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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Ex had my sons hair cut after I begged him not to

180 replies

4n0nym0u5 · 08/10/2016 18:41

I have a 4 year old boy and he has (had) longish hair....looked like a little rockstar and people always commented on how good he looked.

Anyway, he is having his school photo on Wednesday and I was happy he would have long hair on this school photo as last year I cut his hair the day before photograph day (which I dint realise was photograph day) I was gutted and was adamant to have it long the next time around.

Anyway, when my xh picked him up last night I said he has his school photo on Wednesday and im wanting his hair long for the photo. I got a text this morning saying that he has asked him if he wants his hair cutting and my 4 year old son apparently said, yes, I want to look like a boy. So he booked him in to have it cut this afternoon. I text him pleading that he doesn't get it cut, I rang but he never answered and when he did I begged in tears he didn't do it, that he just leave it for this weekend and Id get it cut after his photo. He said hes going to see what my son wants.

The thing is, my ex has it in his head that only girls have long hair and boys hair should be short. he is very steryotypical Hes due to drop my son off at 7pm tonight, and im dreading seeing his short hair. Im going to show a smile for my son and say wow look how handsome you are, but inside I will be heartbroken.

Whats your opinions??

I text him pleading him not to go ahead with it and called him crying and pleading and he just didn't respond

OP posts:
Secretmetalfan · 08/10/2016 22:42

It's funny I was chatting to my hairdresser about this today how some people try and keep their boys baby hair and refusing to cut it. Personally I think it looks terrible. But that is irrelevant. What is relevant is you ds wanted his hair cut. Get a grip

Theladyloriana · 09/10/2016 05:19

I get why you were upset.

But. You need to keep conversations with ex factual and without emotion. You are handing him power and control on a plate.

Detach.

lizzieoak · 09/10/2016 05:27

Having btdt, from years away from those emotional times I'd say do not plead with your ex over anything. There is always the chance the ex gets off on that, makes the ex feel like a power-high monkey on caffeine. Just a bad, bad idea. They are an ex for a reason.

My ex had my DS' hair cut into a military cut. I have custody, it was during a daytime visit. I was unamused, but didn't let on, as if I had it would have kept reoccurring as my ex enjoys getting into a barney about everything and nothing.

Another vote for disengage.

Bananamama1213 · 09/10/2016 08:19

I would be completely fuming if anyone ever cut my sons hair against my wishes. I have a 4yr old boy and a 3yr old girl.
My son has very thick hair that is impossible to do anything with, I prefer it longer and my hubby prefers it shorter (long on top, shaved sides). Hubby has been telling me for ages that he needs another cut but I like it this length so I'll only cut it when it starts bothering him!
No way would I cut it before school pictures! He had it cut shortly before we went to my cousins wedding and it was far too short, it makes me sad looking back at the pictures because I loved his hair before that.

I think it's your choice while he is so young. Youve given him a valid reason as to why you want it long (school pics) so he should respect that!

4n0nym0u5 · 09/10/2016 09:36

Thank you for all your replies, ive just finished reading them all.

Well my ex brought our 2 children back at 8, an hour late from agreed with no texts to say. I ididnt say anything though, when I opened the door I looked straight at my son with a big smile saying wow look how handsome you look! I didn't engage with the dad, I just shut the door.

I made a big fuss and asked do you like it? he nodded.

I later asked my daughter (not in front of my son) if Daddy had asked if he wanted his hair cutting, she said he did but * said no, but daddy kept asking till he said yes.
I wasn't happy. But im not going to say anything to the dad, like a pp suggested, im going to just teach my son to have his own opinions, he can do whatever he likes with his person.

I would just like to say to those who are saying that my son is old enough to know what he wants....although my son is 4 (just turned) he is developmently quite behind, and ive been advised to have a chat to our school SENCO about this.

To give you a bit of background on the dad, he has become quite controlling, he never use to be which is why I am still abit naïve over it all. He is forcing the sale of the home I live in with our 2 children, he demanded the car back we bought together, even though he has his own car and I had none.

With regards to the dressing my son up in dresses....I don't! I did say it was my daughter who just likes to play 'princess' and she is the one who asks her brother to wear a dress....if he says no then she doesn't push, but more often than not he will happily wear a dress.
I have never told the dad about that, My daughter said that when they are at daddys and she asks her brother to wear a dress daddy says no and she says well mummy lets us.

So what happens is when the dad comes to pick up or drop the children off, he starts to tell me what I can and cant do (all this whilst the children are still standing there)
The other week he told me our daughter told him that I let her drink apple cider! I couldn't believe it, I said she doesn't know what that is, ive never named an alcoholic drink to her, ive always called it dirty beer and that its for grown ups. But he seems to think that I give her cider....I don't even drink the stuff!

For the person who asked if the dad normally does 'parenting stuff' then no, he doesn't really, he doesn't take an interest in the children other than when its his weekend with them, during the summer holiday he never took them out, never saw them other that his usual times.....he has a fiance and she has 2 boys and he took them on holiday and days out....when he has them on a weekend he brings them back in the same clothes they went in. Don't get me wrong, he isa good dad, he was when we were together....but it just seems that now he has his other family his own children are being pushed aside a little.

Im just going to let him carry on with that, I never bad mouth him to our children or infront of them. When he starts to argue at the doorstep I always stop him and say not in front of the kids, if I call him to chat he never picks up his fone, he never replies to any texts.

Sorry for the ,ong post, I just wanted to sort of defend my actions a little. I DO realise I over reacted yesterday with the hair cut, and my little bou does look handsome still, its not tooooo short, and hes happy and that's all that mattes.

Thank you for your advice and opinions...xx

OP posts:
Chippednailvarnishing · 09/10/2016 09:49

So after everything everyone has said on this thread, the first thing you mention is your son's appearance and then you follow it with
I made a big fuss and asked do you like it? he nodded

Ffs stop ramping up small issues into big ones. If you had never mentioned the hair your ex wouldn't have had his hair cut. In your opinion it's too short, in your DC's opinion it was too long, big deal.

Now you can practically guarantee that he'll be taking him for regular cuts, with your poor son in the middle trying to please both of you.
Well done.

Crispsheets · 09/10/2016 09:51

You lost me at little rock star
Shock

Munstermonchgirl · 09/10/2016 10:01

Agree with crispsheets. Seems to be an obsession among some mums of boys to fixate on never cutting their hair. Children aren't dolls for you to fashion into what you want (and frankly the idea of a 'Little rock star' is weird- he's a child fgs!!)
If your ds said he wanted a haircut then what's the big deal? You seem to be placing far too much importance on appearance

4n0nym0u5 · 09/10/2016 10:02

I only said rockstar to give you the idea of length! Don't see what th problem is with the word at all, haha.

There are some nasty people making silly comments on here from not knowing the full story.

I asked for opinions and I got some bloody good ones, yet others were just needless nasty comments to make there lives seem better! A shame really.

OP posts:
Tanith · 09/10/2016 10:04

No need to be so aggresssive, Chipped!
The Op made a big fuss of the child when the ex had gone - she'd already shut the door on him.

Ausernotanumber · 09/10/2016 10:06

Why can't he just be a wee boy. Why does he have to be some kind of style icon?

4n0nym0u5 · 09/10/2016 10:06

You obviously haven't read my reply! MY SON HAS DEVELOPMENTAL PROBLEMS. HE DOESNT KNOW TO HAVE HIS OWN OPINION ON THINGS LIKE THIS.

OP posts:
Chippednailvarnishing · 09/10/2016 10:07

You poor son is caught in the middle and you don't have enough maturity or insight to deal with it like an adult. Frankly the more you post, the more you sound like your ex. You're both trying to score points about control with no concern about the results on your children. Why on earth you also bought your daughter into the discussion is beyond me.

Chippednailvarnishing · 09/10/2016 10:08

The Op made a big fuss of the child when the ex had gone - she'd already shut the door on him

So he know knows his hair is an issue with both parents. Very clever.

LapinR0se · 09/10/2016 10:12

I would be far more concerned with investigating the developmental issues than whether my child looked like a rock star Hmm

Ausernotanumber · 09/10/2016 10:12

You don't need to overtly bad mouth him for the kids to know you don't approve of him.

4n0nym0u5 · 09/10/2016 10:13

The advice on here was to make a fuss.....I did, I wont bother asking next time! thaks mumsnet once again for your advice Confused

OP posts:
Chippednailvarnishing · 09/10/2016 10:22

You don't need to overtly bad mouth him for the kids to know you don't approve of him

this^

apricotdanish · 09/10/2016 10:23

Op, I think you handled the situation really well. Sorry people are having a go unnecessarily. If I were you I'd stay off AIBU now and have a lovely Sunday worth your children. BTW, you sound like a great mum in my opinion and you have my sympathies about the controlling ex, I've been there and know how hard such relationships are to deal with SmileFlowers.

Mishaps · 09/10/2016 10:24

Well - you did rather hand that weapon to him! Lesson leaned I hope!

You and your OH are sending our different messages about what is gender appropriate - a bit confusing for this lad.

Munstermonchgirl · 09/10/2016 10:43

No, it's not nasty to point out that it's not right for your ds to be picking up these negative signals about the conflict between you and his father. The fact that your ds is developmentally delayed makes it even more imperative that you deal
With situations calmly and clearly without giving mixed messages. And I do think the 'Little Rock star' comment indicates that you're putting way too much importance on what your ds looks like... if you just wanted to indicate he has long hair then just say so. To describe him as looking like a Little Rock star implies that you want him to present a certain image rather than just being a little child

SmellySphinx · 09/10/2016 10:49

Sounds as if what your son wants is to please his parents by saying what they have prompted him that they want to hear....

This ^

But why couldn't your ex just leave it alone until after the photo? It was short last year so why not just have it long this time?

After all as people have said about your overreaction - it's only hair - works both ways.

ChishandFips33 · 09/10/2016 10:49

Well done OP. You reflected on your initial reaction and handled it much differently next time - the less you give away to your ex, the less he can use it against you.

Every visit will be a learning curve if he's different to how he was when you were together - but don't rise to him, think about it after and you'll get to know how best to deal with him ignore him

MsColouring · 09/10/2016 10:58

Hi OP - you have clearly taken on board some good advice on here - unfortunately, some people on here like won't let things go and I think you should ignore those who continue to have a go at you.

I feel for you as it sounds like he is very controlling. I would hate it if my ex cut my children's hair without consultation but I also know he does have the right.

My experience of dealing with a controlling ex is to not let on what is a big deal. If you had not mentioned the photos and the hair, would he have still cut it? My ex would deliberately do the opposite of what I asked.

MsColouring · 09/10/2016 11:02

And those people who are being all judgy about her showing her disapproval of the dad need to appreciate how difficult it is to disguise your feelings when dealing with a difficult ex. I never bad mouth my ex to my kids - I would be surprised if my kids hadn't picked up on my feelings about him but bearing in mind some of the things he's said and done (including his treatment of them), it is hard to disguise sometimes.