DEAR ABBY: My 6-year-old grandson, "Joey," is the light of my life. He's outgoing, compassionate, smart and fun. The "problem" is, he prefers girl things to boy things, and has since he was old enough to express his wants. Fashion, makeup, hairstyles -- he is the expert. His parents grumble, but realize that he can be who he is and be happy, or they can try to change him and he will turn out to be neurotic.
The issue is with the father of a friend of his who will not accept who Joey is. The man yells at Joey for playing with girl things and tells his son to tell on Joey when he does girl things.
Abby, this man is the principal of a middle school. As a retired educator, I want to speak with him about his behavior and the effect it can have on a young child. What could I say that might make him realize that this is not only detrimental to Joey, but to all those young minds he helps to shape on a daily basis? -- LIGHT OF MY LIFE
DEAR LIGHT: Joey's parents should talk to that man and demand that he stop bullying their son. They should warn him that if he scapegoats a child at his school that way, he could wind up in front of the school board and lose his job. He's not only discriminating, but also encouraging the scapegoating of at-risk children. And, I'm sad to say, Joey's parents should probably curtail their son's friendship with the man's son.