Celine Dion's SON looks like a girl!

[Nancy]

You should go to some current high schools then. Walking onto my kids campus is like entering a timewarp back to my high school days in the 70's. My DS's best friend (national honor society, top10%) has the most beautiful golden blond hair down to his midback. I would kill for that hair. Even in our elementary schools, most boys have chin length or longer hair. Finding a kid with hair above the ear would be difficult at best in the elementary schools around here. Showing your ears is just "not cool." The other big thing in elementary school is putting highlights into your hair (boys). My 5th grader went from having a buzz cut most of his elementary days to now sporting just below the ears cut with the front bangs and top highlighted. (I pick my battles and hair is not one of them)


And for demographics sake - we are a very WASPish (unfortunately -would love to see more diversity) upper middle class to upper class community.

Seeing hair above the ears is the exception, not the norm anymore. So, long hair on boys is making a huge comeback and it is considered the norm by today's standards in all the schools from elementary to high school around here.

Here it is just the opposite. I don't see anything below the collar here and most wear it on the shorter side. There are a few in the highschool that are longer and one of the college students I work with actually wears a headband. Elementary school kids pretty much have the typical boys haircut. I guess I live in a pretty traditional area.

 

[Briarmom]

I seriously doubt anyone is forcing him to have long hair. NO HAIRCUTS FOR YOU, RENE!!! (in a French Canadian accent, of course!) And how many of us don't look back at those pictures from our glorious childhoods and cringe on occasion? Perms, big dorky glasses, braces, feathered hair, scabs, zits, peter pan collars, ugly sweaters... we all regret our parents made us wear our hair certain ways or put us in hideous clothes. Judging appearances, especially the appearance of a child, is pretty shallow.

Agreed. It's just hair, and hair is not a battle I would pick with my kids.

I wanted my ds to have long-ish hair when he was a toddler. Living in a military community, having all those military haircuts on boys just gets boring. Alas, my son didn't even need a hair cut until he was 4.

 

[Kama89]

Beautiful child! I think it's the shirt more than the hair. If he were dressed more "boy like" I doubt I would've even looked twice at the hair. The shirt though... little rounded collar, etc. Are there sequins on that shirt?? LOL!! Maybe it's just the camera angle, who knows.

Although, I have to admit... when the little guy in my sig was younger than he is in that pic, his hair was a little on the longer side, although not Rene long!! He got called a girl a LOT!! Even dressing him as a boy didn't make a difference. He did begin to get frustrated with it, so I wacked the hair off, but it didn't help. He was still often considered a "girl". Thankfully, once the whiskers started, people started figuring it out...

​

 

[Trish Bessette]

As long as they are happy is all that matters.

 

[toto2]

Wow , by looking at some comment , you would think that Celine is an unfit mother !

She is the youngest of a familly of 14 , so I guess she knows a thing or two about motherhood. And she choose to do the show in Vegas in order for her son to have a more "normal" life for the first few years of his life , not a tour bus life.

My sister in law son has had long hair forever. He is now 23 , still has the long hair and has no identity problems.


René in french is a masculine name as much as a feminine ( It would then be Renée), so there would be non confusion

 

[r3ngels]

I think the length isn't the problem as much as the perfectly placed curls and the shirt. When I see kids at that age with long hair it is more the Zack and Cody shaggier hair.

 

[Robinrs]

So what's wrong then, with a parent who decides to respect their children's wishes with regard to the length of their hair (or the shoes that they wear, etc.)?

The way I see it, it's not my hair, so if my DD wants her hair a certain length, or a certain color, then I say she can go for it. If I sanction it as her parent, then isn't it still my decision?

And also, what exactly is wrong with looking like a girl? I mean, honestly, what is so bad about it? Is there something wrong with being a girl? Do people think that he will be more likely to grow up to be *gasp* gay or trans gendered?

When he grows up and makes that decision it will be fine with me. There is NOTHING wrong with looking like and being a girl if you ARE ONE. If you are not then the identity crisis concerning everything gender wise can become nothing but confusion.

As a child he is subjected to what I decide for him. We can take their druthers into account but in the end a child who is in charge will always be in charge and I'm sorry, it's not the way it should be done. It creates anarchy and chaos.

I think the problem with too many families is the fact that the child is in charge. Good Lord whenever I see those Super Nanny shows I could just spit! I don't believe in not including them into the decision making process but in the end, children need to follow the adult. HOPEFULLY the adult is worth following... no promise that that will be true!

 

[mickeyfan2]

That is nothing compared to what we saw a ~7 year old boy wearing. He had on jeans with glitter and lace. His shirt was very girly too, but the pants really stuck out. He was definitely a boy.

 

[MomofKatie]

He looks like a boy to me... He has a very "boy" face. I have no issues with kids deciding how they want their hair to look- they are the ones who have to wear it, after all. Longer hair is getting more and more popular, here- even the little boys are into the shaggy, messy look now.

Honestly, most of the pictures of me as a child I cringe at today are ones where I picked out my own hair, clothes, etc. My mom let us wear our hair and clothes (within reason- no skimpy/sexy clothing) the way we wanted to.

That Farrah Fawcett 'do, toe socks with Earth Shoe sandals/"I'm with Stupid Tshirt/gauchos combo in my 5th grade picture makes me flinch now, but in the mid 70's, I was cooool!!!

 

[Crankyshank]

how would being the youngest of 14 make you an expert on motherhood? I can see being the oldest of 14, but the youngest? My friend is the youngest of 8 and his elder siblings were out of the house by the time he was in school. I would imagine that would be the case as the youngest of 14.

 

[toto2]

how would being the youngest of 14 make you an expert on motherhood? I can see being the oldest of 14, but the youngest? My friend is the youngest of 8 and his elder siblings were out of the house by the time he was in school. I would imagine that would be the case as the youngest of 14.

First , how you have been raised, the values your are thought , how you see your mother treating you and your sibblings. Her familly , who is very well known here have no scandal whatsoever. Everybody is...normal. Celine was already and aunt when she was born ! When you are from such a large family , you learn the value of order , of hard work and discipline. Such a household cannot work other wise. You also learn to be an individual. And I would guess that you bring all this into motherhood. Knowing Maman Dion ( everybody in Québec knows Celine's mother) , she would wack Celine behind the ears if she would not be a good mother ! ( of course this is only my opinion ! )

 

[Crankyshank]

First , how you have been raised, the values your are thought , how you see your mother treating you and your sibblings. Her familly , who is very well known here have no scandal whatsoever. Everybody is...normal. Celine was already and aunt when she was born ! When you are from such a large family , you learn the value of order , of hard work and discipline. Such a household cannot work other wise. You also learn to be an individual. And I would guess that you bring all this into motherhood. Knowing Maman Dion ( everybody in Québec knows Celine's mother) , she would wack Celine behind the ears if she would not be a good mother ! ( of course this is only my opinion ! )

But you can be from a small family and embody all of those things. I guess I'm still not seeing where anyone called her a bad mother, or the revelance of her being one of 14

 

[LotsOfQuestions]

When he grows up and makes that decision it will be fine with me. There is NOTHING wrong with looking like and being a girl if you ARE ONE. If you are not then the identity crisis concerning everything gender wise can become nothing but confusion.

As a child he is subjected to what I decide for him. We can take their druthers into account but in the end a child who is in charge will always be in charge and I'm sorry, it's not the way it should be done. It creates anarchy and chaos.

I think the problem with too many families is the fact that the child is in charge. Good Lord whenever I see those Super Nanny shows I could just spit! I don't believe in not including them into the decision making process but in the end, children need to follow the adult. HOPEFULLY the adult is worth following... no promise that that will be true!

A child that has long hair means the child is in charge and you need Supernanny?

I don't make hair a battle. It is their choice - even when they are 6. And my oldest is off to medical school. With a short (gasp) ponytail. The kid learned to respect others by our example of respecting his personal space. Kid was never in charge, nor did we ever need Supernanny. Nor did he ever question his gender or sexuality. In fact, he grew up with a very confident self-image because we picked our battles very carefully. Micro-managing his self-image was not one of them. As long as it was allowed in his school, and as long as he did not wear offensive clothing, he had free reign to express himself the way he wanted to.

Our battles consisted of how he treated other people, his work ethic, and being a general good person. Didn't need SuperNanny for that

My guess is that Celine Dion does have a Nanny, but I highly doubt it is Supernanny.

And FWIW - the child's name is Rene-Charles. It is hyphenated and both names are pronounced as if one name. I highly doubt when introduced and having the name "Charles" in there, that his gender is doubted.

 

[toto2]

But you can be from a small family and embody all of those things. I guess I'm still not seeing where anyone called her a bad mother, or the revelance of her being one of 14

On that we agree , size dont matters, but I just feel that in a large familly , those things are agiven , since you almost have no choice.

Some poster seem to feel that it is wrong not to cut this child hair , that he will suffer identity crisis , that this child is in charge and that his parent let him do what he wants, that they dont seem to discipline him. Hair lenght has nothing to do with discipline !

 

[disneyfan67]

I'm sure he will love that picture when he looks back on it one day? Just because you have money I don't think that gives you the right to mess up your kids. I would think kids would make comments about the way he looks. I personally think it is just mean.

In a normal, everyday real life that kid of hers would be teased terribly. I doubt he has to go to public schools though and probably lives a very sheltered life. I can guarantee that if he grew up on the playground I did and he came to school wearing that outfit in the picture, he wouldn't have lasted through recess. Kids can be mean, especially in a pack or a group and when something is different, their cruelty knows no boundaries.

As for her son, it seems just another case of a parent allowing the child to dictate or be in charge. That seems to be getting more common place as time goes by. If it works for them in their fantasy life, good for them. In the real world where our children aren't sheltered by the money and fame of celebrity Celine has, it can be a different story. I would shudder at the thought of what that kid would have went through if he attended my grade school.

 

[Robinrs]

A child that has long hair means the child is in charge and you need Supernanny?

I mentioned it because in the article she said she asked him if he wanted his hair cut. If my son was given that choice he'd look like Sly Stone and NO that ain't gonna happen in MY world.

 

[Bunchkin]

This is the first thing I thought of!!! Remember these???

"It sucks as it cuts!!"

 

[Nancy]

I mentioned it because in the article she said she asked him if he wanted his hair cut. If my son was given that choice he'd look like Sly Stone and NO that ain't gonna happen in MY world.

Never asked my kids at 4, 5 or 6 years of age if they wanted a haircut, they were told they were getting a haircut. Once they took care of their own hair then they had a say in how short, long, style they wanted. BUT if they told me they wanted it purple and a mohawk I would have said no. Now that they are almost adults and pay for their own cuts they can do with their hair what they want. But my girls are very low key and very girlie girl, they don't do outragious things to their hair or dress. (heck one of my DD's works at Anne Taylor, she can't do strange things to her hair or dress)

 

[lyzziesmom]

I personally think it is just mean.

I suppose it would be less to mean to hold him down and buzz his hair against his will while he is crying and screaming that he doesn't want it cut??

Seriously, it's JUST HAIR. Didn't any of you have a childhood haircut that now makes you cringe to think about it? I did when I got a pixie cut at age 10 and everybody thought I was a boy. I spent a year in dresses and long spangly barettes until it grew out. Did I turn out to be gay because people thought I was a boy? NO!

And as for the shirt, look at the picture someone posted of Celine and Rene-Charles in Disneyland. He is dressed very boyish in that picture. I'd bet that's what the kid looks like on a daily basis. For the magazine cover, you know a stylist came in and chose the wardrobe and hairstyle, right? He doesn't run around every day in feminine clothing, it is just for the picture.

Sheesh, I don't even LIKE Celine Dion, I can't believe I'm here defending her. This must be a very slow work day.

 

[mickeyboat]

I think the long hair is not really the boy's choice, it is Celine's. When he was 2, I doubt he cared one way or the other. Celine wanted it grow, so it did. At 6 kids are starting to develop their own tastes and desires, but they are pretty sheltered as to what is available by their parents' tastes and desires.

If I spent my entire kids' lives telling them how beautiful they are with long hair, at 6 they would probably not want to cut it - because they want to please me, and because they really don't know any other way.

I will buy the argument that hair is not a battle I choose to pick with my kids when they are pre-teens, but not from birth to age 6.

FWIW - I don't think it makes Celine a bad parent because her son has long hair. I do think it makes the boy look like a girl.

Denae