Mum publishes picture book about her son wearing a dress
My Princess Book by Cheryl Kilodavis about her 5-year-old son Dyson who loves to wear pink dresses aims to help parents accept their children
After her 5-year-old son Dyson refused to wear anything other than his favourite pink princess dress, mum Cheryl Kilodavis tried her hardest to deter him away from his chosen outfit.
However, after being prompted by her eldest son to let Dyson “be happy”, she realised that her son wasn’t the issue – it was adult’s preconceived ideas about what boys and girls should like, including hers.
The Kilodavis family, from Seattle in the US, decided to publish the photo book, My Princess Boy, to send out the message that there is nothing wrong with the way he chooses to dress. “It explains how exclusion hurts and how even basic level of acceptance can really change lives,” mum Cheryl told a US chat show.
Talking to her eldest son Dkobe, 8, made her realise that dress-loving Dyson wasn’t doing anything wrong, Cheryl explained, “Dkobe said to me, “Why can’t you just let him be happy?” and I realised that this was my issue, not his.”
The My Princess Boy book was published in the US just before Christmas and has created a divided opinion amongst parents in America. At the moment, or course, little Dyson seems oblivious to it all! “I’m a princess boy and I love wearing dresses and I love the colours pink and red,” he beamed on the US chat show.
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Mum Cheryl’s decision to publish the book is supported by Dyson’s dad Dean who simply says, “It’s not contagious. He’s just like any other kid. He plays checkers, climbs trees. He just likes to do it in a dress.”
What do you think of their decision to publish a book about their dress-wearing son?
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