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"You have two beautiful girls," the kind military personnel gentlemen stated as he passed our table. He had been making a fuss over Emerson and Aiden, and this was his parting statement. 

"Thanks" I choked through my current piece of pizza, shock completely settling over me as the comment registered. Jamin cast me an amused glance as we wordlessly watched the man exit the pizzeria. 

"I think its time for a hair cut," he stated, quietly.

Today, probable contagiousness behind us, Jamin, the children, and I decided to run some errands, in order to get a few breaths of fresh air and shake the dust bunnies from our hair. We decided to brave it to our favorite pizza spot, as the children were getting hungry, and pizza sounded wonderful. 

I realize we live in the south. In a location that, to say the least, hurts for lack of trend-infusing excitement. I have to wait around five years before anything in the north ever hits Montgomery, and even then they tend to look at people a bit cross-eyed for wearing anything other than jeans and a t-shirt when venturing into Walmart. Tall boots are considered trying too hard.  

A good southerner votes republican, drinks sweet tea, and keeps their hair neatly trimmed. Or DO they?

If Aiden were a girl, don't you think seeing as how we DO live in the south, he would have a giant helicopter bow perched atop his head? That his hair would already be down to his buttock? That it would be braided into pig tails or some other ridiculously cute style other than sitting plainly on his head? That he would NOT be sporting nautical stripes in the form of a hoodie, with elbow patches, worn jeans, navy blue crocks, and a light blue shirt underneath?

And that is SUPPORTING the argument that he would even look pretty as a girl. I mean I know his face is pretty, but I look at him and see "BOY!" It just screams at you. "BOY! BOY!" Like a neon sign infused with pre pubescent testosterone. "Look at me! I'm a boy! I scream and run and throw and climb and..." I think we all get the point. I was a bit, uh, taken off guard by such an absurd statement.

Maybe once upon a time when he was past one and much too old to be donning that mint green bubble suit. With lace. I got the picture. Talk about southern traditions. Yeah. That's right. I can drink my sweet tea with the best of 'em, YA'LL. 

But now?

Thank you for the sweet compliment. That merely means my little surfer dude will have more girlfriends than I can stand to beat down by the time he's in the seventh grade. I refuse to succumb to the expectations, however, of my southern superiors. {read: fuddyduds} My child may have cool rocker hair if he wishes. He doesn't have to measure up to everyone elses expectations regarding what a boy should look like. I just may have to grin and bear through a few more rogue comments in Aiden's near future. I now consider myself prepared. 

Rock on, fellow surfer dudes of the south. We will NOT be beaten down!