Maaaaybe beating a dead horse but...

ScissorTailedFlycatcher

I just got here.

I just skimmed the whole bathing suit discussion, but I have a spinoff question:

If your little boy asked, would you paint his fingernails. Would it matter if you used clear or a color? This has been a discussion IRL before, so I'm curious at the answers.

Zenya

I would paint them however he wanted but then when we were to go out I'd take it off.  I'd emphasize that it was a play thing.

cos I'm oppressive like that.

 

Actually it's not b/c I'm oppressive but because I couldn't bear to have other kids make fun of him.  My son if 4 and just at the age where he's feeling a little self conscious and older kids notice him, etc.  I can't imagine a situation where I would let him leave the house in a dress either.  to me that is setting him up for ridicule.  I can't imagine letting his hair grow long either.  To me he is too young to know what it means.  I feel like it's my responsibility to make those decisions for him UNTIL he is at a point where he understands the social repercussions (so to speak).   

In case it's not obvious, I was bullied as a child and so I'm hyper-sensitive about my kids 'fitting in' physically (I did not).  Probably to a fault. 

GinandTonic

My boy gets a toe painted - colored, usually to match - if I paint his sister's toes.  He never asked before that.  He just wants it because she does, so I do a big toe.  People have seen it - it's summer.  No one cares.

DandR

gawd, I hate these questions because my son is THREE and he has two older sisters who are SOOOOOOO girly.

my son's toes are currently painted silver.

I don't do fingers for my girls or son....but toes are fair game....he wants to play too....

the girls told him that pink and purple are not boy colors, so he is fine with clear or silver.  We also have blue, but he has never asked.

So, yes, same rules that I have for my DD's...toes only.  I'm fine with it...so be it....I'm turning my son gay. He wears girl swimsuits, and dances around my house in tutus and dress up shoes.......totally gay.

BUT, I have NO doubt in my mind (at least today...could change I suppose at puberty) that he is not gay...he is the boyest boy I know.....

JOEBunny

I would, depending on his age.  If he was 3 sure, if he was 11, probably not, unless he had a very strong style and I felt like he could pull it off.

summerbrideDC

Every time I do my nails, DS gets one toenail painted and we leave it at that.  

I tell him that nail polish is generally just for grown ups b/c it's got a lot of chemicals and stuff in it, but if when he gets older he wants to paint his nails, that will be his choice.

It's not something that really bothers me one way or the other. 

jettagurl

Sure, whatever color.  But I never can imagine him asking (Ben, anyhow).....he's so way masculine that he has said many times "Girls do that" or "Girls wear that."  He has no desire to do anything even remotely feminine.  

GettinNervous

I haven't read any of the drama. I wouldn't paint his nails, and the reason is because he wouldn't understand why I might not do it every time he asks. Then I will have to hear whining. Also, with my luck, FIL would stop by unannounced or something. I'd never hear the end of it.

Halo79RN

ds has 2 green toenails as we speak.... dd wanted to paint her toes.  so he asked as well. I painted "2 for 2 years old"... he picks which two and which color from dd's piggy paint.  she tells him pink is for girls... but he usually asks for blue anyway.  as far as predicting whether he's gay or not... doubtful, he flirts with college girls... will ignore the boys or the fat girls...skinny girl walks by and stands straighter and smiles. I swear. has since he was 10m/o.  he wants to do what big sis does .   maybe shiloh is just closer to her big brother, maddox.  I had a friend in grade school who was tom boy as tom boy gets... loved her big brother. not a lesb bone in her body. she's married with baby now.  became more feminine as she got older.  I don't get the outrage.

CTFandme

Zenya:

I would paint them however he wanted but then when we were to go out I'd take it off.  I'd emphasize that it was a play thing.

cos I'm oppressive like that.

 

Actually it's not b/c I'm oppressive but because I couldn't bear to have other kids make fun of him.  My son if 4 and just at the age where he's feeling a little self conscious and older kids notice him, etc.  I can't imagine a situation where I would let him leave the house in a dress either.  to me that is setting him up for ridicule.  I can't imagine letting his hair grow long either.  To me he is too young to know what it means.  I feel like it's my responsibility to make those decisions for him UNTIL he is at a point where he understands the social repercussions (so to speak).   

In case it's not obvious, I was bullied as a child and so I'm hyper-sensitive about my kids 'fitting in' physically (I did not).  Probably to a fault. 

Not really related, but I had my first similar instance tonight.  ds and I were getting ready to go for a short walk and he grabbed DHs fedora. He said he wanted to wear it. I said no.  I said no because it obviously doesn't fit, he'd take it off half way through and I'd end up carrying it, but he asked me if I said no because people wouldn't like him then.  Kinda made me sad a bit.  I told him people who don't like him because of a hat aren't worth being friends with.  I grew up being very self conscious of myself and I don't want ds to be that way. I want him to be confident in a hat if he wants to wear a hat.  Unfortunately, he's probably right and kids would pick on him if he had a silly hat on and I want my kid to have friends. This mommy thing only gets harder as they get older, huh?!

Halo79RN

CTFandme:

Zenya:

I would paint them however he wanted but then when we were to go out I'd take it off.  I'd emphasize that it was a play thing.

cos I'm oppressive like that.

 

Actually it's not b/c I'm oppressive but because I couldn't bear to have other kids make fun of him.  My son if 4 and just at the age where he's feeling a little self conscious and older kids notice him, etc.  I can't imagine a situation where I would let him leave the house in a dress either.  to me that is setting him up for ridicule.  I can't imagine letting his hair grow long either.  To me he is too young to know what it means.  I feel like it's my responsibility to make those decisions for him UNTIL he is at a point where he understands the social repercussions (so to speak).   

In case it's not obvious, I was bullied as a child and so I'm hyper-sensitive about my kids 'fitting in' physically (I did not).  Probably to a fault. 

Not really related, but I had my first similar instance tonight.  ds and I were getting ready to go for a short walk and he grabbed DHs fedora. He said he wanted to wear it. I said no.  I said no because it obviously doesn't fit, he'd take it off half way through and I'd end up carrying it, but he asked me if I said no because people wouldn't like him then.  Kinda made me sad a bit.  I told him people who don't like him because of a hat aren't worth being friends with.  I grew up being very self conscious of myself and I don't want ds to be that way. I want him to be confident in a hat if he wants to wear a hat.  Unfortunately, he's probably right and kids would pick on him if he had a silly hat on and I want my kid to have friends. This mommy thing only gets harder as they get older, huh?!

it makes me sad that it even enters his mind already.  

shopgirl78

Yes, DS1 has had both pink and blue nails.  He wanted them b/c of his sister.  I didn't wash it off to go any where either...

KoriBrett

would and have

but he's done with it after I do 2 nails. ?don't care what color, toes or fingers, whatever.

Then again, he begged for the piggies in my sig pic, wears his sister's dressup shoes......?

r9stedt

Shooooooot.  My son has minimal male influence in his life.  I think it is pretty darn socially acceptable these days for males to have finger nails painted (or manicures).  I mean, hello, emo anyone? 

SLPgirl

Ben's nails are blue as we speak. Hard when you have a twin sister who loves to have her nails painted. It's not something I choose to have a battle over.

ScissorTailedFlycatcher

I don't paint his nails when I paint his sister's. I will give him the option of something else like spiking his hair or wearing daddy's cologne.

Andrewsgal

I honestly can not say what I will do yet. I will probably do his feet, but not his finger nails I am not sure DH would be a fan of it, so it would be up to how he felt too.

Purrrfect433

Ben drew on his toenails once and said it was a pedicure and when I laughed, he was SO embarrassed that he made me clean it off right away. If he really wanted me to paint his nails, I'd concede to painting one or two. But, I probably would discourage him from getting them all painted at this age.

Lisa102304

shortyred919:

I don't paint his nails when I paint his sister's. I will give him the option of something else like spiking his hair or wearing daddy's cologne.

 

I don't have a boy, but this is a really cute idea!