What I'm really thinking; The Mother of a Ginger Child.

I recently read this article in the Guardian and I had so many thoughts and responses I decided to write my own account of what I am really thinking, as a ginger mother of a ginger child.
I struggle to remember Zoe's birth very clearly in a bit of a blur of gas and air and pain, but I vividly remember when she was born, firstly asking "Is this her?" as they plonked her on my chest. She was so tiny and I'd been told over and over what a chunky giant baby I was going to have, so I almost didn't believe this tiny little thing could be my baby, despite literally watching her come out (sorry for that visual).
The second question I asked Paul was "Is she ginger?". I remember the midwife saying something about all babies looking ginger due to blood and stuff, as if she was trying to comfort me in the fact she might not really be ginger. The reality was that I really really wanted her to be ginger; like me.
It makes me incredibly sad to think that so many people are possibly disappointed when recessive ginger genes appear in their children, as if this pesky gene is a passport to a lifetime of bullying and should be something to hate.








As a child I got the odd comment, mostly from older people about how people pay a lot of money for that hair colour, or how rare and beautiful it was. Or the usual comment on how I must have a fiery temper or be trouble for my poor mother. I never really paid it much attention really, I always secretly felt very special to have my hair colour as the rest of my family had brown hair. I mean, don't get me wrong I would get ginger related insults from kids at school, but I just took it in the same way as someone with glasses or an unfortunate home cut fringe would, kids are brutal and will hone in on anything that makes you different.
My Mum always told me I was lucky and my hair was special and I should be proud and that is the message that stuck with me. So that is what I will be telling Zoe, she is special and her hair makes her different and differences are what make the world a fantastic place.
I just wish the stereotypical ginger negativity would stop already, and that includes telling ginger children that they should expect negativity or to 'get used to it', you don't get to be outraged about bullying while systematically perpetuating stereotypes.
Do you have a ginger kid? Or were you the ginger kid? I'd love to hear your experiences...