"Mommy, that little girl is afraid of getting her hair cut."
"Well, so were you the first time you got yours cut."
That "little girl" was, in fact, my son. It was also not his first time getting his hair cut. He has had many, many since he was about a year old. And the main reason we ever cut his hair is not to correct gender perceptions, but because it starts getting into his eyes. This year it also coincides with the start of allergy season and our attempts to wash his hair every night so he's not carrying pollen and other allergens into bed with himself.
To be fair, this was only his second professional haircut. He cried a bit and complained loudly, but was overall much more agreeable than last time. His least favorite part remains having water sprayed on his hair. But our stylist this time was amazingly fast and confident. She cut off a lot of hair--it's been about 4 months since his last cut--and gave it a nice shape.
When I related the above conversation to Trillian (she was attending to Scooter while I studied in the waiting area), we both remarked that the new haircut should cut down on the perception that he's a girl. Then, just a little bit ago, I glanced over in his direction and realized that's not necessarily the case since, after a nap, his hair has settled into a cute, kicky pixie cut.
9 comments:
I cut the twins' hair for the exact same reasons - because it gets into their eyes. And yes, they were scared the first time they got it cut, too.
Hair cuts with my son are NOT my idea of a good time.
Seriously.
Happy Mother's Day!
oh cuteness.
I have no idea what I would do if I had a boy and he did not like haircuts.
warning potential assvice: my friend gets her sons head buzzed so the cut lasts much longer. might also help with the pollen?
but I'm on T3s so what do I know.
Lisa b, we've tried buzz cuts but the sound of the clippers makes Scooter freak completely out. It's much worse than a haircut with scissors. We've tried everything to distract him (food, toys, videos, etc.) doesn't matter. It seems to be the sound of the clippers and the sound of the scissors that is so upsetting, not the actual cutting of the hair (although that makes him unhappy as well). I am always reminded of Samson when Scooter's locks get long and wavy, and I wonder if we're taking away some special power of Scooter's by cutting it...But it gets in his eyes and starts to tangle, so there really is no other option.
At the game today, they were using pink bats and you could hear some of the dads in the crowd making commentary about it. I piped up loudly enough for everyone to hear cause I like to make a stand about stuff in public places filled with testosterone and beer and get all riled up. I said, fer crying out loud, its the 21st century would everyone get over the colour pink and men and all that. And around me, all the kids were saying like ya whats the big deal about a pink bat.
just sayin'. These kids....its a brave new world out there and they are helping to change perceptions.
yeah I figured as much. sorry.
I agree with the sampson theory.
My brother used to cry and cry when he got his hair cut. He claimed it hurt. He's now 6ft 3 with a buzz cut and works for customs but he's still a sensitive guy.
PS I meant to tell you that we went through a "sumo wrestler" stage where we put a hair elastic in matt's hair to keep it out of his eyes.
His daycare teacher hated it, but it grew on me.
The only place that he will go to is this kids kuts place near our house. They are very good - and there's a tv. But, it's still hit and miss.
I think Miss M will be 12 before we'll be able to get someone else to cut her hair. She is soooo afraid of strangers and has issues with water and showers and the like. Her hair is as long as it is right now b/c she even fusses when I try to cut it. I usually can only manage a quick bang trim--or more like a bang hack.
crazymumma--One of the most satisfying things about teaching was the sense of optimism they gave me about change for the future. Not that they were subject to no stereotypes, but so many of them would ask, "Why the big deal about it anyway?"
I used to threaten (Trillian and the men in the family, mostly) that I would put Scooter's hair up in a ponytail, but it was so curly that it was hard to corral it all.
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