I don't know more about this book than what I can read on the book's website, DadHair.com (update: site has been taken down now. Ah well), but the picture on the cover does make me want to say something.
I don't like stereotypes in general, because they're lazy and divisive. I don't like the bumbling-dad stereotype in particular, because it's also hurtful and it's absolutely wrong and it's--
Who am I kidding? At least in my case, one stereotype is true: dad-hair is a real thing.
It's just that men usually spend all their lives with short hair, and then one day we have this long-haired creatures, and we're handed these accessories, and we're told to put the two together...
I don't like stereotypes in general, because they're lazy and divisive. I don't like the bumbling-dad stereotype in particular, because it's also hurtful and it's absolutely wrong and it's--
Who am I kidding? At least in my case, one stereotype is true: dad-hair is a real thing.
It's just that men usually spend all their lives with short hair, and then one day we have this long-haired creatures, and we're handed these accessories, and we're told to put the two together...
(I found the picture on Fodder for Father's Facebook page, which is always a great source for all things fatherhood) |
When my ex husband and I separated his only request was that I taught him how to do my daughters hair. I had him practice on my hair for a while and then he started doing hers. He does great!
ReplyDeleteI can do a pony tail. It's not exactly straight, though. And it falls after an hour. And I only know how to do that because I had a pony tail in high school. Yea, I don't talk about it much...
DeleteI couldn't agree with you more. I have such a hard time doing my daughter's hair, it's ridiculous. And if an argument breaks out in the dad blog community and they start a Facebook boycott of you over this, I got your back...:) I will be demanding that everyone who says smack about you to post a picture of their daughter's hair to prove they don't fit the stereotype.
ReplyDeleteMy girl's hair grows so fast, and my ability to learn new skills is deteriorating so quickly...
DeleteI actually had long hair for a while, but it was greasy rocker hair, not something I had any experience putting in pony tails or brushing a certain way.
ReplyDeleteI've been telling my wife we should keep our daughter's hair short (she's two) so that we can just part it on the side with a comb. I argue that it's like a short audrey hepburn style, but the truth is that most people think she's a boy. But that's okay.
http://raisedbymydaughter.blogspot.com/
I know. Her hair is so long, and soon there'll be hair everywhere in the house... I'm ready for the J.I.Jane look. If the family complains, I'll just tell them she has lice!
DeleteLice, yes, I could use that.
DeleteMan oh man, dads get ragged on. Good grief. Although this did make me chuckle.
ReplyDeleteNono. We're just trend-setters. One day a hair-cut like that one in the picture will be a hit!
DeleteI have to admit, I have a hard time with this, too. Having never had very long hair, I don't really have a sense of how much you can pull long hair without it hurting. I think I try to be to gentle and it just becomes this repeating scene of picking hair up on the left side, dropping it on the right. Picking hair up on the right side, dropping it on the left...
ReplyDeleteMy wife, on the other hand, attacks it like a jaguar and is done in 2 seconds.
Right? Two seconds, and no screaming. And then it's perfectly straight.
DeleteExactly.
DeleteAnd dammit, I just realized I used the wrong "to/too". I would be happier if I never reread anything I wrote.