My parents offered to babysit my 7yo, but I had to do something drastic first

“They will do it, claim they know best, and possibly even manipulate your daughter into thinking it was her idea…”

*Laura’s hair has played a huge role in her childhood; at only seven years old, it already hits her waist and has become a huge part of her identity. 

Her mum, Debra*, knows how much this hair means to her, so she’d never consider cutting it any time soon. 

However, Laura’s grandparents have different ideas, and it’s causing a severe rift in the family. 

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Laura's hair hits her waist and she's very proud to show it off. Picture: iStock

“My parents want us to cut her short before we send her to them”

Debra and her family live in America, where the summer holidays are just about to begin.

While there's plenty of fun planned, Laura's grandfather, Nicholas*, and step-grandmother, Gloria*, want to spend time with their granddaughter while she is on the break, volunteering to watch the 7yo at their house for a week.

RELATED: 'I didn't want to force my son to cut his hair for a rule nobody can explain'

While Debra was appreciative of the offer, she has had trouble with her stepmother for some time, and wasn't sure if she wanted her 7yo staying over for so long. 

One of the major reasons for this attitude was Gloria's obsession with Laura's hair; she constantly complains about the 7yo's long locks, which has almost become the bane of her existence. 

Now, it’s no secret that working with long hair can be difficult, so when a child is tasked to handle the job, it can end with trouble (AKA lots of knots, tangles and tears). 

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While her daughter is only young and can’t manage her hair on her own, Debra has no issue helping it look its best, brushing and caring for it until her daughter gets older. 

But her stepmum, Gloria, sees things differently. 

“They want us to cut her hair short before we send her to them,” Debra said on Reddit. “They volunteered knowing full well that she can’t manage it on her own and are now asking us to cut it.” 

Here's the thing: Debra doesn't want to cut Laura's hair.

This is one of her daughter's most treasured possessions, and she doesn't want to force her to lose it just so she can spend time with family; it just wasn’t fair. 

However, Debra’s stepmum didn’t get the message, later sending a text message explaining the reason why she believed Laura should cut her hair. 

“When I was six and before I went to camp, we cut off my long hair,” the text began. 

“I think my mother stopped helping me on purpose, and after about a week, I realised that I hated being brushed and combed, I couldn't do it well, and I certainly didn’t want any counsellor to brush or comb my hair.

“So it was cut short. As it grew back, I learned how to take care of it.

“It's hair. It grows. Just saying.” 

Debra was furious at this request, saying she’d rather go “no contact before I cut her hair”. 

“This is a hill I’ll die on,” she said before asking how to handle the situation. “Is this the issue he's willing to lose his daughter and granddaughter over?”

RELATED: I cut my daughter's hair short because she wouldn't listen to me

“I wouldn't trust Grandma Snippy for half a second”

The Reddit community warned Debra against sending her daughter to the grandparent’s place, because there’s no doubt what would happen. 

“If you send her, they’re going to cut her hair,” someone advised. “That’s a guarantee.”

“I wouldn't trust Grandma Snippy for half a second,” another agreed.

“The moment she thinks the coast is clear, the shears will come out.”

“They will cut it, claim they know best, and possibly even manipulate your daughter into thinking it was her idea,” wrote a third. 

Others offered helpful advice to Debra. 

“I would not send your child unless you’re OK with her coming home with short hair,” a person said. 

“I guess she's not going for the week then,” another said. 

“Reply saying, ‘Thanks for the heads up. We'll send her to you when she's old enough to take care of her hair alone.’"

Later, Debra revealed she wouldn't be letting her daughter stay at Gloria and Nicholas' house (phew). Instead, she said she'd only allow her father to visit the 7yo throughout the holidays (and keep him far from the scissors). 

*Names have been changed

Originally published as My parents offered to babysit my 7yo, but I had to do something drastic first