One mum's story: 'My son, Cian. Yes, my son who wears dresses'

As part of our Mums Who Inspire series, we are sharing Crystal Kells' story about her son, Cian – a five-year-old boy who loves wearing dresses. If you have a story that you would love to share, email mary.byrne@sheologydigital.com. 

Whether it involves overcoming obstacles, facing challenges that you never knew even existed, or taking on something that you don't understand, motherhood means something different to everyone.

For Crystal Kells it means putting someone else first; it means loving someone more than anything; and it means "raising a child to become the best version of themselves". 

And that is exactly what she is doing: raising her five-year-old son, Cian, to know that he can be anything he wants to be in the whole entire world.

"I want my son to grow up knowing he has a voice. Grow up knowing he can do and be ANYTHING he wants to be in this world. Grow up having the confidence to express himself. Grow up being able to LOVE himself," she wrote in a post on BoredPanda. 

Cian loves to wear dresses, Crystal explains, but he also loves to play Superhero and wear a cape.

Raising a son without gender stereotypes, Crystal doesn't teach him that some things are for girls and some are boys.

Instead, the mum encourages her son to express himself – something she knows that not everyone will agree with. 

"I don’t expect you to agree. What I DO expect is respect. What I DO expect is not to be treated like I’m abusing my son," she continued. 

"What I DO expect is for people to see that my son is HAPPY and realise that that is all that matters at the end of the day.

"Because I became the parent he needs me to be, he has more confidence in his little finger than most adults will ever have in their entire life.

"Because I am the parent he needs me to be, he knows he is able to love and express himself without shame. That me and his father will love him without fail.

"I’m not only the parent he needs me to be, I’m the parent I WANT to be."

In a world filled with negativity, Crystal's words are inspiring and encouraging; open and honest.

And her son, Cian, will grow up to be exactly who he wants to be and, for that, Crystal deserves a pat on the back for being a truly incredible mum.

Photos have been shared with the photographer's permission.