Daughter wants parents’ permission to wear makeup
Dr. Wallace: I want to wear makeup, but my parents won’t let me. How can I convince them? Many of my friends are allowed to wear makeup and this makes me feel like my face is naked compared to them.
I need to do something about this. A girl needs to keep up with the times. Since I know you have dealt with a lot of topics in your column, can you let me know what you think about girls being allowed to wear makeup and especially how I can convince my parents this is normal?
— My Face Feels Naked, via email
My Face Feels Naked: Your letter did not mention your age, but since you used the word “most” when rereferring to your friends, I’ll guess that you are likely 14 to 16 years old. Parents have different ideas and different rules when it comes to their children wearing makeup. One overlooked factor is that makeup costs money, so some families take this into consideration. On this issue, I suggest you offer to purchase your own materials via working as a babysitter, dog walker or any other safe, local job your parents may approve of.
Now for the harder part, which is requesting and securing approval to actually wear makeup. First of all, see if you can have your parents give you an age they will allow you to wear “full makeup.” If you’re below that age, then your best bet would be to request to wear just a light touch of one piece of makeup before your full makeup date arrives. Have your mother, sister or any other relative help you to apply just a very light touch of makeup to begin with if you are able to sell the idea of starting to apply a little makeup here and there in stages.
You can also try to use the idea that allowing you to gradually use just a little makeup will reduce the shock of you applying a full face of makeup all at once when that day arrives. I think starting with a bit of blush, then perhaps over time being allowed to add a little eye shadow might be deemed reasonable by your parents. You can offer to leave lipstick until the end, for example. And during this process, I highly recommend that you keep up good grades in school, do your chores at home and be always a great family member. The more reliable you are, the more likely you may be allowed to ease into a bit of makeup gradually over time.
I’M BEYOND TIRED OF HEARING SAME OLD, SAME OLD
Dr. Wallace: Why are so many people running around saying “Good luck” or “Have a nice day?” Where did these sayings come from and why do so many people feel the need to keep chirping them endlessly like little birds in a nest?
Where did these sayings even come from? I feel there has to be something better to say all day than simply repeating these very tired and overused sayings.
— I Need a New Saying, via email
I Need a New Saying: Well, there are many other phrases you might want to try out to see how people react to them. Our family visited Ireland years ago and we’ve been using a phrase they often said to us, “All the best.” We like this saying as it implies sincere and heartfelt wishes to the person who hears it spoken.
As far as the origins, the phrase “good luck” originated centuries ago, loosely based on Dutch and/or German words that sound roughly like our English words “good luck.” And the meaning back then did imply good fortune and blessings, so there is congruence with our current meaning. Some people enjoy being wished to experience good luck, but others may feel that luck is random and uncontrollable, thereby rendering the phrase essentially useless.
“Have a nice day” is a phrase that is not yet a century old as it likely first appeared in a movie back in the 1940s. Subsequently in the 1960s our domestic air traffic controllers used this phrase when signing off with airline pilots and shortly thereafter truckers on CB radios started using it too, and as they say, the rest is history.
Your mindset on this issue gives you an opportunity to be creative in coming up with a new saying of your own that may also reflect your personality and style. And if you get stumped, feel free to borrow “All the best” anytime you wish to use it.