A long overdue apology.

Over the past couple of weeks I have read articles about kids breaking gender roles and stereotypes and being brave enough to face bullying and standing up for who they believe they are.
I admire them. Although I was teased, I never had to endure teasing for breaking gender roles. Growing up, I was given hotwheels and barbies, had a pink powerwheels corvette and a ninja turtle Christmas stocking. I refused to wear anything but a skirt for a long time, until it began to inhibit climbing trees and bike riding with the neighbor boys. I played dress up. I had Creepy Crawlers; those gel-goo things that you make into bugs and what not. I had hair to my waist and picked tennis shoes out of the boys' section. I never gave it a thought back then. I just liked what I liked and that was it.
I guess I've always thought I was openminded.
I remembered today a kid named Sam. He was younger than I and we went to the same babysitter's house as kids. Sam liked pink, had his own barbies at home and wanted to play dress up and house with us. But the babysitter wouldn't let him. She tried to encourage a gender role he didn't like. I remember seeing him cry wanting to play dolls as she told him to play cars with her son. I don't think she meant any harm and was probably trying to help him. But we took her cue and labelled him as weird. He was the odd man out often. I never thought of it until today how mean we must have been. How strange he probably felt. We were kids and didn't realize what we were doing, but that's not a good excuse. Following along with what an adult says is natural behavior for kids, especially if that adult is your babysitter, but that isn't really a good excuse either. We were mean. My parents taught me not to be mean.
I feel terrible about it and I wish I knew where he was now. I'd want to apologize for being part of the small group of kids that made him the outcast. I admit, I'm ashamed and would probably be too chicken to track him down and say it all to his face. I wish I could go back and play dolls with him. The sitter probably would have stopped us, but it would have been the right thing to do.
If somehow you ever read this, Sam, I'm sorry.