There is a new trend invading our middle schools, “I heart boobies” bracelets. If you haven’t seen them yet, they are neon-colored plastic bracelets with the term “I heart boobies.” These are all the rave, particularly with 12- and 13-year-old boys.

Maybe they “heart boobies” because their hormones tell them to, or maybe they do so because they have an experience in their lives where someone they love has had or is fighting breast cancer. That’s because “I heart boobies” is a campaign to get kids informed about breast cancer, and it’s working! My 12-year-old son has an “I heart boobies” bracelet, and when someone asks him about his bracelet, he may get that mischievous 12-year-old smirk, but he quickly explains that his grandmother and uncle are both breast cancer survivors and that he is wearing the bracelet in acknowledgement of his love for them and his admiration of their survival.

This type of conversation is happening with all the boys and girls wearing “I heart boobies” bracelets. Yes! Twelve-year-old boys are talking about breast cancer! This new trend appears to be an issue for middle school administration officials, however successful the campaign may be. I don’t really have the answer as to why the bracelets are banned, but my son’s middle school has decided they are.

On the second day of school, with a list of names in hand, the vice principal entered my child’s classroom and pulled him out of class. This principal nicely asked my child to remove the bracelet and did respectfully have a conversation as to the why, and also inquired as to its meaning but did not reverse the removal decision. I am a bit upset at the method of the bracelet removal, but do respect what our principals and teachers do for our children and expect them to keep my child safe and free from harassment, so I withhold judgment or criticism of the action. But, if the worst thing my son does in middle school is wear this bracelet, then I will be a happy mommy.

Regardless of the method or meaning, “I heart boobies” bracelets are now banned at some schools. I pose in this guest column that there could have been more thought-provoking options than the perceived punitive action of removal. The “I heart boobies” bracelet issue is not as black and white as, say, wearing a T-shirt with violent or racial epithets — not to me anyhow, so some conversation or thought over the matter would have been helpful. Could these bracelets have been used to discuss breast cancer and allow kids to share their stories? Could this have been a topic of discussion in sex education? Could the kids with these bracelets have been asked to write their “I heart boobies” story for the school newspaper? Could the school paper have done a story on these bracelets and asked kids why they wear them and what is their meaning?

Certainly, I would have preferred to have a memo of concern over these bracelets sent home. Or perhaps the students could have been notified that these bracelets should not be worn to school. Had my son and I known the rule, we certainly would have complied. Any of these options and some further conversation about these bracelets would have been meaningful.

I would like to note here that I have not talked to any 12-year-old girls, and certainly if they are offended by the bracelets that would be a reason to immediately ban them. But my perception is that they are wearing them too.

And what about the meaning and stories behind the “I heart boobies” bracelets? As I stated before, 12-year-old boys and girls are talking about the issue, which I imagine was the intent of the bracelet campaign. What an excellent breast cancer awareness strategy to make the bracelets cool and sell them in a popular ‘tween clothing store.

Just for the record, I don’t think for one minute that my son wears the bracelet solely to support breast cancer awareness. He is a 12-year-old boy, after all. But, he does think about the topic and always mentions his uncle and grandmother, and if the seed is planted in his mind and someday he ensures the women in his life get annual mammograms, then the “I heart boobies” controversy was worth it.

By the way, the second bracelet in this campaign says “Check yourself,” and recently my son was adamant about purchasing one for his friend, who happens to be a girl. Yes, my son heart boobies, as do his friends — and so should you!