Is my child at risk for sexual disorders?

[reachingforstars]

My 12 year old son is the model of joy in so many ways.  He makes other parents sick at how talented he is in so many ways.  He is bright, tests extremely well mathematically and verbally.  He loves history - As a 3 year old he requested for made me read encylopedias to him about ancient civilizations!!

He makes friends easily - has not been subject to inappropriate sexual exposure (monitored  and censored internet use, no R movies, very little TV.  He is an avid sports fan, and excels in baseball, tennis and track..

  He is a little bit of a clown in class, mostly because he is bored.  But he has never been in any trouble with teachers.  He has a wonderful personality with no signs of depression.

He is well liked by peers, and especially well liked by adults.  On the negative he is overly intense with sports and obsessive about his rankings in tennis.

He always steals the shows in any school plays he has been involved in - I guess you can say he is gifted in drama as well.  He enjoyed halloween very much - being dracula - and he never minded keeping his makeup on after a play - like when we went to a restaurant in between shows or a cast party after the production (he was in 4 school productions).  He is a very good looking child - of small build - and prebubescent according to his pediatrician.

He is behind the curve in his class in interest in girls, but he is also one of the youngest in his class.  He does always speak of having a big family someday.

The issue is that he has a fascination with women's shoes!!!  Is this crazy or what?  We found a pair of my high heals in his backpack when he was going to his grandmothers for 3 nights.  This issue has popped up from time to time over the last several years in different ways.

Before I get counseling - can someone tell me if he is doomed to be a cross-dresser?  A closet sexual deviant with ladies shoes?  Or if this can be classified as normal adolescent behavior?

[atlnino]

Confront is not really how you want to go out this. Just talk about it with him, but don't force him to talk. But make him feel as if you interested in what he's doing. Although I love my family and we all get along very well, I don't normally talk to them about my problems [probably due to a lack of interest or the way they made me feel like my problems were silly].

[reachingforstars]

Thank you for your insight.   I have had time to cool down.  He did opt out of the school production this year (7th grade) and began to focus on 1 sport - tennis.  I would like to pull back from that, but he is so engaged in it - it also gives him an opportunity to be with other kids (we live on the outskirts with no neighborhood peers).

I especially like your take to not "drag him to counseling" - but would you suggest that we at least confront him on the issue?  We have not seen him since these shoes were discovered (my husband and I are on a 4 day getaway).