I caught my husband teasing Harry yesterday for having nail polish on his toes. They were on their way to football practice and Lee was helping Harry with this socks & football boots. He was only kidding and meant no harm but I asked him not to say it again.My husband travels a lot for his job so during the week it’s just me & the kids.Like most mummies, I don’t get a second to myself and both Charley & Harry stalk me around the house. They watch me shower, they watch me wee and they watch me get ready for work and put my make up on each day. Charley has already started to mimicking me putting blusher on, so with all this time together it’s only natural Harry wants to join in the fun. So here’s the 5 reasons my son wears nail polish.
1.Because He Wants To!
I don’t ask Harry if he wants to have his nails painted. He asks me.He thinks it’s cool and if Johnny Depp can rock painted nails in Pirates of the Caribbean why can’t a 4-year-old?
2. It’s a Form of Self-Expression
Harry doesn’t just wear any old polish he likes to carefully weigh up his options and choose the colour/colours ( Multi coloured is a bit hit at the moment) .He also has very good taste in nail polish as my £1 Primark polishes are often overlooked in favour of £15 Dior colours.
3.It’s Our 1-1 Bonding Time
Before Charley was born me & Harry had endless hours of 1-1 time, watching films or at the zoo or just enjoying a kick around at the park. Now with Lee away, me working 4 days and a very active 1-year-old to look after, mine & Harry’s 1-1 time is limited. So after putting Charley down to sleep at 7 p.m I often jump in the bath or the shower and Harry will join me for a chat. He thinks all my lotions & potions are fascinating and while we are getting ready for bed I see no harm in bonding over a bit of pampering.
4.It’s Teaching him to take look after himself
Just like brushing his teeth or washing his face our little bonding sessions are teaching Harry to look after himself.He may not need deodorant or moisturiser now but I am teaching him the importance of looking after himself for later life.
5.Because He’s 4 & Why The Hell Not?
Harry is in reception class at school and the whole year’s curriculum is based on learning through play.One of Harry’s favourite toy’s is the wooden kitchen where he can often be found making a cup of tea or cooking up some delicious pretend food.The kids are encouraged to dress up in whatever they like and just enjoy being kids. So why when he come home would I not carry this ethos on?
I am raising both my children to be whoever they want to be. Harry is a very keen footballer and Charley loves her dolls but if tomorrow Harry asks to rock a tutu to Tesco’s or in 2 years Charley decided she wants to take up rugby then so be it.Our roles on this Earth is to guide our children not stunt their growth because of other’s views.
”YOU ARE THE BOWS FROM WHICH YOUR CHILDREN AS LIVING ARROWS ARE SENT FORTH” BY KAHLIL GIBRAN”
What’s your view? Does your little boy enjoy dressing up as Elsa and your little girl Buzz Lightyear or do you prefer your boys to be boys and your girls to be girls? Comment Below
Yes! My 3 year old likes nail varnish too and today he went out in bunches as he wanted them like his sister. What do say to them ? ‘it’s only for girls’. Says who?!
And i bet he rocked those bunches !! It’s all about building self-esteem and if he feels good today then we are doing our job right ! Thanks for commenting XxX
love this post ! we are not at this stage yet but its empowering and enlightening already 🙂 thank you
Thank you Alicja 🙂
Let your children be who they want to be. Wear what they want to wear. Let them just be. Raise them to be kind and loving and your job is done.
My grandson loves his nail polish. My daughter also enjoys her bonding time with him and he chooses the colours. My granddaughter has just started the potty training and my daughter has bought girly pants but also boy pants too as my granddaughter loves paw patrol and turtles, as she likes to copy her brother in that respect.
I really couldn’t care less if my sons wanted to dress up as princesses or wear nail varnish or whatever. It doesn’t do any harm so I think it’s absolutely fine. Unfortunately there are still lots of people who love to keep kids to traditional stereotypes which is a shame xx #postsfromtheheart
My two year old son loves everything girly – hair bands, nail polish, dolls – it’s harmless in my opinion! #postsfromtheheart
We used to paint my brother’s nails all of the time. He was little and wanted to be like sis and mom.
#postsfromtheheart
Harry wears nail polish, he wears Disney dresses and the girls play make up, he just wants to be like his sisters and his Mummy! Raising our children to be whoever they want to be is the best thing we can do for them. #postsfromtheheart
I think it’s just wonderful that he wears nail polish and why not? Girls and boys should express themselves any way they like – some boys will play with dolls and some girls will want to be superman. They are all unique and we must encourage their indiividualism. #postsfromtheheart
My little boy will watch me put my make up on and he will pick up my brushes and pretend, he’ll brush his hair. He doesn’t care, he’s copying me and it makes him smile so who cares. And as for toys one day he’ll play cars the next he is happy playing with my niece and her dolls or her shopkins. There have been some comments made and they are told that he can play with what he likes – so long as he is safe he can have the freedom to do as he pleases.
I think this is great; love this story! There is nothing that makes nail polish only for girls/women. Question…I wonder, though, if everyone that replied to this post would have the same reaction (I hope they would) if the father decided to paint his nails?
Im sure it would Jeff 🙂 This is just a simple act of bonding and whether it was me or hubby painting nails it’s the same thing. My hubby was heartbroken when I wrote this and really didn’t mean upset me / Harry but it wasnt the nail painting that annoyed me it was that this was my bonding time with my son and whether we were building a rocket with his Lego or painting our toes this was our 1-1 time together and no one had any right to say how we spent it together. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment X