When NaturallyCurly first reported on Willow Smith’s big chop and then her multiple dye jobs, many in the natural hair community were up in arms. Because Willow Smith is only 11-years-old, some felt that her young age is a testament to the need for better or more parental control. Her big chop was too much for her young persona, and some thought her self-confidence and subsequent dye jobs were proof of that.
Of course, as with all arguments, the other side of the community was adamant that she was a young girl who was being allowed to express herself through her hair, and that no matter what she did to her hair in the end, it would always just be hair. It will grow back.
However, months later, Jada and Will are opening up about their decision to let their daughter do as she pleases with her hair, and their reasoning might not only surprise, but have you inspired to give them a standing ovation.
In an interview with Parade, Will Smith opens up about letting Willow do as she pleases with her hair:
“We let Willow cut her hair. When you have a little girl, it’s like how can you teach her that you’re in control of her body? If I teach her that I’m in charge of whether or not she can touch her hair, she’s going to replace me with some other man when she goes out in the world. She can’t cut my hair but that’s her hair. She has got to have command of her body. So when she goes out into the world, she’s going out with a command that it is hers. She is used to making those decisions herself. We try to keep giving them those decisions until they can hold the full weight of their lives.”
I don’t know about you, but I applaud the couple for their continual efforts to instill a sense of self in their children, despite media criticism. And although this editor is a few years out from having to pick up any parenting techniques, I will be keeping this quote in my back pocket for my future child rearing days – if only to inspire me to be a better parent for my child, rather than merely trying to pretend to be one for good press.
What do you think of Will and Jada’s parenting techniques?
