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I wore my hair short(usually buzz cuts)for many years.I let my hair grow about 2 years ago and I recently went to a dinner at a relative's house wearing my hair down(I usually wear it in a ponytail).I saw some relatives who were really shocked to see me with my shoulder length hair.My grandmother keeps saying,"When are you going to get your hair cut?"and I say that I like it long.I just get so sick of my grandma,aunts,uncles,etc constantly telling me to cut it. Have any of you guys had similar experiences with relatives?
LOL! Charles, is there a longhair who HASN'T experienced this type of reaction?! You should see the grandma and grandpas faces when they first saw my boys, 9,7 and 6, all of whom have hair nearly to their butts. They were absolutely livid! Said I wasn't instilling enough discipline, etc. They gave up years ago trying to convert the husband back from the beard and hair but figured they'd have some influence with the kids.
Just ignore it. If long hair is what you want, no amount of whining on the part of ignorant relatives should matter to you. My boys are constantly being referred to as girls, out in town, at little league, anywhere they go where other people are, but they just shrug it off and say they don't care, it's the other person's limited mind, not theirs! I tell them I'd cut it tomorrow if it bothers them, but they say NO WAY.
Don't let it get to you. If a little kid can deal with it, so can you!
Good luck!
Best wishes to all,
Dawn
Dawn.....Dawn...Dawn......
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Dave
Hello Dawn,
I was fascinated by your description of your three sons with
near-butt-length hair. Is it still growing, and do you have any
pics showing their long hair? Have they worn their hair in
chignons at the nape of the neck? I saw this style on two boys
from India one year. At first, I thought they were girls, but
they were dressed in boys' clothes, wearing softball gloves and
playing catch. When I saw whom I thought was the father in a
turban, I presumed they were Sikhs, and that they were boys.
Seeing them from that perspective, they looked quite handsome in
their braided chignons. If the hair is long enough, it's a style
which could be considered, especially where there is a lot of
physical activity, and wearing the hair loose, or even in a pony
tail, may be a hindrance.
OM.
no, those in my family who disapprove of my hair have been kind enough to be silent about it. they are well acquainted with my stubborn streak to know they can't move me. my response to "cut your hair" has generally been a smile and "grow yours".
i don't recommend you respond to your grandmother that way... better not to respond at all. think of it as a test of your patience. are you secure with who you are long hair and all? then relative's words don't shouldn't bother you.
if you feel compelled to respond it should be something along the lines of,"i appreciate your concern for my appearance, but i plan to wear my hair long." then change the subject. above all, don't allow yourself to be drawn into an argument about the hair. be polite but firm.
Please keep the length of your subject line as short and informative as possible. Long subject lines do not enhance the board and increase loading time.
I've only recently found this board, and enjoy reading it. Here's my first crack at offering my $.02:
Over the years I've let my hair grow long, got tired of it and cut it, then let it grow out again because I missed it.
Last time it was long my sister growled, "When are you going to get a haircut?" I smiled and asked her, "When are you going to get some manners?" She's said nothing about it since.
If we're defensive, we encourage criticism because critics think they stand a chance of changing us. If on the other hand we confidently (and politely) explain that we like our hair that way, we go a long way toward shutting them up.