I need some advice… my son (9) just came to me and said he likes boys and girls… I’m slightly confused. How do I handle this?
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Just support him and love him that’s all you can do
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say okay and leave it at that. he’s 9
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You show you accept him however he comes. He’s looking to see how you’re going to respond and he’s trusting you enough to come and talk about his feelings.
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He’s 9, he’s supposed to like boys and girls. He’s not supposed to be romantically involved with anyone at that age.
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Support him? He’s telling you he’s bis*xual and that in the future he may have a boyfriend or a girlfriend. And please don’t tell him he doesn’t know what he’s talking about or that he’s too young to know what he likes etc etc. But maybe talk to him
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It’s wonderful that your child enjoys having friends of all genders—girls and boys alike.
With all due respect, at 9 years old, they’re still far too young to have a clear understanding of their sexuality.
So you say im so glad you have friends that are boys and girls.
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Ask him what that means to him, what does that look like ? And then tell him, cool, but he’s too young to date and go on with your day. It’s not a big deal and it may change
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Okay babe. Do you want to go get ice cream?
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I’d probably first ask what he meant by that. Does he have FEELINGS for boys and girls, or was it just a general statement. Then, after it’s clarified, support him. That’s really it. You can talk to him about how different people like different things and that’s okay. Basically, just talk to him as you would if he told you he just liked girls. Educate him to make smart decisions. And reassure him that there is nothing wrong with him at all and it’s perfectly normal and okay to feel the way he feels.
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He’s nine … friends with all
Too young to date
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There’s nothing to handle. He likes girls and boys. You say “okay, cool” and move on with your day.
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Say that’s great babe. Thanks for telling me. I love you
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He is just saying that he has friends in school some boys and some girls ! no big deal.
What? umm you support your child. You say, that is great. Remind them you will always love them. what are you confused about? You do know he can be Bi? You can also talk to him and ask him waht he means. Any kind of issues you are having with it is on you do not bring that onto your child. Let them be who they are.
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Tell him you love him and it’s okay to be who he is. Support him and love him
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These comments aren’t it. Support him. Kids are smarter than people give them credit for. Don’t doubt his feelings and don’t invalidate them. It’s puppy love at his age but it’s okay. He’s not hurting anyone
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You are his Mom - it is what it is - doesn’t change your bond - why make a big thing about it - but acknowledge his feelings - him sharing is a good thing - nice job Momma his trust and love is a blessing, especially in today’s world.
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I’m confused….what’s the problem here?
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This will likely be a test if he can trust telling you things without you freaking out so how you react may very well set up what he shares in the future. I’d listen, ask a few questions to allow him some opportunity to tell you more without being judgemental, and let him know you are there anytime he has questions or wants to talk.
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It may or may not change let him be himself
My daughter told me in 5th grade she was bisexual…I was like, oh okay. Then she told me 8th grade she was gay, again I was like “okay”. 10th grade she got her 1st boyfriend, 11th grade her 1st girlfriend. I have loved and supported her through it all. I don’t care who she dates, as long as she is happy and they treat her good
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You tell him “Liking boys and girls is fine. I support you in whomever you choose to like. My love is unconditional” Idk why you’re having a hard time figuring out how to handle this. As a parent you just love and support your child. Its that simple. 
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How would you handle sleep overs ?
At 9 years old… move on… of course he likes boys and girls… they all play together at that age!! Don’t make a big issue of it… don’t label him as bisexual… he probably doesn’t even know what that means!! He is too young to have any sort of real feelings toward a boy or girl… just say… ok… it’s okay to have lots of friends… boys and girls… and move about it!
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My daughter told me she liked boys and girls at 9. At 10 she said she really only likes girls. She’s a teenager now and only likes girls. It’s weird to me that people think it’s too young to know you’re gay but not too young to know you’re straight
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Say ok and move on. You still love him the same.
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He’s 9. He probably doesn’t understand sex & what all that means. He likes boys & girls it’s that simple. Don’t read too much into it.
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You treat him no different as if he would of said nothing or that he only likes girls. He is no different, be proud and happy that hes been able to be fully open with you, not all kids can be. Who ever he beings home as a partner just support him. Never treat him any different.
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My boy told me the same thing around that age and he’s changed he only likes girls now. I said okay I love you son your to young to date we will revisit this conversation when you can start dating and when he was old enough to date we did talk about it and he said he was confused when he was that age.
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Say ok and leave it at that. He’s 9. No need to get deeper. Support and love us all he needs
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Everyone saying to just move on, is not it. Have a conversation with him. Ask him if there is a specific girl or boy that he likes. Ask what makes him feel this way. And let him know you appreciate him coming to you and talking with you. And that you love him no matter what. And he can always come to you and tell you how he feels, he can ask for advice whatever it may be. But as far as “handling it”. You handle it as being there for him, but let him know he’s too young to date, and it doesn’t matter if it’s a boy or girl.
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He’s 9 he doesn’t understand what all this means. Ask him what he means or how he feels. Don’t make it sexual or about bisexuality as most 9 year old can’t comprehend any of that yet as they haven’t experienced these types of adult things. Tell him no matter what you love and support him and are proud that he opened up to you and leave it at that.
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What do you mean by how do you handle this ?? Tell the child you love him no matter who he likes !!!
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Well hes 9. I would keep it simple but dont shame him. Itll keep him from coming to you later in life. You dont know his context and unless youre ready for a lot of conversations and questions i would just say thats okay. Im here if you would like to discuss it further or if you have any questions ill do my best to answer them. Hug him. Tell him you love him.
Have a conversation with him without making it look that he said anything bad / inappropriate, you want to keep the window of thrusting you open .
Ask him what he means with that, and just tell him that at his age is normal to feel like that , but that he just be focusing on school and enjoying spending time with his friends, that you love him and that you want him to be happy, respectful and kind and that you will be happy if he is happy.
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I tell my girls that I don’t care of they marry polka dotted leprechaun, as long as their happy I don’t care!!
At 9 you can like boys girls dogs cats all sorts of things …
He’s 9… Just say okay kiddo we can be friends with everyone, and move on.
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Yes at the age of 9 I wouldn’t even get into it with him be like ok and move in about something else cause at the age of 9 they don’t know what they like and don’t like heck they don’t even know what they like and don’t like in middle school even. Kids go through so much and see so much so they have no clue. And a lot of kids think they like to try stuff. But just ignore that for now.
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What is there to handle? Let him be himself, and if he does indeed date both boys and girls, live life as normal.
I told my girls that I don’t care who you fall in love with ( girl or boy ) as long as they love each other and treat each other with respect.
Have an age appropriate conversation with him about your family values. If your family supports this, that’s great make sure he knows that. At 9, it’s too early to be a sexual thing so just be open & have the conversation that he wants to have about it
At 9 years old, kids should like boys and girls as playmates and friends.!Most nine year olds are not looking at romance or sex unless their parents are encouraging the “dating” and boyfriend/girlfriend situation and I have seen parents encourage it as young as 2 years old. Let him like anyone he wants and not make it a big deal.
Ask him if he wants some pancakes, then make the pancakes, eat the pancakes and let your son like who he likes
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Confused about what? He likes boys and girls. So what? He’s not gonna wake up tmrw and get married. Tell him that’s okay & that it’s not a big deal, he can like what he likes, and he isn’t in trouble. It’s that simple!
At 9 I wouldn’t acknowledge it too much honestly. In hs I thought I did too but it’s a phase for many. Just carry on
They don’t even have hormones yet. They don’t understand anything past ideas. Once hormones kick in they will start having different feelings and those feelings will lead to thoughts about what he likes and doesn’t like in romantic partners.
Right now, they are just kids exploring ideas.
Encourage him to just be friends with everyone and leave it at that. Tell him if he decides one day in the future that he wants to be more than friends with someone then he can come to you and have this discussion again.
Just my thoughts
Send him to straight camp
He is 9, more than likely he has friends who are boys and friends who are girls.
What is there to “handle”?
First of all he’s nine. they shouldn’t know s*** about sexual attraction at that age
I got crushes on boys and girls growing up. I had lots of crushes, even in second grade. Crushes are normal for that age, but maybe not many of his friends get crushes on boys And girls, so let him know he’s normal and too young to date and act like it’s not a big deal
Hes 9. Don’t sexualize it. He is too young for love to be awakened.
He’s 9 let him grow up, my god. They don’t no what they like at that age