When I called the Greek God(zilla) from JFK airport before boarding my return flight home, he proudly reeled off a list of all the things he had accomplished while I had been away.
These included:
– folding, ironing and putting away toddler laundry that I had washed and dried at 5.45am on the day I left
– arranging for one of his best mates to stay for the weekend to hang a picture on the wall, re-fix the house number outside, put up a hanging basket and keep from feeling too lonely while watching the Champions League Final and drinking beer
– changing sheets on the spare bed after said best mate had left.
I wanted to ask if this was merely out of consideration for our next overnight guest or if there had been an ‘incident’, but later decided I really did not want to go there… like, ever
– food shopping completed almost exactly to the list I had prepared earlier
– reading, playing, bathing, hair washing, teeth brushing, hair brushing, bed making, feeding, watering, wiping etc
– toddler delivered to nursery, albeit dressed in very questionable attire (orange top, green jeans… just saying)
‘Oh, and I took Zachy for a haircut’ he added right at the end
‘How short?’
‘A bit shorter than usual’
‘How short?’ I repeated, the panic rising in my voice.
‘It’s short, he looks like a little boy now’
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
While I was out of the country doing my best to boost the economy, he had chopped my baby’s gorgeous long locks off.
WITHOUT PERMISSION CONSULTATION!
I love long hair on boys, I love long hair on my little boy. May he always want to wear his hair long, I say!
Although not everyone agrees with me and I have long had to defend my choice not to cut his hair short.
On holiday last year, I politely ignored as many comments that he looks like a girl as I did inpolite suggestions that I should chop it all off.
It has been a topic of debate at home too, as the Greek God(zilla) believes that cutting his hair will in turn make it much stronger. This is a MYTH. Do not believe anyone who tells you this. Although, I guess cutting it may make hair healthier if you have subjected it to years of abuse with various styling products and heated appliances. Not really an issue for my not yet 3-year old boy though.
Anyway, all pros & cons aside, the Greek God(zilla) is forbidden actively discouraged from making any style decisions by himself without direction.
One day, he came home with a round mahogany dining table set that not only did not match any of the other furniture in our house, it did not fit either, so we had it propped up against a wall in one of the bedrooms for months on end until eventually it was ‘recycled’.
Another time, I came home to find he had rediscovered a few posters from his youth and was nostalgically sticking them up on the walls IN OUR LOUNGE with bluetack.
Let’s not also forget the double denim faux pas, the wicker bookshelf, the mixing and matching of different wood types in one room, the fishing net white jumper…
Can I bear to think again about the orange top & green trousers combo mentioned above?
But, I really did not want to start complaining to the Greek God(zilla) as soon as I walked through the door. Not after he had been so kind as to facilitate a trip for me to NYC with my mates, drove us to the airport, loaned his credit card and kept my baby safe and well while I was away.
I also did not want to take one look at Z, burst into tears over a few centimetres (inches?) of hair and make him feel that I was not delighted to see him or did not like his new look.
So I decided that I would love it, even if I didn’t.
But I need not have worried.
Here is my little boy with his new haircut, looking as super sweet and handsome as ever*.
In the words of the Great (yeah yeah, make the most of it) Greek Godzilla – it’s only hair, love.
And, I still love it.
*I dressed him in these photos, obviously
Do you have a boy with long hair? Do you feel pressurised to cut it shorter?
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Haha! So familiar a story! (I let) my husband take our 3 yr old son for his second haircut since I got to take him to the first. I not only said to leave his hair a little long, just to clean it up, but also sent a picture so there would be no confusion. The results? High and tight military cut. I hugged my little one and said he was so handsome but was glaring at my husband for the next many hours!!
Author
Hahaha, I was glaring the whole flight back home believe me!! Our husbands are so naughty… 🙂
He looks gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous as always. x
Author
He is pretty gorgeous 😉
Aw he’s so beautiful and looks like my little Oliver. It will grow and suits him. We recently had a hairdresser cut a mullet into O’s hair. It’s grown back and we no longer have to pretend he’s not ours anymore x
Author
Haha, your Oliver is stunning, even with a mullet I am sure 🙂
Well I think you are well aware of my feelings on long haired boys and if would kill G for even walking B into a hairdressers… Have had my fair share of ‘insults’ on B’s hair including him being called princess, someone offering to braid it and then not believing me when I told them he was a boy right down to the plain and simple one of the bloke in the post office telling me that he needed a hair cut.. But I have to say that your boy looks mighty gorgeous with his new cut ad those big big brown eyes are on full view…..
Author
I think it suits him too! Please never cut B’s hair – he is such a cool dude with it long and how would he swish it along to Lady Gaga if it was cut short 😉
xx
Your boy is sooooo beautiful. What is it about guys that they think it a great idea to blue tack questionable posters around the house?
Author
Thanks you! The bluetack of posters drives me crazy – especially when the corners start to curl after a few hours… Grrrrr
Ah he looks cool! Little dude. He’d still look cute if you shaved it off with those big brown eyes and cheeky grin! Love him xxxx
Author
Let’s not give the Greek Godzilla any ideas now… 🙂
Dan said he looks like a rock star…very cute indeed x x
Author
Ah, thanks Dan! He certainly behaves like one sometimes 🙂
Wow – Sarah he looks so grown up – so cute! (sorry but my house is full of mismatched wooden furniture !!!)
Author
Jenn, the difference being you have oodles of natural style so I am sure your house looks like it belongs in Elle Interiors magazine no matter how mismatched xx
smudge – I laughed out loud at this post. Too funny!
Of course, Zachy looks like a total rockstar with the new hair cut. I for one was scare too when I stared t o read they were all chopped off. I adore long hair on on boys, even when it’s borderline girly long.
Although, without seeing pictures the Greek Godzilla might just be fashion forward with his green & orange combo. I’m thinking colour blocking at it’s best perhaps?
Xx
Author
Haha, maybe T!! Courtenay would also have me believe that his double denim look is actually very cool too… but you know me, happy to be a follower of (some) fashion but certainly not a leader.
Love long hair on boys too – longer the better!!
xx
I NEED to sort elfie’s mop output am just not strong enough to let go of her baby hair!! Zach looks absolutely gorgeous though. Those big lovely brown eyes! And his outfit in that last photo?what a cool dude xx
Author
Thanks Alice! Don’t let go of Elfie’s hair – it is toooooooo gorgeous xx
I am a huge fan of long hair on boys, my 2 aren’t gifted in the hair department, Gracie is 2.5 and still nowhere near needing her first haircut. That was a super brave move by your husband but the end result is fab, he is such a cutie and I love his style. x
Author
Thanks Clare, I am trying not to encourage him to make any more super brave moves by himself though 🙂
xx
Hi Grenglish. By some strange coincidence I have just posted a piece about my son’s long hair and how I have to cut it soon. I still haven’t taken the plunge! Your little boy looks gorgeous!
Author
He is a cutey but obviously I am very biased! So funny because I had one drafted a week or so ago about needing 10mins peace from hearing ‘Mummy’ all.day.long. Literally just as you posted the same thing! Spooky!!! Am time set aside later to catch up on your blog – I feel like I want to comment on them ALL!
I love my little boy having long hair, he’s got my Greek genes for that! I can totally empathise with the hair cutting without permission, my dads girlfriend cut my little boys hair one afternoon while they were babysitting!
Author
What??! That’s outrageous!!
Your son is adorable! I have the opposite problem with my daughter. Her hair is still too short and sometimes gets mistaken for a boy, although she sports the short very well and will tell her that if she ever decides to cut her locks when she’s older!
Author
Thank you! I love little pixie cuts on girls plus you can always put hair clips in it to ‘girly’ it up a bit 🙂
ronnie has long hair and is mistaken for a girl a lot, i mean a lot a lot! i adore long hair on boys we take him to little clippers on north cross road they are really great in there and don’t over do it! however detailed instruction on the fringing is always important otherwise they come out with a bob!
Author
Yes I agree, Zachy had a bob for a while… I really like his short cut now, especially as it has now grown out a bit 🙂