We knew T had ginger hair before he was even born. I was between contractions and the midwife looked up smiling “I can see your baby’s head. And it is very ginger!” My husband and I looked at it each other bewildered: sure, we had joked about it during my pregnancy, but we hadn’t truly expected that our baby would be a redhead.
It had become a bit of a family joke during my pregnancy that my baby would be “a tinge o’ ginge”. My flame haired brother was sure that it would be the work of karma: payback for years of nicknames and jokes at his expense. My sister-in-law was certain that it was inevitable, given the number of copper tops that were scattered throughout the family trees on both sides.
After he was born I became quite sensitive about his hair. I wanted to protect him from the inevitable taunts and teasing and all of the nicknames and jokes that my brother had endured. I would tire very easily of the comments I’d receive from strangers as I’d manoeuvre his pram through the shopping centre aisles. The allusions as to whether my milkman has red hair, and the softly spoken “Oh well, it might change colour, you never know”, used to grate me the most. To me (as with all new Mums) he was perfect: why would i want to (literally) change a hair on his head?
T is now four and it’s impossible to imagine him as anything other than a wild haired ginger ninja. My aversion to the attention it gets has nearly disappeared (I do still flinch at the R-word, though). His vibrant locks are truly part of his personality: the crazy, curly ginger mop, that he refuses to have cut despite having a level of frizz and height that Cosmo Kramer would covet. It matches his cheeky smile; the one that flashes across his freckled face right before he sprints away on his skinny bruise-spotted legs.
I thought one redhead attracted attention at the supermarket, I was in for a surprise when his brother M was born. I heart gingers – and I wouldn’t have my boys any other way.
I’m sure they will both feel the sting of redhead jokes. I’ll admit to kinda loving Fanta pants. But I know myself and those around them (especially their uncle) will teach them to laugh and how to rise above it. Otherwise they can always quote these two famous lads, with whom I give the final word.
I have a gorgeous red haired niece and an adorable red haired nephew. I’m constantly amazed at the comments some people feel entitled to make to my sister. The one that really angered me was the woman who said ‘ oh that poor child. Imagine growing up with that hair’ My sis and her husband are both red heads and know what its like to be teased and so are a bit wary of well meaning strangers comments. Your little guys are just gorgeous by the way.
It’s hard: on one hand I know people are well-intentioned, and that in the grand scheme of things it is only hair. But at 4 years old (and with primary school looming), I know he’ll soon become hyper-aware of it.
T actually gets: “Oh imagine how lovely that hair would be on a girl!”.
Still, it is as part of them as their cheeky grins, infectious giggles and fascination with bodily sound effects.
Thanks for reading my post: perhaps one day my boys and your niece and nephew will be able to live free in the sun without fear of ginger-persecution. But not *in* the sun. ‘Cos they’ll get sunburn… 😉
Good piece of writing! I have a few strawberries so I hear what your saying kids are beautiful whatever hair colour they are.
Absolutely! We love strawbs, ginges and kids of all colours!
this was a great post! We have two redheads as well – we also have three blondes and a brunette!
Wow- the full colour spectrum! And did your redheads get lots of attention about their hair colour?
They did and still do – more positive than negative though however it never ceases to amaze me the things people think it is ok to say…