MASON,
11 year old male
I can’t stand the way my mom makes such a big deal
about me brushing my hair every morning. She makes me wet it down
and brush before school. It’s my hair and I can wear it the
way I like it. She really makes me mad.
LISA, mother
Each morning it’s a battle to get Mason to make his hair presentable
for school. He doesn’t care if he goes to school with “bed
head.” It becomes a screaming match and he often becomes violent
and throws things and even hits his sister. I don’t know what
to do. I think he should take more pride in his appearance for school.
I don’t like the way he takes out his emotions on his sister.
He ends up going to school looking neat but I’m tired of the
morning battles.
Guidance Counselor:
Mom,
It sounds like this battle is less about hair and more about control
and anger management. Since uniforms are required, the only thing
Mason gets to choose about his school appearance is how messy he
can wear his hair. He rebels when his mother forces him to “fix”
his hair.
Instead of the morning battle, why not let him go to school with
“bed head?” After all there are worse things he could
do. The hair may become more important to him if a classmate comments
on it. When he becomes interested in impressing girls at school,
the neat hair issue may become important to him. For now, skip the
battle. Your mornings may go smoother for everyone in your household.
Sit down with Mason and explain your new plan. You could start by
saying, “Mason, I know you don’t like to brush your
hair in the mornings.” Explain to him that as long as he follows
the school dress code, he can wear his hair as he pleases. Let him
know that if he raises his voice, throws things or hits his sister,
he will have a consequence.
It is possible too, there are other issues involved with his outburst.
Try to pay especially close attention to his feelings and concerns.
Keep open communication and if possible, spend quality one-on-one
time with him.
Louise
Hajjar Diamond has been a guidance counselor for twelve
years. She is also a freelance writer and mother of two.