Things you did as a child to express yourself

[Wendy]

Hi Nero,

Pre-public school was O.K.  I played with the girls and lots of imaginary friends.  My dad was an ex-Marine and he always gave me a crew cut.  (I had a crew cut by age 2.)

By kindergarten my sister (1 year younger) and I had zero latitude to express ourselves. My dad sent me to public school in the Bronx dressed in a tie and red sports jacket and a crew cut.  I think the red jacket was like a matador's cape waving to a herd of bulls... and I was not a matador.

By age 10/11 I dressed up alone in my mom's closet.  I felt pretty and I felt safe.  I never got caught.

[Lucy]

Core, just trying to think of all the different things I like to do. I loved singing and playing music, dancing and listning to pop music. When your a sweet little child, all inocent then you could do anything. I all ways played with my friends dolls and prams, liked dressing up  and playing cats cradle.

Life was so easy then befor I actully realised what was wrong with me. If full that every thing was so easy befor that realisation.

[Sarah]

When I was really little,
I'd play dress-up over at my friends house.
I'd wear her cloths.
Later I'd go through my moms closet and do the same.
Eventualy she found out and freaked.
Then came the therapy. (oh gawd)
Then in teenage years I began buying stuff and saying it was a "gift" or for my "girlfriend" or "sister"
I'd make like a fake shopping list and buy other stuff too, so it look like I was just running some errands for my family like a responisble kid.
I had to space out stores because I was afraid people would get suspicious.
Later I just used the "girlfriend" excuse and acted like I didn't care about whatever.
Still later I came out.
Much better.

[DeValInDisguise]

I used to play house with several of the girls my age in our neighborhood.  Had to play Dad a couple of times until I thought of playing the baby.  Sure, it wasn't perfect but I wasn't the Dad anymore.  Now that I think about it, there was another boy who played house with us that alternated playing Dad.  When I figured out the baby trick he started doing it too.  Hmm...

[Pica Pica]

I did the baby trick, and I was very small then too.
I also did the playing being an animal thing, usually a bird.

[cjennyb]

My Mom was a tailor (seamstress), and had a business making clothes for people and doing alterations.
I was quite tall by the time I was 11 and from about age 11 through 13 she would have me standing on a coffee table, wearing dresses and skirts while she pinned-up the hemline.  She said it was the only way to get the hem straight. Sometimes she even had me wear high heels to better represent the outfits owner.
 
I used to revel in such activities, at least until my brother found out and told all our friends.
I still have fond memories of some of the gorgeous things I wore.

Also like others, this was during the mid to late 60's and just being able to embrace the hippie culture allowed me to express myself in more feminine ways. 

It is sad to say though that I was safer on the streets (cross)dressed as a girl than as a hippie, because I lived in a neighborhood ruled by skinheads.

Oh what fond memories.  I think I learned to run really fast during those years.