Photo credit: April & August Photography
Parents of redheads,
“Oh, that red hair!” has been a phrase that has followed me for the last seven years of my life. I am sure you have heard it a time or two.
It started on the day my oldest was born. I had grown up with redheaded friends and had strawberry blonde hair, but the moment they handed me that squirmy little babe, with bright red hair I understood. He was one special little guy who I had been blessed with, but I didn’t know how special quite yet.
The next two days were spent with nurses popping in and out of my room admiring this sweet little ginger baby, and hearing repeatedly “Oh, that red hair!” They couldn’t believe how bright his red hair was on his sweet newborn head.
This phrase didn’t end at the hospital. My little boy’s baby hair fell out and came back just as red. “Oh, that red hair!” has been heard at grocery stores, from grandparents, during haircuts, at restaurants, and from teachers at school year after year.
Being a parent of a redhead isn’t all compliments, sunshine, and rainbows. Let me warn you. It is a tough life we live.
Our annual sunscreen bill is through the roof. We spend much more than the average parent on sunscreen, especially for sunscreen for sensitive skin and higher SPF, to make sure our little gingers don’t burn. But it doesn’t stop there, the sun shirts, hats, and sunglasses needed to protect their sensitive skin and eyes. It can get pretty costly.
Grocery store runs always take longer as many a stranger or cashier take time to stop and comment on our children’s red hair. We are constantly holding up the check-out line as the baggers insist on talking about my children’s hair.
Whenever we meet someone who knows another red-haired child, they make a point to let us know they know someone else with red hair too. Sometimes, they even ask if we know them. Apparently, there is a redhead club we haven’t been made aware of.
We constantly have to explain where the red hair comes from to everyone we know, as they are perplexed how we produced a red-headed child. If my husband isn’t with me they assume he has red hair, and if he is with us all of the sudden they think my hair is red.
Did you know redheads are more likely to be left-handed? In a world with right-handed sports equipment and scissors, our redheaded and left handed kids need special left handed items to make it through life.
If you are a parent of a red-headed child, I see you. All other parents of red-headed children are here for you. We know it isn’t all compliments and ginger love. There are struggles that come with having a red headed child.
We know they have the most beautiful hair, gorgeous fair skin, and unique characteristics that are only found in gingers. That it feels so special to have someone come into your world that is a small two percent of the entire world. That they have a beautifully unique personality to match their ginger locks.
So parents of redheads, let’s stick together. I get you. And I love my little redheads and the redheads in my life with a love that is as unique as they are. 
Any other parents of redheads out there?
So true! Both my son and I are redheads…and this is spot on, especially with the sunscreen! Did you also know pain perception and anesthesia application can be different for redheads? (Thank goodness I have a dentist that knew that – it has actually explained a lot on some last experiences) Lots of uniqueness…but I wouldn’t trade it!!