Thoughts on boys with painted nails

[Anonymous]

My DH has a "thing" about this and I think he's insecure and being stupid. Anytime you make something feminine "lame or inappropriate" you are being misogynistic. Is it equally as lame and inappropriate to cut a girl's hair short? No. It is lame for girls to be into stereotypically masculine things? No. Why then is it awful for boys to express anything perceived as feminine? Because THE WORLD STILL HATES GIRLS AND WOMEN. F everyone.

[Anonymous]

My son started doing his nails black in high school. But he was in a band and it was part of the evolution of his look. Girls LOVED coming into school with nail polish and getting him to agree to let them do his nails. He's now doing his residency and still wears nail polish, though is no longer in a band.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was having my nails done today when my 5 year old son asked if boys can have their nails painted too. I told him it's not really for boys but if he wanted to try it I would paint his nails for him. On our way home we stopped and picked out some blue nail polish, his favorite color. It was fun watching him get excited over nail polish. He sat on the bed giddy about having his nails done. When I was finished I painted his toes to match. He was so excited he called his grandparents and told them all about it. My husband rolled his eyes and shook his head about this. Let me be clear this was for fun only. I'm not trying to feminize my son.

Then why did you do it op? Do you always give your kids everything they want?

You and your DH both handled this poorly. You should have told your son no, this is something girls do. And your DH was a spineless wimp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You do you.

Personally, I don’t like it.

And I think it’s partly because I know that the kid has asked for it and the parents don’t have the boundaries to say no. Therefore his nails are painted. The actual nail painting has no effect on me it just tells me who rules the roost.

I love that you can’t explain why it’s important to say no to, though.

[Anonymous]

One of my son’s favorite things is getting pedicures with colored polish. He wore finger and toenail polish through HS - not all the time but when he felt like it. This falls into the whatever makes you happy category for me.

[Anonymous]

My 10 yo son does this. It makes him so happy. That’s enough for me.

And I’m a fat, Southern, truck driving, whiskey-swilling (mostly) Republican. If your husband is that tied up in his kids fingernails and whether its going to make him be perceived as feminine or homosexual, he’s got some issues of his own to work on.

[Anonymous]

It’s fine!!

[Anonymous]

Of course it’s fine. How ridiculous!

[Anonymous]

Anyone who has a negative opinion because a 5 year old enjoys their nails painted should do some soul-searching, because it's really not OK or normal to shame a 5 year old for wanting to paint his nails.

OP, who cares what a bunch of internet strangers think. Your DS enjoyed it? Great.

[Anonymous]

I've done it with my sons and we like it. They want to do it when they see me doing it (they're 5 and 3). What is the issue?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who has a negative opinion because a 5 year old enjoys their nails painted should do some soul-searching, because it's really not OK or normal to shame a 5 year old for wanting to paint his nails.

OP, who cares what a bunch of internet strangers think. Your DS enjoyed it? Great.

A parents role is to guide said 5 YO, not give in to his every whim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who has a negative opinion because a 5 year old enjoys their nails painted should do some soul-searching, because it's really not OK or normal to shame a 5 year old for wanting to paint his nails.

OP, who cares what a bunch of internet strangers think. Your DS enjoyed it? Great.

A parents role is to guide said 5 YO, not give in to his every whim.

No shit dummy. What “guidance” is needed regarding colored fingernails?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who has a negative opinion because a 5 year old enjoys their nails painted should do some soul-searching, because it's really not OK or normal to shame a 5 year old for wanting to paint his nails.

OP, who cares what a bunch of internet strangers think. Your DS enjoyed it? Great.

A parents role is to guide said 5 YO, not give in to his every whim.

DP. You also don't say no to every thing a kid wants. So why say no to this? I say no to candy, but not nuts. No one has articulated a sensible reason.

[Anonymous]

My 7 year old has constantly painted his nails since he was 3 or 4. It makes him happy. The kids at school admire it. Once a little girl gave him a hard time saying nail polish is only for girls, and he was able to vocalize, “Well, I like it, and I’m not a girl, so I guess it is for anyone who likes it.” My heart was so proud—he’s such an awesome kid who is learning to be confident in his own decisions and desires.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was having my nails done today when my 5-year-old son asked if boys can have their nails painted too. I told him it's not really for boys but if he wanted to try it I would paint his nails for him. On our way home we stopped and picked out some blue nail polish, his favorite color. It was fun watching him get excited over nail polish. He sat on the bed giddy about having his nails done. When I was finished I painted his toes to match. He was so excited he called his grandparents and told them all about it. My husband rolled his eyes and shook his head about this. Let me be clear this was for fun only. I'm not trying to feminize my son.

My 5-year-old son has painted toenails. I don't plan to have it that way when he starts kindergarten, but for the summer, it's fine. He has pink and purple sparkles to match his sister's nails. FWIW, I don't paint my nails - ever.