As long as it's not permanent

Yesterday, while at the hairdresser, I had the opportunity to talk to a woman who was 20 years my senior.  She, the mother of 5 children, and I were in agreement that when we had teenagers we tried not to exert too much control over their appearance.  But it was so difficult not to interfere because we knew that others were judging our children, though sometimes unfairly, by the style of their hair, the appropriateness of their clothing, and the manners they showed.

This conversation was started because I took my grandson for a haircut that he really did not want.  I found a style that he liked and we took the picture to the hairdresser.  I wouldn't have pressed for this haircut if not for our vacation plans.  He neither sulked or gushed over the haircut, but I think he was secretly relieved to have the heavy thick hair he was carrying around lightened.  Speaking of lightened ...I did try to get him to get highlites, but he put his foot down on that.

When we had teens, my husband and I would just say to each other  "As long as it's not permanent!"  when dealing with any disappointment we had about their looks.   And fortunately we got through those years without any excess piercings, tattoos, and frightening styles of dress.

PS:  Thanks grandson for making your grandma happy with the haircut.  And thanks to my kids for their (most of the time) acceptable appearance during their youth.