Unfortunately C. redeemed Barbie in Special K's eyes by pointing out that Barbie's gray area isn't genitals, but panties. And when I looked closer, I had to admit Barbie shows a hint of a V in front, so I guess she has a vulva under her panties. As soon as Special K heard that, she started playing with Barbie again.

Barbie loves parties, because Special K took her to both parties we went to this weekend. At both parties, Barbie has almost been left behind and I've had to find her. Then adults at the party ask me "Is that your Barbie?" Perhaps I look possessive of it. I reply "Yes, actually it is." and then tell the story of how I got it as a housewarming gift.

"What's wrong?" Special K asked worriedly as she showed me Barbie's butt. Barbie's butt is not flesh coloured. Instead it's grey with the letter B stamped all over. "Barbie's butt has the letter B stamped on it." I explained to her. "Where's her vulva?" she asked. I said "She doesn't have one." We both looked and there was no crease. "She has a butt crease, but not a vulva." I explained. She asked "Does Barbie wear big girl underpants?" I replied "I guess not." She immediately put Barbie aside and started to "read" a picture book.

I had a dirty little secret in my garage closet -- a Barbie doll that a 4 year old girl gave me years ago as a housewarming gift. The 4 year loved Barbies and thought it was the perfect gift. "Barbie!" Special K exclaimed when she saw the box or rather the Barbie logo. She couldn't see what was in it. She identified it solely by the Barbie logo. "It's for me?" she asked joyfully. Well, who else was I keeping it for? She immediately wanted to play with Barbie. "I love Barbie!" she declared. How the hell had she learned to love Barbie? Then she asked "Is Barbie married?" I said "No, but Barbie has a boyfriend named Ken." She frowned. "Barbie is married. She has children." And sure enough the package insert displayed a picture of Barbie dressed as a bride and another of Barbie holding a baby doll.

Me: I don't like Barbie.
SK: I like Barbie. You like Barbie.
Me: No, I don't like Barbie. She has funny feet to wear high heels.
SK: I like high heels.

She looked over the package insert carefully.
SK: What are these Barbies called?
Me: They don't have names. They just have numbers.
SK: Ohhhh, these are all the other Barbies. I'm taking Barbie on a picnic.

Was that another idea from Mattel? I tried not to think about that one too much. She went to our backyard with Barbie and some yogurt. My job was to sweep the spiderwebs off her playhouse and chairs. Then I figured out that she could sweep them off herself. She swept off the remaining cobwebs then sat outside eating her yogurt with Barbie. After a few minutes, she walked back inside, saying "Barbie and me had a great time."

Just as I was being to think she might be doomed to a life as a pawn of the patriarchal corporation, she asked me "Can I recycle this?" she asked pointing to her yogurt container. "Yes if you wash it." I replied. She carefully washed it in the sink, then asked me to help her put in the recycle bin. Funny how she can scare and stun me, sometimes at the same time.