Mom tells her baby son 'makeup is for girls' — how she responded sparks ‘right parenting’ debate

Toddlers are quick learners, and they love to copy the adults in their lives. From mimicking adult talk to pretending to cook or dress up like them, they want to do it all. In one such moment, a little boy watched his mom do her makeup and sweetly asked if he could try it too, melting hearts with his innocent query. However, it was his mother’s response that sparked a debate in the comment section of the TikTok video, raising questions about "right parenting" and traditional gender norms. The video clip was shared by Shian Seagrist, who also goes by @whatshianshared on the video-sharing platform.

In the overlay text, the mom wrote, "My son asked to wear makeup. I said, 'No, makeup is for girls. But you can play with your soccer ball!' So, he did that instead. It really is that easy, you all." Even though his mom said no to the makeup, the little boy didn’t fuss—instead, he happily played with his ball. This simple moment quickly went viral on social media, and the comment section was filled with people sharing their varied opinions. While some of them praised the mom’s honesty and parenting technique, others argued that her response would teach her son to follow traditional gender norms.

One TikTok user, @staciestreicher, commented, “This is me too! I have one son, and he has two older sisters. So he always wants to play dress up and wear makeup, and get his nails painted. He doesn’t get it yet.” Another person, @thelouditaliangirldes, wrote, “Buy children’s face paint and next time he asks, paint his face like Spider-Man. Nothing wrong with a little boy dressing up like a superhero. Thank god you didn’t put a woman’s makeup on him. Putting the attention back on the soccer ball. Perfect response.” Similarly, @pinkprincess_rg said, “Yes! Always be honest with your kids, even when it's hard. In turn, they will always trust you. It's really that simple.”

However, on the other hand, one TikTok user, @shawna_anderson, commented, “Lol. My 2-year-old wanted matching nails with me, and I said yes. Playing doesn’t change who someone is. Can a girl play with his soccer ball?” Another person, who goes by the username @tigglebiggle2020, wrote, “I dressed like my brother and played sports and Pokémon, etc. I’m now a grown woman who loves makeup and everything girly. He’s just wanting to do it because he sees you doing it, there are no ‘boy or girl’ things at his age.”

Similarly, @ikhalil010 also asked, “I agree with this gender bias. But curious to know if you’d deny your daughters to play football/soccer and say that it’s for boys and that she should instead play with makeup?” Several other internet users shared similar experiences they had with their kids. Meanwhile, this is also a perfect example of how good parenting is a delicate balance. You want to teach your child what’s right and help them grow into a responsible human being, but it’s just as important to be cautious of not hurting their feelings.