What NOT to do if your son’s soccer team gets PINK uniforms
Dear parents who totally suck and should be ashamed of themselves,
Yeah, I heard about what you did. One of my readers sent me an email telling me allllll about it, and I am mortified by your behavior. Seriously, un-flippin’-believable. But I’m not a total jerkwad and I know there are two sides to every story, so let me just make sure I understand your whole situation. This is what she told me happened.
She signed up her seven-year-old boy to play on a coed soccer team. Cool.
You each signed your seven-year-olds up to play on the same coed soccer team. Cool.
The kids got their new uniforms. Cool.
Some of the kids were super excited to have such an awesome new uniform and they put it on and were proud. Cool.
And some of the PARENTS weren’t happy because guess what. The new uniform was pink. GASP! Of noooo, how can our little boys wear pink? What is this world coming to?!!
And here’s where it gets really shitty.
So a few of you got together without talking to the other parents and called the head soccer guy and asked if they could change the uniform color and he said yes if everyone agreed to pay for a new uniform. So you sent an email to all the other parents asking for money so you could change the color they got. Not cool. Not cool at all.
Did you not think about the fact that there might be other kids on the team who LIKE the color they got?!!! Like this adorable little boy.
Yes, this boy likes pink. And purple. And My Little Pony. And he is SUPER excited to be playing soccer on this team and absolutely LOVES his new uniform. And I’m guessing a few of the girls like it too. And if the uniform were blue or brown, do you think these kiddos would have said, “Wahhhh, I don’t want to wear that color!!” No, no they wouldn’t. Well, maybe they would like Zoey complained to me two weeks ago when her soccer team got the color green.
ZOEY: Wahhhh, I said I wanted black, pink or yellow.
ME AND HER DAD: You get what you get and…
ZOEY: … you don’t get upset (insert giant eye roll here).
But nooooo, not in your house. In your house it’s more like, You get what you get and if you don’t like it you complain and make everyone else change for you. And yeah, I know you said your kid was teased by his friend for the pink uniform. Then by all means, you should definitely teach your kid to be a wussy and back down from someone who teases him and change the color. Nooo, you absolutely shouldn’t teach him how to stand up for himself and his awesome soccer team. In case it isn’t clear, I’m being sarcastic. WTF kind of message are you teaching your boys?
And what kind of message are you sending the boy who likes his new pink uniform? That he’s wrong and he needs to change his favorite colors? If you change their uniforms, do you know what you’re doing? You’re taking this self-confident little boy and scraping off a little of his self-esteem. And I don’t blame his mom for being pissed and sending me an email. If I were here, I would be furious. And sad. And furious.
And in case you’re sitting there feeling bad for her because her boy likes the colors pink and purple, screw you. Because here’s someone else who likes the color pink.
Yup, David F’ing Beckham. Because when you kick ass at something, you know it doesn’t matter what color you wear. He could be wearing a pink and purple flowery dress and he’d still be able to kick the crap out of some macho dude wearing black metal with spikes.
I apologize if this isn’t what really happened. But I kinda think it is because I saw the email you sent to the whole team (out of respect to you I’m not gonna paste it here). And if you happen to be reading this, I hope that what I’m saying is clear. It’s not the pink uniform that needs to be changed. It’s your attitude.
Sincerely,
A mom who’s teaching her kids that it doesn’t matter what color you wear. That what matters is what’s on the inside
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Well said. You get what you get and you don’t complain. I am sick to death of entitled parents and their rotten children.
My son proudly wears pink laces in his cleats year after year because 2 of my aunts are breast cancer survivors and to quote my 12 year old “they are amazing and kind of like rock stars,” and he wants people to know. These crappy parents should explain it to their whiny kids that way. Pink isn’t girly, pink is amazing and tough.
I couldn’t agree more. and thanks for posting pics of David Beckham ?made my morning.
Thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you. I only hope to teach my 2yo son this very thing. I paint his nails (like momma’s if he asks), I let him pick out Sofia coloring books, and if he wants to wear pink…GO FOR IT!!! Be your own person, be your own happy. (P.S. this is the only blog I have ever followed, let alone written a comment on!)
Me, too! Lol
Used to work with a guy who wore pink shirts once in awhile. Another guy used to tease him all the time. He finally told him, “If you’re sure of your masculinity, you don’t have to worry about what color you wear.” Of course, being kids, it’s not masculinity, so much as just good ole confidence.
So true! The color doesn’t make you play good or
A lot of the male players at the U.S.Open have been wearing hot pink-especially Roger Federer and I haven’t heard a single comment, negative or otherwise. Nobody cares! Pink is a great color on males.
My daughter’s soccer team wears blue and I don’t hear her or any other girls/parents on the team bitching about it being a “boy color”…OH YEAH, because blue is her FAVORITE COLOR!
When I played softball in middle school, our uniforms were blue, with red shorts and a blue stripe on the socks. We were the number 1 team in our league, came up second in district. I miss playing, but my body is too messed up anymore.
WTF. Well, as a parent I sure as hell wouldn’t pay for an extra shirt just because some other parent had color hate. Tons of men look great in pink. And David Beckham. HELLO.
For pity’s sake. Colors are colors. They aren’t assigned genders. Get over yourselves. You get what you get. And it’s not like colors determine your sexual orientation. Or your athletic prowess or lack thereof.
Very well said!! Just like I let my 3 yo daughter but hot wheels and she is dressing up like Woody for Halloween this year, she has Spider-Man shoes and Big Hero 6 Jammie’s….why?? Because she picked them and she likes them!! This is clearly (like you very awesomely said) some crap that they are teaching and putting into their kiddos heads! I really am sick and tired of the Asshat Generation of Parents!
Right on! In our home, we say You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit!
Our team had pink a few years back, and there was a boy on the team. Both he and his very supportive dad rocked the pink jerseys, and no one said a thing. People are ridiculous.
Love this! Good for them, and good for the folks who didn’t feel the need to speak up on this non-issue!
Maybe if my daughter’s soccer league had pink shirts there wouldn’t be three sades of blue. Nothing confuses a bunch of 6 years then when the light blue team plays the slightly lighter shade of blue team.
No kidding, confusing!!
My 3.5 year old LOVES pink. He requested I knit him a pink and black scarf when I offered to knit something. You know what he is getting….a pink and black scarf…just like he requested. He can do whatever he wants. Awesome article. The parents should be ashamed.
Yep. I think this every time my 5 year old son wants to wear his kitty cat ankle socks to school. He rocks those socks..
YES!. Thank you. I couldn’t agree more. I have 3 boys. One loves pink & sparkles & princesses & SO WHAT. And if he hated it, he’d still wear a pink uniform if that’s what color it was. Parents need to start acting like adults.
I can just imagine these parents. Nothing a cleat to the juggie wouldn’t fix though. *le sigh*………
Amazingly well said! My son is 15 & a goalie he gets to pick his shirt color & gloves & they are bright pink!
Your son is awesome!
Yes!! My son is also a goalie on his high school soccer team, and one of his kits includes a bright pink goalie shirt and matching socks!! Real men wear pink!!
My son’s favorite color is pink, and his dad and I are completely fine with that; this totally pisses me off too! My son has pink monkey bedding (that I had to make for him, because of course everything pink out there is princessy or flowery, which he is NOT into), pink Nikes, pink rain boots, etc, and he would have been so freaking excited to have a pink soccer uniform, and sooooo heartbroken to then have that yanked away from him! People need to get a freaking clue!
My son LOVES pink. He would be crushed at the change. It is an awesome Jersey color so I might have been as well. Bummer that people are so silly. Pink is a color. The only other thing I can think it stands for is breast cancer awareness and those are some tough m.f.er’s so I still don’t see a problem. Geesh.
You might want to add a photo of the Belgian men’s football team that has pink uniforms.
Pink used to be put on baby boys…Victorian age I think…used to be considered a masculine color, as in – light red.
1920’s, a department store started marketing blue for girls because it is a peaceful, tranquil color and pink for boys because it is bold and wild. The shift occurred around the 1950’s to the opposite. I personally hate pink, only wear it in support of breast cancer awareness, but if one of my sons want to wear it, go for it!
S**t like this needs to be forwarded on to Deadspin, Jezebel, SBNation, ESPN and any other news media site along with the email, so the asshats who organized this can be shamed on a national level. I have been a soccer coach many times, and the only time the kids have ever paid attention to their uniform color is the first time the get them, after that they could care less. I have had coed team with all sorts of colors and no one has ever been upset. The kids just want to play. Stupid asshat parents. Please, please, please pass the email along to the national media.
Real Madrid has a bright pink kit!
Well said! I think that little boy is rocking his new uniform as will all the other kids, unless they’ve been brainwashed into thinking boys shouldn’t wear pink, and shame on any parent who has done that.
Came home from work yesterday and my husband and 11 month old son were playing with pink and purple blocks. I was proud of my husband to look past the gender stereotypes of colors. It’s a color. That’s it.
I was going to say Real Madrid has pink! Anyone want to ask them if they like it? From the Mom of a female soccer player who has endured blue, green, red, black, neon orange, mustard yellow and various other “not pink” uniforms, I have never heard her complain. Well, except for the orange and yellow. She has blonde hair and fair skin….she practically glowed in her uni. Also, I believe every American football team wears pink during Breast Cancer awareness month. From pee-wee to the pros. Pink is powerful. Pink is strong. Pink is the color of a warrior. Ask any BC survivor.
This world is filled with places and people of many colors and that includes pink soccer shirts. If moms get hung up on not having their boys wear what they feel is a girly color, I shutter to think what other hang ups they are passing down to their kids. Get real!
Shared Highly Intellectual Thoughts…S.H.I.T! Lol
I love your S.H.I.T! Colors don’t define who a person is no more than having a fridge determines how obese a person is. I happen to think a man who can rock punk is hot! My husband sure is! LOL
I have a 13 year old competitive player who wore pink soccer boots all last year. Why? Because they were freaking awesome… he got more complements on them than any pair he had ever worn. We actually have considered doing a pink or purple jersey for special occasions like when we play tournaments over mothers day…. Rock the pink!!
What matters is “ON THE INSIDE!!!” I’m pretty sure that’s pink too!
You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit. My children learned this in preschool and it’s sad that there are adults out there that still don’t get it!
The pussification of America continues.
my roommate is a 21 y/o straight male and his favorite colour has always been pink. He has pink everything and doesn’t give to sh*ts what anyone thinks. This anti-pink parent should be ashamed.
Well said, good for you!!
Well said! It’s just a color. One of my brothers when he was a kid asked for a pink tiara for Christmas one year because he loved pink and he loved seeing Swan Lake with our grandparents so he wanted his own tiara. Know what they did? Didn’t make a big deal out of it and got him a pink tiara. He was super happy and loved it. Of course it made him try to boss me around a lot too and tell me things like, “The Prince has spoken so you have to do it!” 🙂 Kids in general really don’t care all that much about what’s a “right color” or a “wrong color” and those parents should really try to remember that instead of making a big fuss about something so trivial.
I work in the sports uniform industry and pink is actually really popular among boys teams right now. Entire boys teams are getting pink uniforms, and loving it.
But parents in general are absolutely crazy when it comes to uniforms. CRAZY. I once had a team mom call me at 9pm on a Friday night, upset that her team got solid navy MLB team hats, not navy/red like she wanted (which were backordered). She literally asked, “How are they supposed to play tomorrow?”
The hat logo matched their jersey and was the proper hat and colors – it just didn’t have a red bill. And she was concerned that would somehow effect the kids’ ability to swing a bat or throw a ball.
Definitely assholes. And dorks. Because, hello, pink is cool.
Rock on!
Just saying: http://rlv.zcache.com/funny_dont_laugh_its_your_girlfriends_shirt_tshirt-r1ef127adee0547e7ad7cc0f21f48d8e2_8041h_324.jpg
What bothers me more is the mother expects everyone to PAY for NEW uniforms cause HER kid don’t like the color. Some parents can’t afford to and took all they had to just pay the registration so their child could play. All she is doing is raising a whiny kid that will be “entitled”. Don’t like it???? Mommy will fix it!!!!! It’s sad.
I suspect it was somebody’s daddy who made the big deal over it.
That was my exact thought! The hell if I’m going to pay for a new jersey after cutting back in other areas to pay the registration! My daughter’s team is yellow and black.. She hates it because it’s the Steelers colors. She would never even think that she could get it changed just because she doesn’t like it. (And yes, we have brainwashed her to hate the Steelers 😉 )
It must be pretty amazing to live a life where your biggest f’in worry is the color of your kid’s soccer jersey. I’m thinking European refugee problem, world hunger, remembering 9/11 and these people are worried about shirts. Unbelievable.
Actual professional european football teams have pink uniforms.
http://www.footballkitnews.com/15996/new-juventus-adidas-kits-15-16-juve-jerseys-2015-2016-home-pink-away/
“You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit”
Is our family saying…
I had the principal come up to laughing bc my 8 year old was passing our snacks we brought for the class( bc he fell and had to get 7 sitches and the class handled it beautifully I reward them with snack…) but she over heard him telling his classmates (they were being choosy over which bag of goldfish they want) you get what you get and you dont throw fit… She loved it!
So what was the result? Was the uniform color changed or did they keep the pink?? Please tell me they kept the pink…
No, we had to change colors. We have black jerseys now…
All you ladies out there, tell these dads that if they don’t like pink uniforms then they can’t have anything else pink for a while. See how fast they fall in line. We’re gradually changing our attitude about these gender issues. I think it was Target that decided they would no longer differentiate between boys and girls toy sections. More and more girls are perusing careers in engineering and science which is awesome. I have a boy and 2 girls. My oldest daughter LOVES science and I tell her all the time about all the different awesome things she can do when she grows up if she puts her mind to it and works hard.
Yeah, they should tell their hubbies no more pink floyd songs on radio or cd for a year
Andrea Pirlo, one of the most handsome and suave men in all of football, played for Juventus in Italy (a very masculine and Catholic country) in a strikingly pink football kit.
Not manly enough? Ok, Sergio Parisse (born in Argentina, naturalised Italian) plays the Number 8 position in Rugby Union for Stade Francais in France who wear a pink strip. REALLY pink.
It’s a friggin colour and if Pirlo and Parisse can play in it then the world can shut it’s pie hole about it being a ‘girls’ colour…
Yeah, right! Boys should not play in pink, only girl should … actually, girl should only play in pink not in blue, that’s for boys.
What the hell is wrong with those people?
As already noted, French rugby team Stade Français wears pink (and a lof of pink when not playing at home) and there are some nice guys in the team who, I’m sure, would love hearing they play “in girls color” (check Sakaria Taulafo for example).
And what about popes? Searching “pope pink” gives a d**n lot of interesting results. Do they wear girls color too? Knowing female priest are forbidden in Catholic church, suggesting that a pope wear girls color is let’s say, an interesting suggestion
Real Madrid kit is pink n super cool, even the socks are pink. Reading away is light purple/ pink n Plymouth argle away kit is…. My son has them all!:) he looks a dude in them.
All 3 of my kids have played soccer over the years, and my boys always said they hoped they didn’t get the pink jerseys, but I always told them if they did they would just have to wear them. It really isn’t a big deal! They never did end up with the pink jerseys, though my daughter always hoped she would! I can’t believe the parents that make a big deal out of nothing, and then wonder why their kids end up self entitled, spoiled brats!
Some big soccer clubs wear pink, for example most siccessful team in itslian league, juventus turin. Also, many great male wrestlers wear or wore pink, such as bret and owen hart, or even kevin nash, whose early gimmick was PINK GANGSTER, of all things.
Hey, just a few days ago scotland wore pink against england in world cup qualifier. True, they lost, but its irrelevant cause scotland always lose, regardless of color, lol