Toddler Identifies As A Grandpa, And His Mum's His Biggest Supporter

Three-year-old Jay is a big brother. But don’t call him that. He prefers grandpa.

The adorable toddler has told his mum, Julie Wise, over and over that he doesn’t feel like a kid, he feels like a grandpa. So she’s helped him embrace his individuality, buying him a wig and glasses – even a toy pipe.

She’s shared several videos on her TikTok account, even answering what happens when they go out in public.

@juliewise4 Replying to @Makenna ♬ original sound – Julie Wise

Julie explains that when she took her baby to the doctor, Jay told the paediatrician that he’s not a big brother, he’s a grandpa.

“Of course, he said, ‘I’m actually a grandpa.’ And the doctor looked at me and was like, ‘A grandpa.’ I was like, ‘Yes, he wants to be her grandpa. We call him Grandpa.’”

Julie says while Jay is free to express himself as a grandpa, “We don’t bring the wig out in public, though. We do have boundaries here.”

@juliewise4
this has me on the floor
♬ original sound – empty chair

There has been some backlash on the videos, with one person commenting, “This is so f****ing weird. Parents are spineless these days. You aren’t a grandpa because you’re a child, why do people lie to their kids?”

To which Julie replied, “I feel bad for people who take life so seriously.”

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28 Comments

- - Ordinary mum said
  - 30 Oct 2023
    3:16 pm
Agree with other comments. He is play acting and play acting being a grandpa just as if he was wearing a superhero costume like Spiderman. It looks like its the mum blowing it out of proportion and making it a big deal. Over exaggerating for attention. He is not identifying as anything he is using his imagination!

- - nessjed said
  - 20 Sep 2023
    6:36 am
He’s just playing dress up to me. He should have fun

- - RA1234756 said
  - 01 Sep 2023
    10:46 am
I feel bad for kids whose parents ruin them.

- - mom462038 said
  - 31 Aug 2023
    11:00 am
It’s kinda just a kid role playing being a grandpa. It’s not like he identifies as a girl and wants to be a they them. Good on him what an amazing imagination

- - Mum2archer said
  - 22 Aug 2023
    12:32 pm
Thats adorable! Good on the mum for embracing it

- - mom465794 said
  - 21 Aug 2023
    3:40 pm
Great imagination – its super cute !

- - BellaB said
  - 20 Aug 2023
    6:47 pm
Kids do odd things and there’s no need to get upset most of the time.

- - mom101628 said
  - 20 Aug 2023
    12:32 am
Thanks for sharing the photos – maybe he is missing his own grandpa and doesn’t want his sibling to feel left out too.

- - Forgetful Mumma said
  - 17 Aug 2023
    11:02 am
It’s unusual, but go with it. It’s not harming anyone.

- - mom265671 said
  - 16 Aug 2023
    10:29 pm
Kids have wild imaginations. Im sure its a phaes

- - tessie said
  - 16 Aug 2023
    1:10 pm
It’s not so bad but I’m not too sure about the pipe. I hope he never picks up a real pipe though. What about kids who pretend they’re a wizard or a dog? They’re only kids for a short while. Let him use his imagination

- - rovermum said
  - 16 Aug 2023
    10:01 am
It’s possibly a phase and he may be something or someone else soon.

- - cassy26 said
  - 16 Aug 2023
    8:54 am
My 3yo has been a pirate, a mermaid, and a princess ( and dressed as them all) and that’s just in the last hour but I would say she “identifies’ as any of them…. Ah well I guess he’ll have his costume ready for 100 days of school… lol

- - mom93821 said
  - 16 Aug 2023
    4:43 am
At this point it sounds like a dress up stage and phase.
- mom93821 replied
  
  18 Aug 2023 , 6:38 am
  It is quite normal for children to go through phases.
- - mom465683 said
  - 15 Aug 2023
    8:32 pm
How did he come up with this. Toddlers do have a wild imagination.

- - Sklh said
  - 15 Aug 2023
    2:43 pm
So cute! What a great childhood to commit to dress ups. There’s plenty of kids that want to be called Spiderman and the like!

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 15 Aug 2023
    8:54 am
It’s just a phase the kid is going through. I don’t see the harm in a little dress ups, so long as it doesn’t go too far.

- - TraceyGail said
  - 15 Aug 2023
    7:22 am
Many kids do this to some degree and it’s all about imagination. Saying he “identifies as ” is over the top.
- Ellen replied
  
  16 Aug 2023 , 8:17 am
  Yes I wouldn’t use this wording either.
- - mom493188 said
  - 15 Aug 2023
    7:18 am
This poor child will need so much therapy.

- - Ellen said
  - 15 Aug 2023
    4:14 am
What a cutie ! Sounds innocent to me