Having a Boy with Long Hair

So, daddy has always wanted to grow out his own hair (but can't because he's in the Army) with a love for rock and mommy has always loved long hair on little boys. So after giving birth to little Christopher, the first born and boy, it was a no brainier that he would have long hair.

My son was born with the perfect set up. Gorgeous head full of curls from the very start. Now at almost three years old, he has a curls spilling from his head that have so perfectly placed highlights of red and blond and an enviably soft texture.

Hair Issues

Of course, just like anyone else, having a boy with long hair comes with the typical grooming mishaps that anyone faces with long hair - especially with curls. Tangles flowing in every direction when he wakes up. Tantrums being thrown when trying to brush them out. What feels like a million of loose bobbles all scattered over the house. And finding the perfect products to combat dryness and leave his hair looking tip-top shape. Or else you're left being told that it looks unkept.

Being Mistaken as a Girl

People mistake my son for a girl almost every day that we leave the house. "Oh she's just precious!" a wide-eyed woman stopped me during a Costco run, genuine and sweet. I look down at him, dressed in a blue and green dinosaur shirt with converse and jeans on, smiled, and moved on. Sometimes I correct them gently with the use of 'he' or 'him' in response and more often than not, these strangers mortified - saying 'I'm so sorry'. But most of the time I completely brush it off. Because when your son has long hair, it's just inevitable that people are going to mistake him for a girl. It's just part of the territory. And having a boy with long hair means struggling with whether or not to engage in awkward explanation/apology/assurance with a stranger that I just don't have the time or energy for.

Everyone Has an Opinion

You hear it from strangers and acquaintances - "Why don't you cut it?", "You don't think he looks like a girl?", or "Why are you letting his hair grow out, he's a boy". And then you hear it from family. Our families object of course. They all would prefer the traditional precision-cut little boy hair cut. My in-law family tries to sweetly make remarks here and there, but have mostly grown to actually love those spring of curls bouncing on his head. Then there's my mother who, well, if she could she would march him down to the barber in an instant if she could. Always telling me "Get the hair out of his eyes!" or "Cut it!". But I just ignore it.

Because here's the key to it all: My son loves his hair. I mean who am I to argue with that. He likes it when I twirl his curls as he falls asleep, to shake it all around as he plays, and doesn't find anything wrong with it at all. And if at any point he decides that he want to cut his hair off, then I'll take that trip on down to the barber with him myself. Because no matter what he decides to do with his hair, he's still my baby boy and I'm proud of him in whatever decisions he decides to make because they are HIS decisions.