My son is 6 years old. He loves riding his bike, catching bugs, getting dirty, wrestling, and video games. He is a rambunctious boy who is always on the go. Seriously he is a boy right down to the snails and puppy dog tails. But…
He came home from school last week with painted finger nails. Apparently they were teaching the kids about the value of money. They were each given X amount of “dollars” and were told they could purchase product and/or services. James bought a teddy bear and nail painting. He liked the teddy bear for the first hour, but the nail painting was by far his favorite purchase of the day. When he got home he was so excited that he asked me to buy him more nail polish in various colors.
What’s up with that? Is it normal? Do I encourage him to keep painting his nails if he so desires? I tried telling him that girls paint their nails, but he said he didn’t care. He likes it. I also advised him not to let daddy see his nails and so far, so good or if my husband has seen his nails he has decided to not say anything. I’m just not too sure how I handle this…advice?
…and finally, what is up with throwing gang signs?
I think it’s such a shame there’s a stigma about painting nails, kwim? I think he’s just expressing himself with nail polish. It’s colourful and looks great. Apparently my DH wanted a Barbie for Christmas one year. My hubs’ grandmother was TOTALLY opposed to the idea. My MIL got him one. I think you shouldn’t make a big deal about it, I think it’s cute. 😉
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I think my youngest son probably would if let me paint his nails if I offered it. But he is into expressing himself with temp tattoos right now, kind of afraid for when he is old enough for the real thing. But I say it is up to them and what they want to do. My kids dad is really into music and stuff and we go to a lot of concerts and things and he paints his nails black or I should say that I paint them. I just think it is not permanent so there is no harm in it, just like if my kid wanted a mohawk or something like that which they have both had the hair grows back or you can cut it, just like with nail polish it goes away.
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Wow, that’s a hard one. I don’t know what to tell you. Do you paint your nails or do girly stuff around your boys? Maybe he sees that and think it’s ok because Mommy does it? Maybe he will be an artistic child and adult. I have no idea what to tell you, but I think that telling him it’s not Ok or his feelings are wrong on this subject may backfire on you in a way you are not expecting. It may just be a phase.
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Shan,
I was thinking of maybe buying some black polish and letting him wear it around the house? Do you think that would work? I try not to play things up too much, but was really afraid of what his dad would say. Sometimes men aren’t too understanding of “it’s just a phase” – at least not my man.
It may be a phase. Both my kids walked around in my heels because they make a cool clomp clomp sound on the floor when they walk. My oldest also liked to push around a toy doll stroller when he was a toddler. Of course the ones at daycare were blue and red, but when I went to buy one for home all I could find was pink. I say don’t make a big deal of it, and see if it passes. Maybe offer colored hair gel instead? You can get it at Trade Secret.
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The hair gel idea is great, thanks! I think he would like that…
This is cracking me up..i think if he had chosen pink and purple….i would have encouraged him something more masculine, but you know red and blue are patriotic. He didnt ask for lipstick, so think he is just finding the fun in painting nails. Its just a novelty, kwim?
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That is too funny…my mom had the same response and told him that maybe on July 4th he could add some stars…he thought it was a GREAT IDEA!
that boy fingernail should not be painted mine should be painted
Personally I think it’s awesome that he doesn’t care about what other people would thing. He just wants to be him. I’m sure my husband will be like your husband if any of our sons do that, he would flip.
Okay I will 100% admit that if my boys did this my husband would flip out! I can tell Jason would kinda like to do it, but Tim would just not be okay with it. Look at his nails, they are red and blue, like college football colors or something. It’s not like he chose pink frilly. Which even if he did..so what. But I could see that making daddy much more upset. LOL.
I think don’t worry about it. If you want to try and talk him into “clear” go ahead. I think by the time he is in middle school he will have enough peer pressure to stop. Then he can start back up when he is an adult. There are always men at the nail place when I go.
Lee
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Pink was his favorite color for a while…but now he is into blue. Thanks Lee
BTW, just read some other replies. I love that you think black is better. You are gonna have the first “Goth/Emo” pre schooler in the country. 😉
Lee
.-= Lee´s last blog ..The Pet Convincer Review! =-.
Nate walks around with smile faces on his toes. Let him express himself. He chose boy colors. Opi has shrek green coming out. I would just let him go through his phase. Tell his dad to get over it. I told paul the same thing. Nate’s phase is starting to come to an end. I see no harm.
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Wish I knew what to tell you. I gave my son a baby doll for his first birthday, trying to prepare him for his new baby sister. Some of the people in my family went completely loco over it. Whatever! Kids are kids. Let them play.
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I let my son do dark blue on his toenails but daddy wasn’t having it. Then my one year old boy was walking around with his sister’s pink purse this morning and my husband said “I’m walking away and not looking.”
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All winter I had everything I could do to get my boots off my son. He loved the sound they made. I offered him cowboy boots but he refused.
I have a friend who’s husband paints his toenails and he’s very manly. He does manly colors like black and blue, etc. Her sons like their toes painted too. I think it’s cute and to each their own. I mean guys wear earrings. 🙂
See I told you it is perfectly normal and don’t forget your sisters son wore a cape and underpants on his head and he is a perfectly masculine 13 year old these days.
It sounds like he’s more interested in what the nail polish days as opposed to wearing the polish. Perhaps, you can find something equally as cool to exchange his new found interests with?
You undoubtedly place a new spin on the subject thats been composed about for years. Great things, just wonderful!
Omg that stuff is very funny 😀
All winter I had everything I could do to get my boots off my son. He loved the sound they made. I offered him cowboy boots but he refused.