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Lazy, Lazy Mommies

Everyone once in a while, I see a young girl with a bowl cut, or even worse, a vintage, authentic Dorothy Hamill wedge. This really chaps my hide. Why? Because no little girl, no matter how tom- boyish or sporty, wants hair like that, at that age. This is the age of wanting to be princesses and movie stars. Not the land of gender-non-specific styles. This is the land of Barbie, My Little Pony, Hello Kitty, and Polly Pockets.

Every once in a while the hair is explained by a mischievous sibling with scissors. Then, there are the moms with the same haircut, bent on making little cookie cut-outs of themselves. Those are definitely “woman, thy name is vanity” moments. Then, there are the femini-nazi moms bent on making their child not capitulate to a man driven culture. Bleck!

Then…and THEN (with raised voice I type)…there are the LAZY or CRUEL moms. You know who you are. You are the beautiful trophy wives, with lush, long tresses, beautifully highlighted. You have the fake-bake tans and six packs from hours at the gym. Your daughters have the chopped, stringy locks–because it’s “easier” to take care of. You would rather spend all the time on you. You are usually perfectly Gucci-ed and bling-ed out, while you child has crusty food on their faces, boogers in their noses, and are usually out of shape because of the time spent babysat in front of a video, while mommy takes care of herself. You think you are clever, but the real reason is that you don’t want the competition. You are the young, sexy 2nd wife. The step-up for your powerful executive husband. The trade in for his starter wife, so you don’t want to remind him that youth and bouncy boobs are fleeting. Your daughter would be that reminder. So you neglect your darling daughter.

For shame, let your daughters wear pink. Let them have their Rapunzel hair. For there is nothing more beautiful than a forming feminine being, secure in what she want to be, what she likes, and is happy who she is:

PB embracing her inner femininity three years ago this month

These early years may be the only time she doesn’t pick apart her figure, her looks, and her flaws. It may be the only time she doesn’t self-doubt. She can be anybody and today and for a few tomorrows, she wants to be a ballerina or pop star. LET HER BE! There’s plenty of time to let her become sporty, brainy, preppy, etc. There’s plenty of time for her to build the worry about what her Mom, her friends, her peers think. For now, it’s innate for her to be pretty in pink. Step back. Get rid of your feminist or selfish agendas. Let her be.

Now, about you moms that let your boys have hair long enough that they are mistaken for girls, let’s make it brief: You suck sweaty goal balls too!

originally posted on April 14, 2007 at United States of Motherhood.

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