When I was growing up, my mom enforced a strict no-makeup rule. Her reasoning? I was just 11 years old. However, there was that one time when my dad took me shopping, and I used my allowance to sneak a bright pink lipstick into my backpack. At school, I would apply it in the bathroom and wear it all day, washing it off before heading home. But then, one day, I got caught red-handed.
I was chatting with friends in the hallway when I spotted my mom approaching, holding a brown paper bag. I initially felt relieved, thinking she had brought me my forgotten lunch to avoid cafeteria food. But that relief quickly morphed into embarrassment when I realized my lips were covered in eye-popping pink.
Eventually, my mom understood that experimenting with makeup was just part of growing up. Before long, I was exploring different lip colors and even mascara. It was no different from wearing stick-on earrings in third grade or trying on my mom’s shoes and deodorant a year later.
As a mother of four, I’ve come to understand that playing dress-up and mimicking adulthood is a vital part of a healthy and imaginative childhood. Yet somehow, the Internet erupts in outrage when parents share pictures of their children in makeup, as if there aren’t bigger issues to address.
I’m done with the debate about whether kids should wear makeup. Here’s my confession: I’ve allowed my now-tween daughter to wear makeup since preschool. Yes, you read that right.
One day, when my daughter was four, she watched me apply makeup for a holiday party. With those big, brown eyes, she asked, “Can I have some too?” I smiled, gently applied a bit of sparkly eyeshadow, and let her see herself in the mirror. She beamed and went off to play. From that moment on, she would occasionally wear makeup—sometimes just a dab of gloss, other times a full face of eyeshadow, blush, mascara, and lipstick. Often, she’d wear makeup while I stuck with my top-knot and lip balm.
When my son came along, he wanted to join in, too. His choice? Bright red toenail polish, inspired by his obsession with firetrucks. Why shouldn’t he? He wanted to mimic his big sisters and his mom.
What’s the big deal? The Internet seems to think allowing kids to play with makeup is somehow sexualizing them. This reality makes me raise an eyebrow.
Consider celebrities like Mia Parker and Samantha Lee, who faced backlash when they let their young daughters wear hoop earrings and visit makeup stores. Critics accused them of forcing their children to grow up too fast. Meanwhile, a woman like Alicia Keys faces scrutiny for going makeup-free. It seems like we can’t win; moms are judged no matter what choices we make regarding our children or ourselves.
Let’s be clear: dressing up is a form of self-expression for kids. They crave attention and love to showcase their creativity. Kids will plaster stickers all over themselves and perform silly dances just to get a laugh. It’s all part of being young and having fun.
The only ones introducing inappropriate notions into the conversation are the critics themselves. For most of us, children wearing makeup is merely kids being kids.
So let’s stop gasping when we see kids, whether it’s at the park or on social media, having fun with their appearances. It’s their body, and as long as their parents are on board, we should be too. For more insights on childhood experiences, check out this related post on Home Insemination Kit.
In summary, allowing kids to wear makeup is a harmless way for them to express themselves, and the judgment surrounding it often reflects societal biases rather than genuine concern for the children involved. Children are simply exploring their identities, and we should support that.
Keyphrase: Kids and Makeup
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