad’s comment that he should fight his battle was rather harsh (see the video) but obviously it worked to give Tommy some self-respect. There is some poetic justice in that pink lunchbox being the weapon of choice.
Consider the symbolism of Cinderella. She is transformed from her dreary life to the magical world she longs for. So it was for Tommy. Cinderella helped him transform his world.
Talk about a Cinderella story!
Shawn L. Bird 