Child's comment: Mom, he's wearing a skirt

[Rick]

Today while at the grocery store, I heard this comment from a girl of about 8 years old who appeared to be shocked at seeing me dressed in a kilt. I said nothing, but was curious if the mother might say, "no, that's a kilt" or something of that nature. But, alas, the mother was silent. I simply ignored the comment and went about my business.

While this comment was certainly not offensive to me, I wonder if I should have turned around and said: "Actually, its a kilt." Not having children I am not sure if this would have been received as a polite educational comment, as I would have intended it. Any comments would be welcome.

My experience with negative comments is usually from groups of adolescents, where the alpha-member of the group does not think the kilt is "cool." When the alpha-member thinks it is cool, the group thinks it is cool. My usual response either way is to smile and go on my way unless specifically asked an intelligent question.

Rick

[bjcustard]

Both my 5 year old and my 7 year old vigorously reply to all skirt comments for me. "NO, It's a KILT." It's very amusing to see the reaction on the faces when these two little girls correct them aloud!

[Rob Wright]

The only reactions I get from the wee ones are either stares or extreme curiosity and they try and peek u pthe pleats

Rob

[Freelander Sporrano]

I've been Lucky here . Very time I've heard this from a child their parents have corrected them.... I thing mostly to cover up an uncomfortable moment in their eyes.

While visiting a museum this last Easter I did have one woman almost give a lecture about the origins of the kilt to her grandchild.

My son and daughter also correct people if I don't hear anything.

After all ...aren't kids great

[James]

You are quite right to ignore the event-for many children have no idea about the kilt, and even some adults share that ignorance.

A short while ago here in London a woman said 'Oh I do like your skirt'-and was in fact very nice and complimentary she'd just not made the connection. Since then I've bumped into her on occasion and got a smile-and on a trousered day been asked why no kilt. An experience which confirmed my view that an aggressive reaction can all too often be counter productive, and in this case would have caused her to react against the kilt and kilt wearing.

In all my years of kilt wearing, genuine rude comments could be counted on the fingers of one hand-and they are best igniored. However the number of comments caused by ignorance is something else-and a smile and polite answer has usuall converted them to the positive.

Could I suggest that the biggest problem is caused by those kilt wearers who go on about the kilt being worn correctly and making jokes about the fact of how they wear their kilt. This in turn arouses a prurient interest in others and is almost cerrtainly the cause of many an irritating comment.

James

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I love how my kids are so used to seeing me in a kilt that they know all the vocabulary -- kilt, sporran, etc. It's just another thing that daddy wears.

It's neat, too, to see men come into the gift shop with their kids, and buy accessories like kilt hose and flashes, and you can tell their kids are just as familiar with this stuff.

I'm sure if my almost-three-year old heard someone call my kilt a skirt, she'd pipe up with, "No, it's a kilt!"

But as for other people's kids, usually when I hear a child ask, "Mommy, why is that man in a dress?" the parents are quick to point out that it's a kilt, and explain to them that it's a Scottish outfit. But what to do if the parent's don't give an explanation?

Well, how old are the kids? If they are young, I'd say just leave it alone. Many young kids might get a little nervous if some stranger were to start talking to them out of the blue. Plus, they wouldn't get your explanation, anyway. What are you going to tell them? "It's not a skirt, it's a kilt, and Scottish people wear them." Kilt? Scottish? Most small children wouldn't have a frame of reference for these things. So best just grin and maybe give them a wave and move on.

With older kids, they might be more open to having you come up and talk with them. But just check out mom and dad and see how they are. If they are open to you coming and giving their child an educational experience, you should be able to tell. If they look like they just want to get on with their shopping and get home, I'd leave it be.

Just my advice!
Matt