Gender Confusion

So today I was confronted and was told that I am going to confuse my son about the roles of genders. Hello!!! Are we living in the 1800s?? I am sorry but living in the world today there is nothing that I am personally doing that will confuse him about gender roles. Honestly I don't want him to think that there are "stereotypical roles" and maybe that is wrong.

So the reason this was said to me is because we have been spending an awful lot of time at the Home Depot because we are building a retaining wall, stairs and a walkway. Now call me crazy but having my son exposed to this is not confusing the "gender roles". I think that if something is worth doing anyone can do it. I don't think that a woman should ONLY do housework and gardening. So what if I want to get dirty and build a retaining wall. It isn't a big deal it is a wall! Not saying that I think women can do whatever they want and men are left to their "roles". I think that a man should also do things outside of this stereotypical "gender role". There is nothing wrong with a man that can cook, clean, or raise children.

I am not trying to make an example or set a double standard. I just do not think that it is such a big deal for a woman to do "man's work" (as it was so humbly put to me). We don't live in a society were women are delicate fragile beings anymore that has all gone out the window. So If I want to build a wall or pave a walkway. That is what I am going to do. I am not anti men or anything like that, And I don't think that it is going to confuse a little boy if mommy is out building a wall in the backyard. I think it might actually be better for him to understand that men and women do not have set "roles" and can contribute to whatever they please.

I haven't heard anyone yelling about gender confusion when my dad spends hours sweeping and mopping the floor then cooks dinner. And there certainly isn't a role reversal going on in this household. I cook just as much as the men in the house and I am outside working just as much as they are as well. It makes me a little angry when people are poking there nose into things that aren't really any of their business. I think having Max exposed to this is more beneficial to his perspective of society than it would be to expose him to "gender role" stereotypes.