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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

....or is DH? 5 yo DS with painted toe nails?

77 replies

VirtuousVamp · 06/04/2013 20:29

So there it is. 9 year old DD has painted her finger nails for the holidays. 5 year old DS asked to paint his too. I compromised on his toes as they're not as visible as I knew DH disapproves.

He's just seen DS' toes and has been quite cross about it. I argued he's only 5 and enjoying himself. He thinks as he's only 5 he's impressionable and therefore it's unhealthy for his developmentConfused

So who's unreasonable? Me or him?? Interested in your DH's opinions too! I think it's harmless but obviously if it's not I'll dissuade him in future!

Smile
OP posts:
Chipstick10 · 06/04/2013 21:47

I can remember when my son was three yrs old and we were walking home from play group with his little mate and his mum. When we got to our door his little mate hugged my ds really tightly and affectionately and gave him a kiss. His mum pulled him off and said " no don't do that, don't kiss other boys" Sad . I felt so upset for him.

Original poster
VirtuousVamp · 06/04/2013 21:58

That is sad Chipstick. My DS is far more tactile and openly affectionate than my DD. I'd never want to stop that.

OP posts:
Original poster
VirtuousVamp · 06/04/2013 21:59

Thinking back on Jonny Depp. Maybe you're right I couldn't cope with those scissor hands.......!ConfusedGrin

OP posts:
LeonieDeSainteVire · 06/04/2013 22:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

olivertheoctopus · 06/04/2013 22:35

My DH would roll his eyes a lot but there would be no concern about catching gay!! DH's sister is a lesbian and I'm not aware her 'condition' is infectious...

olivertheoctopus · 06/04/2013 22:37

Altho these sort of questions always remind me of the little boy called Bertie from Alexander McCall-Smith's Scotland St series as he was forced by his over liberal mother to wear 'crushed strawberry' trousers in order to avoid gender stereotypes.

EndoplasmicReticulum · 06/04/2013 22:39

My sons like to have painted toes in the summer. Although they do insist on blue toenail varnish because "pink toenails are for girls".

My husband had blue toes as well, he didn't want to be left out. As far as I am aware this has not rendered him gay.

sjupes · 06/04/2013 22:46

I've mentioned this recently but i used to paint my nephews nails when he was little, i had different colours on my fingers and toes every week and he wanted to copy me.

He's only 6 still but he's outgrown it, more down to my sister making out it wasn't right than his own choice.

My ds wears a pudsey ears hairband every single day it's one of his favourite 'toys' along with dds hot pink hairband.

Dh is being unreasonable!

sjupes · 06/04/2013 22:47

Oh and ds is getting a toy kitchen which i thought was normal till a friend went all 'aaw good for you' at me - i looked them up and realised many were pink!

Flisspaps · 06/04/2013 22:48

DH is being a nob.

HTH.

Loulybelle · 06/04/2013 22:50

My Nephew loves playing with his sisters dolls house, and other toys, its just silly, making children fall into gender roles at that age.

ChameleonCircuit · 06/04/2013 23:00

My DS is 4 and insists on having his nails painted when he sees me doing his sister's. my only gripe is that neither of them will settle for the cheap stuff, they like my A-England stash!! DH doesn't have a problem with it at all.

sashh · 06/04/2013 23:48

Forget Johnny Depp, he might turn into Spike from Buffy.

sjupes · 06/04/2013 23:57

Spike is fit

SilveryMoon · 07/04/2013 00:06

My dp is a bit like yours op. He told me once that if I let ds1 play with buggies I'll turn him gay.
My dp has pushed buggies. He's not gay.
Ds1 is 5 and has had his nails painted.
Yanbu

superbagpuss · 07/04/2013 07:39

spike and johnny depp are fit
my husband used to paint his nails and wear makeup at uni, got to love a man who shares his makeup with you. he is not gay

Original poster
VirtuousVamp · 07/04/2013 07:40

Just to add fuel to the fire DS has just come through and showed me what he's been playing on the iPad....DD's makeup app where you have to put makeup on the model!! Ooh thinking about it, he also loves using DD's pink toy hairdressing set to do my hair! He's going to be a celebrity hair and make up artist isn't he???!Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
VirtuousVamp · 07/04/2013 07:42

Should probably add that DH wears pink shirts frequently......

::double standards.....!WinkGrin::

OP posts:
Alwayscheerful · 07/04/2013 07:44

Very much depends on the colour, if they are black YANBU if they are pink YABU!

Original poster
VirtuousVamp · 07/04/2013 07:50

Red and silver alternate nails.....

OP posts:
NorksAreMessy · 07/04/2013 08:10

Classy colours!

I teach jewellery making and almost all the little boys want to make earrings. Quite a few parents, of both sexes, try to say 'oh no, that's for girls'.
I am very breezy about pirates having earrings, to allow the boys a reason to have them that is acceptable to the parents. And I reassure the parents that almost all the boys ask for earrings.
The parents that STILL refuse are the ones that tell the children bead by bead how to make their necklace :(

I am staging a tiny beady revolution. :)

TheSmallPrint · 07/04/2013 19:33

My DH doesn't like me painting my 5yo (4 at the time) DS's nails either but DS loves it. It's a pathetic reaction but weirdly it is not a view confined to men. Several other mums I know well thought it odd and made lots of gay jokes Hmm. I think they are all morons.

StuntGirl · 07/04/2013 19:56

One of my best friends is a strapping 6 foot tall punk who wears a giant mohawk, army jackets and doc martens. He ALWAYS has painted nails. And it's not always 'boy' colours either.

He looks amazing Grin

IvorHughJangova · 07/04/2013 19:59

My DH paints his toe nails. Usually black, sometimes clear and sparkly. He looks very pretty and they in no way un-man him (if that's even a thing!). DS noticed them recently and told his dad he had pretty feet, so I may be doing his soon....

shushpenfold · 07/04/2013 20:02

My dsis and dbil had this discussion when their ds2 was 7. DBIL was convinced that ds2 would 'become' gay due to the nail varnish ....boy does my dbil feel silly now that ds2 is 14 and SO not gay!