Mother finally allows five-year-old son to have hair cut after playground bullying

Wow, I can't believe the hatred in this thread toward the mother who DID, in fact, GET HIS HAIR CUT. To even suggest that authorities should be involved is not only insane, it seems counter to everything this website stands for. IT'S JUST HAIR! Why should anyone be forced into gender stereotypes? That to me sounds far less healthy for the child.

I have 2 sons and a daughter and at one point they all had long hair and I was told what beautiful girls I had. Bothered the people who called them girls more than it did any of us when they were corrected. The (then) 11 yo boy wanted his hair long and did not mind being mistaken for a girl. No one picked on him or bullied him, and if they had, the bullying would have been identified as the problem, not the hair. My (almost) 3yo has gorgeous blonde curls that, like this mother, I have also never cut. He's a little young for an opinion on the subject, but if he wants his hair cut when he's old enough to express that, I'll reluctantly cut it. Just like the mother in the article did.

Clearly, some of you need to pay more attention to your own problems of judgement and punishment, than whether or not a little boy has long or short hair and what color ties the HAIRDRESSER put on him!

reply to post by ollncasino
I grew my sons hair out until he was 4 years old,he had beautiful golden,stawberry,flaxen,curly hair and couldn't stand the thought of cutting it.Well he would get compliments and people started asking how old is "she"after about the 10th time my husband and I decided to cut it,what a shame how other people influence your lives.
He's now 16 and his hair is halfway down his back and no longer is mistaken for a girl,and still gets compliments
The lesson I learned is not to let other people decide what's best for you,if I had to do it over again I would have never cut it.

I'm sorry, but I really would've mistaken him for a girl. With that long hair and those facial features, he truly does look like a girl.

But I wouldn't have bullied him just because of it. It may have been selfish of his mother, but it's worse to bully a person just because they look like a girl.

nobody deserves to be bullied on that basis.

Children are supposed to gain the distinction of gender when they hit puberty. Making them look like one or the other before that is for the benefit of adults and is an unnatural ritual of habit. Kids are supposed to look androgynous when they are that age. If the only reason they look like one gender over another is because you play dress-up with them, then it's adults that have the issue.

poor lad....
he thought it was all normal to have hair like that
goes to north east english school (im from sunderland too)
gets bullied and told its not normal by kids from school
tells his mom its got to go...
shes like OMFG your curly lock *cries*
she cuts for charity for 86 pound
kids got "normal" hair and fits in at school
and they all lived happily ever after...

clearly feminist mother who wanted a daughter...
and all i can say is if i was that kids father it woulda been cut 3 years earlier!
knowing girls/women round here he probably got a blank space on his birth certificate where his dads name should be...
judging by the way this woman treats her child (fashion doll)
the father didnt meet her expectations either and got the boot
(probably when his lil brother was born when kid was 3 when his father started telling mom to cut his hair)

I was once in a queue in a shop, someone behind me, in a moment of confusion said "Excuse me Miss.." Knowing they were addressing me I turned round. The look on their face I will never forget.

"yes...?" BTW I had to cut it for my job, pros and cons...

Originally posted by ollncasino

Originally posted by amongus
Is that the boy in question?

It is. Here he is after his haircut, looking much better. Looking like a little boy.

He looks ridiculous. I think they could have left some hair on his head especially since it was a great head of hair. No one says boys need to be shaved bald. Why are men some ashamed of their hair? Too lazy to care for it? Bald and trying to make everybody else bald too? Hair is a trophy generally longer for women but ideal is certainly not shaved off altogether.

I do not think the mother wanted a girl by any means as mentioned but think as she says, she loved his hair and did not want to cut it. Maybe she had thin hair, maybe her mum warped her. It was pretty selfish of her to let it get that long knowing the teasing he was bound to get.

Originally posted by Kali74
What a bunch of control freaks in this thread. Take a kid away because her son has long hair? No where did it say she never LET him get a hair cut, he asked for one and she got it for him. It's HER kid. Why not get pissed at the other parents who let their children bully another based on his looks. Complete insanity in this thread. Get human ffs.

I'm pretty shocked at the responses in this thread.I responded before I read what was being said.My son had long hair as a child and gave him the choice to cut it.

It sounds like mob mentality i think they would burn the woman at the stake.

I'm glad the little boy got his hair cut as it was making him miserable, poor little thing.Being a parent is tough but common sense shouldn't be so difficult! Of course he'd get bullied, children are mean.
My eldest daughter is 8yrs old and is a massive tomboy. I have been pestered for the last year that she wants her hair short and spiky and I have refused because I know she will face abuse for it. We discussed it and we compromised. A nice shoulder length bob Some parents show no respect for their children or their emotional well being at all. It makes me so mad.

Crying because your little boy wants to LOOK like a little boy........ oh my word.

I think the kid obviously did not want to stand out and be harassed by others. As far as the mother goes...looks like she was trying to gender bend her kid. There's no problem with long hair; long hair can be made to look masculan or femnine. Judging by the pink hair tie, earing, and style of the hair, mom wanted a little girl and not a boy. Heck go half way and do the good 'ol mullet (All business up front, all party in the back). lol. Also, society is more accepting of long hair from teens and adults, rather than little guys his age. I know i know, but I still say mullet if HE wants the long hair. My opinon is the kid got butched.

Seeing things like this just makes me shake my head. Although I will admit they definitely do look like little girls, I did a double take on the picture with him in a ponytail with pink bands. I'm glad the boy finally stood up and said ENOUGH but unfortunately it was because of too much bullying!

Originally posted by Siberbat
I think the kid obviously did not want to stand out and be harassed by others. As far as the mother goes...looks like she was trying to gender bend her kid. There's no problem with long hair; long hair can be made to look masculan or femnine. Judging by the pink hair tie, earing, and style of the hair, mom wanted a little girl and not a boy. Heck go half way and do the good 'ol mullet (All business up front, all party in the back). lol. Also, society is more accepting of long hair from teens and adults, rather than little guys his age. I know i know, but I still say mullet if HE wants the long hair. My opinon is the kid got butched.

This^^^.
Peeps bashing or defending the mother need to consider these points.
Pink tie, earing and the STYLE.

That is not the style of boys long hair, it is the style of girls.
It seems to me that the mum never gave the option of cutting before.
She allowed it to grow very feminine, she could have helped him make it more masculin.

He had some amazing hair!! But due to his facial features, he really did look like a little girl.

But at the end of the day it is about his childhood and him getting thru school....kids can be so flippn' mean and it is impossible to teach other people's kids how to be nice. They are afterall a product of their environment at home and what they hear at home is what they will project outside the house....

I believe it was in the best interest of the kid to have his hair cut and as he gets older if he wants it longer, older kids would probably be more accepting than little kids who haven't even begun to think for themselves....

Males and hair....my father who is a true Scot in every since of the word has long hair. He looks straight out of the Braveheart movie When he was pastoring he wanted to keep his hair long but he constantly had letters sent to him by members of the church telling him it was inappropriate

People can be really annoying.....to each their own. Don't like it, don't do it.

reply to post by ollncasino


What an interesting thread - it's great you posted - thank you. As far as I am concerned I see a Child. I see a healthy looking Child with Spirit and clear bright eyes.

As a Teacher I see Students and my two main concerns are stimulating their intellect and keeping them safe. If I was Teaching the Child who is at the centre of this thread - I would be concerned with the learning that was occurring and all I would insist on is that the long hair be tied back and that would be for both boys or girls.

A moot point - a rural school I work at occasionally has a young Student who has long hair and happens to be a boy. The very first time I worked there I mistook him for a girl -[I was the one who learned the lesson..By the way no other Child at the school bullied or tormented the Student with the long hair.

That is the kind of world I long to live in - one where people can look however they want and Children grow up caring about other people without judging the outside.

Much Peace...

Mothers cry about the kids for all kinds of reasons. I cried the first time my little boy was in his boy scout uniform, his first day of school and several other occations for both children.
She may have been crying because he is growing up, having opinions influenced by other kids and generally the loss of such a beautiful head of hair.
The pictures do not show how he wore it to school. The ones I saw were just outside and at the time of cutting.
I am surprised about the answers here wanting to take away the kid, and as another post said, almost burn the mother at the stake.
Shows how the same ones wanting gov. out of their lives will jump into someone else's at the drop of a ....hair.

reply to post by Kali74

What a bunch of control freaks in this thread. Take a kid away because her son has long hair? No where did it say she never LET him get a hair cut, he asked for one and she got it for him. It's HER kid. Why not get pissed at the other parents who let their children bully another based on his looks. Complete insanity in this thread. Get human ffs.

You're missing the point of the majority of people posting their negative feelings toward this boys mother. I don't know any kids including myself during the age from 2 til 6 years-old ever saying to their parents "hey mom and dad I want long hair, and by the way how about throwing in an ear piercing." This was clearly a case where the mother made a very poor decision for her son. He wasn't old enough to know any better!

It may be "her kid" but you take the responsibility as a parent not to mold him or her for your own "selfish enjoyment." Would it be OK if you dressed your kid in gothic clothing and make-up because you had a thing for gothic style? You're trying to wave a flag for the parent's right to do what they want to do with "their kid", but where's the kids rights? He has a right to form his own style and beliefs, not have it forced upon him by his parents.

Nobody is condoning bullying, but ignoring reality is being ignorant. Bullying has been around for centuries and it's only getting worse. We're not living in a fairy tail world.

He looks ridiculous. I think they could have left some hair on his head especially since it was a great head of hair.

reply to post by newcovenant


He looks like a little boy. He looks no older than 4 and long or short hair, is a lovely, healthy looking child. Too fat, too thin, too tall, too short, earring, no earrings, long hair, short hair none of these things have anything to do with who a person is or will become. If people are so critical of one little 4 year olds haircut, it's no wonder the world is up $#it creek.

The mother cut her child's hair when he asked. Problem solvered, move along.

Originally posted by ollncasino

Originally posted by SoymilkAlaska
im not going to lie.

he looked better before.

There is nothing wrong with the boy having long hair. As long as that is what the boy wants.

An interesting point and one i agree with too, my three sons have long hair to their shoulders each able to put it up in a ponytail too.
Its their choice and one which i encourage them to make, long,short, mohawk for all i care, i make the point of do what you want with your hair lads cause when your 25 it drops out like mine did
As to teasing at school, well yes that happens from time to time but they manage to hold their own as each go to Ju Jitsu and are developing a mindset that ensures they aren't sheep and keen to be part of the crowd.
my eldest son who is 12 has found it has other values in terms of how some girls find it attractive, one wee story his mates took great delight in telling me was how this fit lassie was brushing his hair one lunchtime and they took the mickey relentlessly, my boy stoically stood there then smiled and asked his mates " and which girl were you with lunchtime ? " . they shut up then and seemed to of taken his point on board some.
I guess the important thing really is let it be the boys choice, i envy the little bugger in the story above im as bald as a coot and would really love to have my long locks back without natures tonsure and resorting to having the all over slap head

Originally posted by MollyStewart

He looks ridiculous. I think they could have left some hair on his head especially since it was a great head of hair.

reply to post by newcovenant

 

He looks like a little boy. He looks no older than 4 and long or short hair, is a lovely, healthy looking child. Too fat, too thin, too tall, too short, earring, no earrings, long hair, short hair none of these things have anything to do with who a person is or will become. If people are so critical of one little 4 year olds haircut, it's no wonder the world is up $#it creek.

The mother cut her child's hair when he asked. Problem solvered, move along.

Who are you to say what a "little boy" should look like?

Is this like China where everyone falls in lockstep with the government standards for aesthetics?
Can't people value and appreciate individual difference and creativity as much as conformity?


They still could have given him a more flattering hair cut. I mean shaving the kids head?
That's not even trying. That's saying we don't have the time or skills to give you a proper haircut so we are going to hold the razor close to your scalp and shave it all off like the abomination of nature hair on a little boys head is.

Lazy and ignorant, if you ask me. I realize no one is but .. ur poking me with a stick.
I was sleeping when lo and behold a "reply."

reply to post by newcovenant

Who are you to say what a "little boy" should look like?

Actually, if you read my response I was saying that the boy looks like a lovely healthy child irrespective of whether his hair was long or short. I also implied that to pass judgement on a haircut is a little pathetic. It will grow out in no time. I guess some just like to bark.

Me, I am no one!

Cheers