A Shaggy-Haired Grandson and a Young Fan of Rap Music for 07/28/2017

A Shaggy-Haired Grandson and a Young Fan of Rap Music for 07/28/2017
Dear Family Coach

Dear Family Coach: My family is throwing a party for my father’s 65th birthday, and my mother told me to cut my 13-year-old son’s hair or not bring him along. Do I haul my kid to a barber over his objections, or is it OK to leave him at home? Help! – Dad in the Middle

Dear In the Middle: It must be incredibly sad to see your parents throw down a cold-hearted ultimatum. They clearly have an image of what a young man should look like and, regrettably, it isn’t the image of your son. I would never recommend involuntarily butchering a pubescent teen’s hair. That’s the time in a person’s life when identity is being formed. One’s appearance is extremely central to that identity. It would be a colossal assault to make him cut off his hair.

Updated: Fri Jul 28, 2017

A Shaggy-Haired Grandson and a Young Fan of Rap Music for 07/28/2017