Dear Abby: This is for "Jack's Grandpa'' (April 2), whose wife is afraid wearing pink will cause their baby grandson to turn into a cross-dresser. Relax! My aunt desperately wanted a baby girl, but to her disappointment, she had a baby boy. She kept that kid in frilly dresses with ruffles and his hair long and in curls until he was 4!
He grew up to be a fine young man. He did his service in Vietnam, married and raised a family. Of course, the rest of the family accepted his mother's "eccentricities,'' and no one ridiculed or poked fun at him. If a pink blanket is the worst thing that kid ever has to contend with in his life, they should all be grateful.
When fabric was being dyed, the strongest color came out in the first bath. Paler colors followed with subsequent baths. Back then, men's clothing was made of pale red (pink) fabric. Nobody grew up "confused'' in those days.
Dear Abby: I had to smile at the letter from the grandparent of the baby boy whose daughter thought she was having a girl and received a lot of pink outfits. When my precious son was born, we weren't very well off financially, and I received many hand-me-downs from his two older girl cousins. All that mother needs to do is throw all the clothes in the washer with some blue dye. Then everything will come out blue or purple.
Dear Abby: All a baby is concerned about is having a full tummy, a clean diaper and something interesting to do when he's awake. Pink for girls and blue for boys is not some kind of biological imperative.
Dear Abby: I had a good laugh when I read the letter from "Jack's Grandpa.'' I have a daughter who is 3 years older than my son. When my son was a toddler, he worshipped his big sister and did whatever she told him. I will never forget my father coming to the house and my son answering the door in a big pink straw hat, Barbie high heels, a mini skirt and a hot pink feather boa. Dad had only daughters, and my son was the only grandson. Dad just about had a stroke when he saw my son. He thought the boy was corrupted forever.