Mom had the perfect comeback for a stranger who shamed her son for wearing makeup

The stereotypical gender norms set by society have limited the freedom of children. Many boys have to be careful about how they dress and girls have to worry about what toys they like to play with because it doesn’t agree with societal ideals. However, these need to be discontinued. A mom named Payal (@payalforstyle) boldly disagreed with a stranger who publicly shamed her sons for wanting to try makeup. She cited important reasons why children deserve the liberty to explore and why parents should not become obstacles in their development and learning. The mom shared a stitch with a video of a woman who was applying makeup.

In her text overlay, the woman in the stitch wrote, “When my sons watch me do my makeup and ask if I can do theirs next.” Along with the text, a trending audio was played with the words, “Never” and “No.” Payal then remarked, “I don’t agree with this.” She explained that she didn’t mean to be rude but had to point out that there are 3 important things that kids can learn while learning to use or exploring makeup. The mom noted that it firstly gives an opportunity to “dismantle gender norms associated with those.” She carefully mentioned that when boys are told things like they “can’t do girl things,” it puts an idea in their heads that "anything associated with girls is bad."

The next point the mom noted is that being accepting and having an open mindset allows the child to be comfortable. If you say yes, it gives the message that the child can be “open and authentic and share who he is and what he’s interested in.” She thoughtfully pointed out that this little assurance can be great in setting the stage for the future. Even if it’s not makeup but something else, the child would be able to confide in their parents. Lastly, Payal explained that allowing them to explore and learn without condition would also help develop a child’s confidence and self-worth.

“Bullies prey on weakness, not on confidence,” the mom noted. She also remarked, “Raising a confident kid is mindful work, but raising a bully is also mindful work.” In conclusion, Payal noted that boys wanting to wear makeup doesn’t have to result in one conclusion. “He might outgrow the interest or maybe just wants to use it as a way to bond with you,” she said. The mom also mentioned that if a child sees a man or trans person wearing makeup, this very teaching will help him avoid being judgmental. “Bullies are made at home,” the caption read.

Many parents agree that being open and liberal in their parenting is ideal for a child’s growth and development. @emiliekiser said, “I always let my son do makeup next to me or whatever he is interested in trying.” @what..like..its..hard. added, “Kids are just curious. Let them be curious kids.” @arleeezy noted, “My son saw me painting my daughter’s nails and asked if he could get his done. I said, ‘Sure, what color?’ It doesn’t have to be this big thing.” 

You can follow Payal (@payalforstyle) on TikTok for more content on parenting.