Haircuts & Parental Guidance

I’ve just finished reading an article about a little kid who got sent home from school for having his head shaved like someone in the army. Or something. What struck me was that a parent was indignant that their kid got picked up for this and the tone of the article suggested I should feel the same.

And I do. Over a hairstyle? For fucks sake, lighten up.

On the other hand, I have a kid at school and before starting school they handed out a welcome brochure entitled “Welcome to Day-Care Mark II: Have your Life Back!”. Strangely enough I read through it (it probably wasn’t called that either). Under ‘dress code’ they asked that kids didn’t get any crazy haircuts (like a no.2 buzz). The brochure was freely available (jesus, even I read it) so if I sent my child to school as an adorable little romper stomper the school wouldn’t be at fault for acting; I would have been the moron. Not the school and certainly not the kid who hadn’t done anything wrong except being adorable. Me. If I then became indignant about it feel free to demote me to grade ‘A’ fucking moron.

Yes, it is a minor and nit-picky rule but it is still a rule. Following basic rules and requirements are a stepping stone for the little monkeys to learn that society needs rules to function. These rules may start with ‘don’t walk on the grass’ or ‘please avoid crew cuts if you are under 8’ but they later on turn into ‘don’t stab your friend because he made fun of your hair’. A parent allowing a kid to avoid clearly defined rules and then becoming indignant when the kid is pulled up on them simply teaches the kid that sure rules are there, but feel free to break them if they inconvenience you. And then later that entitled 18 year old brat rapes someone because rules and the word ‘no’ should be viewed on a sliding scale.

“Holy shit! Did you just link the date-rape epidemic to parents letting their kids get their heads shaved?” – I assume you have just asked. And no, I just suggested that parents can and should be the restrained and constructive influence on these things EARLY. My mother raised me on the basis that if I got in trouble, ever, it was likely my fault – especially regarding school (I can’t say she was ever wrong about that stance either). I’m currently seeing an increased incidence of parents sticking up for their adorable angels for breaking clearly defined boundaries and requirements. I don’t care what the rule is, your precious is a little monster. Stop enabling and sort out the little turd.

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