I’m a mother and my teenage daughter wants to wear false eyelashes to school – should I let her?
A mother has revealed she feels “torn” over whether or not she should let her 13-year-old daughter wear false eyelashes to school.
The anonymous woman, from the UK, visited the parenting forum Mamannet to seek advice on whether she should allow her teenage daughter to wear extensions – revealing that the school allows them to be worn and that “all her friends do”.
But other parents were perplexed as to why the school was allowing teenagers to wear these cosmetics and berating modern beauty standards.
Rationalizing why she allowed her teenage daughter to wear the beauty product to school, the woman described them as “not very heavy spider products”.
She explained that she didn’t want to hinder her daughter in finding her own style.
A mother wonders whether she should allow her 13-year-old daughter to wear false eyelashes to school, admitting they are an “unnecessary” item for a youngster who will spend most of her time learning in class (stock image)
However, the parent didn’t want to be too harsh on the child, fearing she would embarrass her daughter as she navigates her own style.
The mother added that she didn’t want her daughter to be an exception because all her friends wore the beauty accessory and that she didn’t want to become the overbearing parents she grew up with.
She remembered her parents not understanding why thick layers of orange makeup were a necessity in her youth.
However, the woman acknowledged that false eyelashes were not compulsory for teenagers who spent the majority of their time sitting in classrooms “learning geography, history and mathematics”.
She continued: “It breaks my heart that modern beauty standards make her feel the need to conform and wear this level of adornment.”
Many Mumsnet users have been left baffled that the school even allows young pupils to wear false eyelashes to school, with one writing: “They are hideous. I wouldn’t be impressed by a school that allows him to wear them.
Another joked in shock: “The school allows it?!” Do they really do it?
While one added: “Shocked the school would allow it.” Totally useless.
However, not everyone on the parenting site was convinced the establishment allowed students to wear the product, with one commenting: “Definitely not.”
“Our school banned them because, in addition to being unnecessary, they pose a huge distraction problem.”
Most people were stunned that the school would even allow the cosmetic to be used, with others calling it inappropriate for a child in a learning environment.
One commenter even went so far as to say that it was obvious that the mother should not allow the teenager to wear the falsies to school, clarifying that it was “not a nightclub.”
One person said: “At 13. No chance. I’m sure they all look ridiculous.
However, not everyone was vehemently opposed to the idea, with some advising parents to choose their battles wisely.
One person wrote: “I would definitely let her wear them if they are allowed and are the norm in her friend group.”
“Choose your battles, you have your whole adolescence ahead of you.”
While one individual added: “I wouldn’t like it, but if the school allows it, it’s probably not worth it.”
Another continued: “Yes, let her wear them. If you say no, she’ll just put them in school, I guess.