And we live to fight another day.

Mal ,'Objects In Space'


Spike's Bitches 49: As usual, I'm here to help you, and I... are you naked under there?

Spike-centric discussion. Lusty, lewd (only occasionally crude), risqué (and frisqué), bawdy (Oh, lawdy!), flirty ('cuz we're purty), raunchy talk inside. Caveat lector.


DebetEsse - Dec 20, 2018 9:55:33 pm PST #4948 of 8218
Woe to the fucking wicked.

While I understand that it is increasingly difficult to find gender-neutral baby items, I feel compelled to share (here, where I am significantly less likely to get "bitch, you crazy" looks) my list of gender-appropriate clothing/toy/decoration themes for small children:

  • Dinosaurs: Gender neutral
  • Domesticated animals: Gender neutral
  • Mythological animals: Gender neutral
  • Cryptids: Gender neutral
  • Wild animals: Gender neutral (with the exception of the fossa (girls only) and the saiga antelope (boys only))
  • Plants: Gender neutral
  • Power tools: Gender neutral
  • Hand tools: Gender neutral
  • Construction and commercial vehicles: Gender neutral
  • Cars, trucks, and vans: Gender neutral (with the exception of the El Camino (non-binary babies only))
  • All meteorological and atmospheric phenomena: Gender neutral
  • Space: Gender neutral
  • Sparkles: Gender neutral (but if you give my kid an item that sheds glitter in my house, I will find you and I will hurt you)
  • Super heroes: Gender neutral
  • Historical persons: Gender neutral (with the exception of William Hooper-signer of the Declaration of Independence (girls only), William Hooper of Ohio (boys only), and William Hooper of PEI (Canadians only))
  • Fictional characters: Gender neutral
  • Political persons: Gender neutral
  • Mythological personages: Gender neutral (but maybe stay away from entities that could turn said infant into an equal volume of spiders, out of an abundance of caution)
  • Sports iconography: Gender neutral
  • Footwear: Gender neutral
  • Images of garments on garments: Gender neutral
  • Stripes, spots, and geometric designs: Gender neutral
  • All colors: Gender neutral

Please note the lack of "creepily sexualized slogans" on the list, as these are not appropriate for babies of any gender.

Thank you for your attention.


DebetEsse - Dec 20, 2018 9:56:52 pm PST #4949 of 8218
Woe to the fucking wicked.

No, I haven't been frustrated at all by people complaining that they don't know what to get for a child whose gender they do not know. Why do you ask?


sj - Dec 21, 2018 2:44:31 am PST #4950 of 8218
"There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea."

Debet, I completely empathize. I can't tell you how many "boy"'clothes I've bought in order for ltc to have shirts with pirates, dinosaurs, spaceships, etc.


Kate P. - Dec 21, 2018 2:47:07 am PST #4951 of 8218
That's the pain / That cuts a straight line down through the heart / We call it love

I feel you, Debet. We got a lot of grief for that too. Amazingly, both our babies were clad in garments of a wide variety of colors and iconography, and neither one spontaneously combusted or burst into tears! (OK, yes, there were many times they burst into tears, but it had nothing to do with the fact that they were wearing blue on their female bodies.)


Laura - Dec 21, 2018 3:21:07 am PST #4952 of 8218
Our wings are not tired.

My boys loved their ezbake oven and they both still wear a lot of pink, which goes quite nicely with their coloring. Thanks, Debet.

I didn't find out the gender prior to birth and somehow had no difficulty painting and decorating the baby's room.


Fred Pete - Dec 21, 2018 3:27:26 am PST #4953 of 8218
Ann, that's a ferret.

When I get baby gifts, I tend to avoid either pink or blue. Nobody has ever complained about receiving a green baby gift.


Laura - Dec 21, 2018 4:15:02 am PST #4954 of 8218
Our wings are not tired.

I would just get a brown paper bag from the grocery store

Katie Bee! That is quite perfect since I have a bunch of Christmas Trader Joe's bags.


Jessica - Dec 21, 2018 4:28:51 am PST #4955 of 8218
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset

I have sent many an angry email to online retailers who insist on dividing their stores into Boys Clothes and Girls Clothes, when I just want to see ALL THE FREAKING COLORS OF GLOVES ON ONE GODDAMN PAGE.


Katerina Bee - Dec 21, 2018 6:21:26 am PST #4956 of 8218
Herding cats for fun

Laura, that is an excellent and festive idea.


aurelia - Dec 21, 2018 6:24:48 am PST #4957 of 8218
All sorrows can be borne if you put them into a story. Tell me a story.

That is a excellent list, Debet.