If your blonde haired self and your dirty blonde husband go in to the hospital to deliver a baby, and the nurse hands you a red head, you might be a little shocked.
If you feel a little shocked, you may give your husband a funny look and wonder where this red hair came from.
If you take your red headed baby out in public, you can bet your bottom dollar that EVERY SINGLE person you come into contact with for the rest of your days is going to compliment your baby’s red hair and also ask you where it came from.
If you’re like me, you’re not exactly 100% sure where it came from, so you aren’t quite sure how to answer that question. You’ll tell them that you think your husband’s mom’s grandpa had red hair.
When you tell them where you think the red hair came from, they will then tell you about someone they know in their life that has red hair.
After they tell you about their red-headed acquaintances, they will also question if you know how rare red hair is, and several people will refer to your child as a “dying breed.”
Just when you think you can’t possibly be stopped by one more person in the grocery store to ask about/compliment your baby’s red hair, you will be stopped by someone else who will gasp in awe and tell you how amazing his hair is.
Just when you thought you had seen/heard it all, someone will walk up and touch your baby’s red hair and tell you that they are sorry, but they just can’t help it because it is so beautiful.
And just when you’re contemplating designing a blonde baby wig or only taking your baby out in public if he’s wearing a stocking cap to cover his head, so as to avoid 99 conversations a day about his red hair, you’ll realize that he actually is SO special. And his hair is SO beautiful and SO rare, and you wouldn’t want that doctor to have handed you anything other than this perfectly beautiful, unique, red-haired baby.
They say that only 2% of the population has red hair. I never paid much attention to just HOW rare red hair is, but now that I’m confronted daily about it, I realize just how special it really is. As much as I joke about not taking my baby out in public anymore, I’m totally kidding. The amount of joy that this baby and his red hair bring to so many people a day is amazing. I can only hope that he continues to be a bright spot (literally and figuratively) in people’s lives for years to come!
*This post was originally written in 2019.
Shelby I love reading your blogs makes me feel closer to you. You have beautiful babies and they have wonderful parents.
As a redheaded mom of 4 redheaded children, I can attest to the truth of this! I can be holding my redheaded baby with my red hair flowing in the wind and people will STILL ask me where they got it! “Oh, does Dad have red hair?” No, you fool! I do! Then you have all the people who comment on how they must have horrible tempers even though their tempers pale in comparison to their 1 blonde sibling’s temper. When I go to the store with no children it takes no time at all. The time it takes with kids goes up exponentially with each kid I take with me.
So very true! And I never realized it was such a conversation subject. My daughter is 36 and still we see this happening.
I have 2 kids, both with red hair! This is all so so true! I really didn’t want my 2nd one to have red hair because the comments get really tiresome, and I couldn’t imagine they would slow down if I was out with TWO of them. I have dark hair, and my husband has the red hair. I am jealous that he shares that special bond with them. And in all honesty, I feel so special that I am surrounded my so much red hair and am doing my part to repopulate the “dying breed.” Great post!!
Yes!!!!!! They used to touch her head all. The. Time!!!! Like, personal boundaries people! She recently cut it short, I think so people would just leave her alone… they still don’t.
I have one son Redheaded and I know where his came from me , even though I’m not Redheaded my mom, my grandma, all my moms sisters and brothers are Redheaded. My husband is sandy blonde and I’m brunette. I have had so many conversations with people when my son was small about his hair one hairdresser said I would be a millionaire if I could bottle your hair color. So this absolutely the truth
Our first redhead entered our family two years ago, after 4 non-redhead children and a long line of non-redhead relatives. Your article brought much confirmation and clarity of what we have been been observing these past 2 years introducing the world to our son. We adore his hair and, yes, the trips to the grocery store do take longer, but we are so tickled by his uniqueness and it is very sweet that many others are, too. Thank you for the beautiful and fun way you captured this topic!
My red headed son practically scalped himself at age six trying to cut off his red hair because he was so tired of people touching him. Apparently it’s some people believe it’s good luck to rub a red head.
He is 16 now and mostly accepts it, but he did request a ball cap for Christmas…….
Having a redhead child taught this Mama to advocate for her kids and set boundaries with strangers. It helped me find my voice.
Yes, my #4 son was blessed with red hair & turquoise eyes… I had auburn hair. Older ladies would ask to pat his hair for goodluck. ?