to the people arguing that “if you let her decide how to wear her hair why don’t you just allow her to refuse to bathe” etc…. seriously?

If it doesn’t negatively affect the child’s health or offend those around them (like not bathing, smelling badly, refusing to wear any clothing at all) then WHY THE HELL NOT let them have long hair, or wear clothing they like, etc? Its not your hair. I just don’t see why a parent wouldn’t take what their child wants into consideration, especially if she’s NINE. Being a parent is hard enough – pick your battles. Kids are human beings with their own opinions and likes and dislikes, whether you like it or not. The key is balance – as someone said before, the only options are not “militant bitch” or “doormat”.

Here’s a hint: If your only rationale behind NOT letting them do it is because you don’t like it personally or “because i’m your parent and i said so”, then you’re probably the one being unreasonable.

Being an independent child capable of taking care of her hair with a dream of having it waist long, I resented that hairdresser forever about that “little trim”. My hair takes FOREVER to grow. The girl should have her say. It’s her hair and her body.

When I gained control of my own hair, I went buck wild. It’s been every color of the rainbow. lol I’ve since settled on red, as red as one can be without sporting a clown wig, and a blonde face frame.

I cut my hair constantly. I never go have it done. I had it messed up really bad when I was pregnant with my 2nd kid and cried for 3 days. lol

I feel like I just can’t trust other people with my hair. Even if *I* mess it up. It’s ok and I’m going to rock it no matter what. I’ve given myself drunk hair cuts that have ended up in a signature styles that lasted years. (shaved the sides bald, leaving the rest of my hair and bettie bangs)

Now that I’ve let the sides and bangs grow out, I still cut it weird. I like it a certain way and that’s just that. My hair, the cut, the color, the style are all very important to me and how I identify with the person in the mirror. My body image is a whole ‘nother issue.

If one of my children wrote me a note like this, we’d have a talk about the dramatics, but the hair would stay. She has spunk and knows what she wants and what’s important to her. She’s 9! Good for her!

My oldest son is 15. He used to always want his hair cut like G.I. Joe. For years. I used to beg him to get a mohawk instead, to which he’d argue “I’m just not like you mom, ok?” Ok, rebel with a buzz cut, it’s your head. (oh hey and no lice!)

Now? You should see that boy head bang. hahaha My little Nathan Explosion. He started growing out his hair in 5th grade. He asked me if he had to get his hair cut when Grampa said so. (that’s who would take him..blahblah) I told him no, I’m his mom and say no hair cut, it’s his head and he says no hair cut. It’s gorgeous. It’s shaved underneath due to an accident with poor hair care, but I turned it into a hair style that is unique to him and he’s kept for year. The top is long and always in a pony tail. I had to teach him how to take care of it and now he does. The end. lol

Now, the 9 y/o son is more…business casual? LOL He likes it short, but still kind of long. He washes it, brushes it and stuff. It’s not like I still bathe him, he’s 9! lol

My 3 y/o daughter has curly hair. Once in awhile I’ll trim her ends or bangs when she’s in the bath. It doesn’t freak her out and I’ve been doing it since she’s been getting crap stuck in it. Plus, she’s watched me cut my own hair a thousand times. No big deal, just part of a bath and mommy does it too! (scissors are out of reach…blahblah)

She’s also learning how to brush her own hair. It’s long and sooo pretty. We take turns brushing each others hair. (OUCH!) but she’s learning! She even tried to wash her own hair (supervised…blahblah). I don’t see how a 9 year old that cared this much about her hair shouldn’t get a say.

sup long?

Just because a woman has short hair does not mean she’s a feminist or has an “anti-male prerogative.” It just means that she likes it that way.

Poor Ben, probably a life-long virgin who blames his situation on all the “man-haters” out there. No Ben, it’s just you they hate.

Instead of seeking out professional help in the future (which I have, but thank you), I’d rather my children not have to.

I mean, surrrre, I do things my kids don’t like either, but hair? Hair is not a battle worth fighting when there’s more important parenting issues such as, oh, say, homework. Or a million other way more important things parents have to deal with/worry about.

I’m more than happy to let my children decide how they want to look. Or at the very least (depending on age), have a say or choice in it. Who knows, it might just help them evolve into people who ARE secure in themselves as adults who DON’T have “silly” hair hang ups, because why? It wasn’t a big deal.

And speaking from personal experience with bad parental haircut, half-perm mullet horrors, honestly – life goes on. And the self-depreciating comment just gives more credence to my idea that folks in the “OMG Hair Trauma” need to talk to someone about body image/self-esteem issues. Or just latent family/parental anger. I don’t know – something.

So, wait, let me get this straight. My short haircut is because I’m rebelling against something and gives me less value to men? I’d better tell my husband he got a raw deal. I always thought I had short hair because it looks awful longer, being so fine and thin. Huh, news to me.

On the other hand, his wife would also personally prefer it if a certain part of Benjamin was much longer. Unfortunately, 1 inch (concave) is as long as that baby will ever get.