Not Blessed Mama

"Hello girls!" exclaimed the couple passing us on the sidewalk today. "Ahh, all girls, huh?" smiled the older gentleman at the grocery store. "Look at her wavy hair" came from the man at the register in the electronics store, gesturing to Spawn#3. I smile and nod, playing the part of the proud parent. And I am proud of my Spawn- they're all gorgeous, and they all have beautiful long(ish) locks- but unfortunately, they are not all girls.

Boy, boy, girl.

When Spawn#1 was born, Not Blessed Daddy and I were of course enraptured with him. His smooth creamy skin, adorable sparkling eyes, thick dark brown hair. And that hair kept growing and growing, and we didn't cut it. Why would we? It was so soft and smooth and sleek, and a beautiful chestnut brown. We couldn't bring ourselves to- there was no reason. Because society arbitrarily says boys have to have short hair? Pshaw. To me that makes as much sense as society dictating that women should not have hair on their legs or armpits but a small amount on the arms is permissible. Who makes up this crap? People have hair on there bodies. All over the place. If Mother Nature meant my legs to be as smooth as silk, I'd have dolphin legs.

Unfortunately, because of my crazy and radical hippie ideas about hair, Spawn#1 has pretty much been called a girl his whole life. Long hair on boys was much rarer 9 years ago than it is now, but we're still getting the stereotype (I must admit that Spawn#3 takes the brunt now). He has a lovely angelic face- people just assume that a sweet face and long-ish hair make a girl. I'm not sure why camo pants and shirts with dump trucks don't make a boy, but that's the way it is.

So the next time you see a cherubic tot with long tresses, hold your tongue for 5 seconds before you make a comment about them. Check out the outfit- look for barrettes- check the shoes. Generally there are hints that will clue you in to the little one's gender, and you can avoid uncomfortable conversations like this one:
Acquaintance: Oh, you have two girls?
Me: No, there are my kids right there- Spawn#1 and #2.
Acquaintance: But I didn't think you had two girls?
Me: No, that's Spawn#1 and there's Spawn#2.
Acquaintance: (in a hesitant voice) Oohhh.... I thought you only had one girl, so I wasn't sure....
Me: (blank stare)
Acquaintance: (uncomfortable laughter- walks away)

And now I would like to leave you with some photos of men with long/ish hair, who have all been very successful in their lives.

Ben Franklin