Reid the Red

My sweet friend Alisa claims I am lax in my blogging, so this one is for her, a parenting moment.

We knew before having children that curls were a high probability, but red was a low probability. Of course I opened my big mouth and said I would be okay with my boys having curly hair as long as it was not red. I felt like the combination for a boy would be a giant bulls eye for every bully on the playground. So my loving Heavenly Father sent me a curly red-headed boy as my first child. This is why I tell people never voice baby requests, Heavenly Father has a sense of humor, don't push it.

To my surprise Reid has loved his curly red hair. He even asked to grow it out a little so he could gel it to "show it off". I willingly complied feeling relieved that he wore those awesome curls like a badge of honor. Over his sweet nine years of life, he has enjoyed the compliments and attention his locks have drawn.

About a year ago, I brushed aside my initial concerns about having a child with such glorious hair. I shouldn't have, my worst fear came true and Reid tried to hide it from me. He let loose one morning as I was attempting to calm his curls into submission, he begged me to just cut the curls off. I was surprised, this was the kid that LOVED his hair. He told me there was a group of boys that had been following him around at school calling him a "girl with sissy curls". He hadn't already told me because he thought I wouldn't cut his hair since he had asked to grow it out. This is the last thing I wanted to hear. Of course the curls are now chopped off, the red I can do nothing about.

Reid seems content as the boys are currently leaving him alone. As for me, I am now back on high alert for bully bulls eyes. I re-iterate my initial warning as to not voice baby wants and don't wants, or you'll be blogging a similar story down the road.