This dad did what any parent should do when their nail polish-loving toddler son gets told painted nails are “for girls”—he took him to get a manicure
It’s now 2023—the fact that gender norms still exist (especially for kids) is getting a little bit ridiculous. It’s especially apparent in the story of a three-year-old California boy named Ashton, who loved painting his nails—and whose preschool teacher went out of her way to tell him “painting your nails is only for girls.” Ugh. Luckily, Ashton has a rad dad who did just the right thing: he took his son to get a manicure so he could continue enjoying nail polish because he is a three-year-old and should be allowed to like what he likes. Seriously, why is that so hard for some people to understand?
Ashton’s dad, Christian Shearhod, posted the whole saga on TikTok, where it’s going viral.
@mr.shearhod ♬ Pretty Girls Walk – Big Boss Vette
“My son came home from school upset because his teacher told him that painting his nails is only for girls, so today I’m taking him to the nail shop!” Shearhod says in the clip. It then cuts to the nail salon, where a visibly thrilled Ashton shouts “I want pink!” while picking his color from the wall of bottles.
The manicure turns into a mani-pedi when Ashton proclaims that he wants the color on his fingers and toes, and at the end of the video, he proudly shows off his new, hot pink nails. Obviously, they look amazing.
In an interview with NBC, Shearhod said that Ashton started showing interest in nail polish when he was around two years old, so they started doing their nails together. After Ashton was upset by his teacher’s remark, Shearhod and his girlfriend thought a trip to the “real” nail shop would help cheer Ashton up.
“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. He added that he just wants Ashton to live his life to the fullest, without “strict gender norms.”
If the smile on Ashton’s face in the video is any indication, this dad is doing a great job.
