Raising Boys with Empathy: Coleen Garcia Rejects Toxic Masculinity at Home

Coleen Garcia Crawford addressed online comments questioning her five-year-old son Amari’s love of flowers and plants, after some netizens suggested it reflected his gender identity or sexuality. She emphasized that children should be accepted for who they are, without being boxed in by stereotypes.

The issue began when screenshots circulated of a Facebook page using Coleen and Amari’s names. The post, now private, responded to people criticizing the boy’s interests in gardening and flowers. Many assumed the response came directly from Coleen, prompting her to clarify on Instagram Stories.

“This page is not mine, so I never responded to that woman’s ignorant comments, though I do agree with what they responded, and with many of the other parents who have been chiming in,” said Coleen.

The post read:

“I don’t understand why some people assume a child’s gender identity or sexuality just because of their interests. Liking flowers doesn’t define who a child is. Amari has loved flowers and plants since he was little, and that’s simply part of who he is, curious, gentle, and appreciative of nature.

“Let’s be more mindful and stop labeling children based on stereotypes. Interests don’t determine gender or sexuality. Kids should be free to enjoy gentle things, creative things, and beautiful things, like flowers, without being boxed into assumptions.”

Also read: Coleen Garcia is Determined to Take the Road Less Traveled in Parenting

While the original post that went viral came from a fake account, Coleen spoke out herself to condemn the insensitive comments aimed at her child. She emphasized that children’s interests do not define their gender or sexuality and strongly responded to a commenter claiming to be a psychology major who suggested there was something unusual about Amari’s interests, calling the behavior “disgusting.”

Coleen wrote in an Instagram Story: “I wouldn’t waste my breath or my time trying to justify my son’s interests to someone we don’t even know and who only sees 5% of our lives based on what I occasionally choose to share.”

“I wouldn’t try to convince you that you’re wrong because, frankly, I don’t really care about the opinions of people like you. People who go out of their way to say something unkind about an innocent child who they’ve never even met. Can we all just pause to think… seriously… what kind of person even does that? It’s disgusting behavior. I would be more proud to have a gay friend or relative than to ever be associated with someone who bashes or gives unsolicited comments to strangers online regarding their children.”

“I would rather have no college degree than be a ‘psychology major’ but not even know basic human decency. You can read books but you can’t read a room. You want to study and understand the human mind and behavior, but you’d probably lack the compassion to do anything good with what you know and learn. You wanna assume certain things about my son? You’ve also given us enough to assume these things about you,” Coleen said.

She added, “I don’t need to go on about how our interests don’t define us and our genders, or about toxic masculinity, or about how ‘there is nothing wrong with’ yada yada yada… I won’t do that because one look at the comments section tells me that most normal people already know that. I don’t usually call people out or address issues, but girl, you deserve to receive the negativity you just sent our way. Back to you guys.”

She closed by sharing her thoughts on parenting and the kind of environment she wants to create at home: “I dream of a world where children can be loved and accepted for who they are, without having to be boxed in by society’s standards and assumptions; where they have the freedom to unapologetically be themselves, so they can grow into secure, confident, compassionate, and empathetic adults who bring out the best in the people around them.

“Seeing and appreciating the simple beauties of this world does not make you less of a man. Being gentle with God’s creations does not make you weak.”

As a boy mom, she said she will not allow toxic masculinity in their home. “I know this is why I was blessed to be a boy mom. I grew up with men, and let me tell you this: I will not let toxic masculinity have a place in our home. I know the world won’t easily give my boys that space and grace, but I will always fight for it. If we want a better, kinder, safer world for our children, we need to pave the way.”

Coleen also highlighted the role of parents in preparing children to face the world. “I’ll never have full control over what happens outside our home or what other people think and say, but what I can do is give my boys a strong foundation that won’t easily be shaken—so that one day, when someone has the audacity to verbalize their ignorance, they will know how to respond with self-confidence and grace.”

Coleen and husband Billy Crawford are parents to two sons. Their eldest, Amari Jayden, was born in September 2020. Their second son, Austin, was born in August 2025.

This dad opens up about manning up the right way and breaking toxic masculinity at home—click here to read.