September 12, 2023 • hometowns
Lauren Luyendyk Defends Her Son Against Toxic Masculinity Stereotypes: ‘I Don’t Parent Based on Fear’
Speaking out.
Arie Luyendyk Jr. and Lauren Burnham Luyendyk got engaged on Season 22 of “The Bachelor,” and the two later tied the knot in 2019.
Since then, they’ve welcomed three children: Alessi and twins Senna and Lux.
If you’ve been keeping up with the Luyendyks, Lauren often shares how much of a mama’s boy Lux is and frequently posts pictures of him playing dress-up with his sisters.
During a recent Q&A, Lauren clapped back at a person who said she needed to be raising her son “with strong masculinity.”
The mom of three said, “I just have to say it, this gets under my skin seeing comments like this. Let kids be kids. If he wants to wear mermaid tails because his sisters do, so be it. If he’s attached to his mama, I’ll snuggle him and baby him every day until he doesn’t want me to anymore. I don’t parent based on fear.”
Lauren went on, adding, “I’ve also known plenty of men in my lifetime who were raised to be ‘strong and masculine’ and they now have trouble expressing themselves, communicating, and they develop many other problems in life due to this. Let’s stop telling boys they have to be ‘strong and masculine’ if they want to be accepted by society.”
Another fan responded to Lauren’s story after and said, “My son was just like this, he is 33 now and it is such a blessing.”
Lauren replied, “I really feel so blessed to have Lux as my baby boy. I’ve heard so many stories of little boys like him and as adults, they seem to stay close to their mamas and I want nothing more than that!”
We love the entire Luyendyk family and love how much they embrace each of their kids exactly as they are.
Say it louder for the people in the back, mama!
