When my youngest was 12, my oldest was 22 and had invited her new boyfriend over for dinner during a rare time when everyone was home. Shortly before he arrived, this is the conversation that happened:

Youngest: Why is Chris coming to dinner?

Oldest: So y’all can meet.

Youngest: What pronouns do they use?

⏸ Let me pause here to provide a bit of context: Oldest was an academically focused vet student in Georgia, Middle was an artsy college student in Boston, Youngest was in middle school learning ALL THE THINGS from her friends - both real and virtual.

Oldest: HUH? Who’s they?

Youngest: Your special friend. I want to make sure I use the right pronouns, you know...he/him, she/her, they...

Oldest: Um... HE is a boy. He goes by “he.” I like boys. I’m a girl. Call me “she.”

Youngest: Ok, thanks.