I never got a briefcase for Christmas, and I turned out fine.  But this is where all the trouble starts, and kids are indoctrinated by commercials at an early age. And then while the pink cooking sets and “manly” toy tool boxes may disappear, we still insist on following media-dictated roles.   Is this cartoon amusing because it is so unlikely?  Or are there parents out there trying to combat the forces-that-be on Madison Avenue?

My parents were great because they didn’t always think inside the box.  They gave me things I asked for for Christmas, which sometimes were typical requests from a little girl who watched television (for example, a plastic knitting machine that I had to have and it turned out to be junk). But my parents often gave me unusual gifts. Among them art supplies and cartoon books. I am forever grateful to them for thinking outside of the box. So that now I can draw briefcases and aprons and don’t feel I have to adorn myself with either.