Girl? Van doesn't look like a girl, though I did picture him having darker hair. I'd say people are going on that assumption because the ends of his hair don't look like they've ever been cut.
His hair doesn't look
that long. I'd say that if the hair was coming down over his eyes, a trim would be in order, but it doesn't look like it is. In the pics, it looks like he has a high forehead, which can either mean the person's hair looks shorter
or longer, depending on the person who's wearing the hairstyle (or in Van's case, no haircut), and where the person looking at him is focusing. Especially in the first pic, his eyes look very round. People might be basing their assumptions on that.
Oh, that reminds me of some of the stories I have of people guess me to be just because I'm short....
Yeah he has a party going on in the back that is curly. When wet it is well below his shoulders but dry it is all curled up. The front doesn't go down below his eyes now. We will trim it some so it doesn't get in his eyes. But most parents with boys I know that have hair keep it long especially when it curls in the back.
And he does have a high forehead like his daddy. But I bet you are right about it being his eyes. He has big blue eyes and that is what most people mention.
"Oh how cute is she with her big beautiful blue eyes and those curls."
His hair kind of dirty blonde but is darkening some. At least it isn't red like his mother. Redheaded girls are nice but boys not so much IMO.
Oddly enough when it is just Van and I nobody calls him a girl.
Maybe they think mom would wave off the mistake more easily than dad would, or maybe they notice more how he resembles you when he's with you. ...Or both.
Interesting that you mention a red-headed boy in this topic because there was a time this past spring that was just the case. We were at Lake Phalen feeding the ducks and a grandma with her grandchild came by. The child was, oh, about 1 1/2 years old with really long, curly, red hair and wide blue eyes, wearing a shirt that was non-specific, just a diaper 'cause they were walking along the edge of the water and might want to step in it. A cute, little kid with a pudgy, sturdy frame. So I was rather unsure of the little tyke's gender, though I was leaning towards female. "Oh, what an adorable little sweetie," or some similar phrase is always a good line because the adult will typically respond with something like, "Oh, thank you! He/she ..."
Oh, the little tyke was a boy with a name something like Butch. Maybe someday he'll grow into it.
For *me*, I consider a (male) child's hair on the longer side at about 1/2 down the neck; 2/3 is long.
I enjoy contemplating the things people focus on, base assumptions on, and etc. Those that know my dad see a great resemblance (pigment, eyes, forehead, nose). Those that know my mom consider our hair color, smile, and voice.
There have been times I've been waiting, ball cap clad, in the car at a small gas station with the boat in tow, and the cashier will reference his son in the car. Dad usually calls me in at about that point.
People generally guess my age based solely on height, haircut (or rather, the lack thereof), make-up (again, the lack thereof), and/or facial features, and their guess is usually about 12. However, when people take mannerisms
also into account, they actually guess high teens. I enjoy it, and my dad finds it fabulous. He loves having people guess my age. rofl!
