I will start by saying that I know the overwhelming majority of people who make these comments do not say them to be mean spirited, especially about a child. Red hair is beautiful, different and special. I totally understand why many people are fascinated by it and feel the need to comment on it. However, there's something about seeing a redhead that makes many otherwise intelligent people lose their marbles and say the craziest things.
Here are the top 5 comments we get on a near daily basis:
1. Where does the red hair come from?
With all due respect, where do you think it comes from? I mean, aliens didn't come down from Mars and zap their heads with a laser. Red hair is not some kind of nuclear anomaly, it comes from the same place blonde, brown and black hair come from - genetics......or the salon. When you see a brunette, do you immediately jump in and ask, "Where does the brunette hair come from?" Probably not.
2. Oh my God, look at that hair!
I'm not joking when I tell you that 8 out of 10 times someone meets either Brendan or Hayden for the first time, rather than looking at them and saying, "Nice to meet you" or "What lovely children", some people think it's completely appropriate to scream out "Look at that hair!" before even saying "Hello." To those of you who do this, unless you would walk up to someone with a blonde or brunette haired child and say, "Oh my God look at that hair!" please don't do it to a redhead. It's so rude and how do you think it makes the child feel?
3. What an adorable little carrot top!
A woman I don't even know said this to me yesterday at school. I couldn't believe it. We were outside the school and Hayden was walking on the grass. Instead of saying something normal like, "What a sweet little girl," this woman walks out of the school and screams out, "What an adorable little carrot top!" Really? Seriously?
4. Ooooo, I love little ginger kids!
OMG, don't even get me started. Referring to a redhead as a "ginger" does not have the same cute meaning as referring to a blonde as a "blondie." To those of you who refer to redheads as gingers - please. stop. it.
5. I hear redheads are going to be extinct in the near future.
Excuse me? I can't tell you how many people have said this in front of my children as if they are a different species or something. Redheads are not dinosaurs and they are not going anywhere.
Even the most well intentioned comments often come across wrong and can be hurtful to the child. Yes, red hair is not as common as brunette or blonde, but it is common knowledge that human beings are born with either blonde, brown, black or red hair.
A good rule of thumb, if you wouldn't say it to a blonde or a brunette....please don't say it to a redhead.
If you're a redhead or have a redhead, what's the craziest thing someone has ever said to you?
