Dad Gets 3-Year-Old Son's Nails Done After Teacher Said It's 'Only For Girls'

By Zainab Pervez in Feel Good On 14th February 2023
advertisement

A California man took his toddler son for a mani-pedi after the boy’s teacher told him “painting your nails is only for girls.”

“My son came home from school upset because his teacher told him that painting his nails is only for girls” the 3-year-old's father, Christian Shearhod said in a video shared to TikTok. 

TikTok/@mr.shearhod
advertisement

The dad, who is also a teacher from Los Angeles, decided the best way to combat the situation, was to take his son to get a mani pedi. “So today I’m taking him to the nail shop.”

 

TikTok/@mr.shearhod

Walking up to the salon, the little boy was overwhelmed with excitement. Inside, his son looked through a wide selection of colours, before pointing out the pink polish.

“I want pink!” 

advertisement

He patiently waited to get a manicure and pedicure. As the toddler showed off his new look, Shearhold reminded his followers that boys can like anything they want.

“Let little boys like what they like... trucks, Spider-Man, Paw Patrol (and) maybe painting his nails,” the dad wrote.

TikTok/@mr.shearhod

The video quickly went viral, racking up 5 million views and 900k likes. TikTok users left thousands of comments praising the dad. 

“This is amazing but I’d be having a talk with his teacher too,” one person suggested. “There was NO need in the teacher saying this to that sweet boy.”

“He’s adorable. Good job parental units,” another wrote.

A third said: “Good dad! Painted nails are for whoever wants them painted!!”

TikTok/@mr.shearhod

Others were furious at the teacher, asking the dad to complain to the school.

“I’d be calling that teacher and having a heated discussion,” one said.

“Teachers shouldn’t be all up in children’s HOME life,” a second wrote. “Why on earth would it bother a teacher?!”

@mr.shearhod

♬ Pretty Girls Walk - Big Boss Vette

The dad followed up in another video. 

“So before anyone tries to cancel his school; we have to remember that different cultures have different gender norms,” he said.

“His teachers love him and are really so good to him!

@mr.shearhod Replying to @elainamae ♬ original sound - Christian Shearhod

“As a teacher myself I know his teacher probably thought she was helping him and I highly doubt there was any malicious intent.

“We’re all on the same page now, thank y’all for all the supportive comments”

advertisement

In an interview with NBC News, he said his son first expressed interest in nail polish about age 2. 

“Since then, we started painting our nails together,” he told the outlet.

TikTok/@mr.shearhod

“I really just wanted to make sure that he didn’t have guilt or shame, because it is something that he enjoyed, and we had done together multiple times,” Shearhod said, adding that he wants his son to enjoy life to the fullest at his age, without “strict gender norms.”