For the last few years, I have had a single gray chest hair. I have never understood why. The blame likely goes to my oldest daughter, Alexis, who takes pride in aging her dad well beyond his years. But, who knows?
Now suddenly, as if overnight, I have four. Now, I’m not narcissistic enough to check for this sort of thing every day, so perhaps they have been there for a week or two, but today was the first time I discovered them.
At least it’s easy to place blame this time. No, old age doesn’t count. Four grays and four kids is too much of a coincidence to ignore. I hold my kids completely responsible.
It makes sense if you think about it: late nights of being kicked in the head by a three-year-old that refuses to sleep, having to buy a new big screen TV because someone decided it would be a good idea to repeatedly throw his sippy cup at the last one, racing to school in the minivan because no one would wake up/eat/get dressed, etc.
Of course, I also have several gray hairs in my already thinning hairline. The wife tried to break it to my gently one night while at a new parent conference at our oldest kids’ school. She actually felt nervous and guilty in telling me. She said something to the effect of “I don’t know if I should say anything to you or not…”
Oh, lay it on me. She had to at that point anyway, right? I let her down easy by informing her that I already knew.
This makes me think of the Just for Men – Touch of Gray commercial where two versions of the same middle-aged man were sitting in his psychiatrist’s office. One version had a mostly dark head of hair, while the other was mostly gray.
Gray-haired version said to dark-haired version, “My look says experience.”
Dark-haired version replied, “My looks says energy.”
Then the two were magically merged together, much to the “amusement” of the psychiatrist.
In case you care that much: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0mT7Ep9IyM
Is that me? Experience and energy? Well, if being experienced in changing diapers, distributing cash from my wallet, and not being allowed to sleep count, then yes, I’m experienced.
Coffee = all the energy I need.
So, what about you? Are your kids causing those gray hairs to start cropping up?
Until next time – Chris
Active Dad at Home 
Maybe you are pre destined for it. I’m going to have thin hair and a hairline that starts well above where it should, I’ve accepted that. I say you should embrace your gray hair. After all, George Clooney wasn’t People Magazine’s Hottest Man Alive with dark hair.
Honestly, the gray doesn’t bother me nearly as much as the receding/thinning, which has been occurring for several years. The wife has said she likes the bald look, so it probably won’t be long until she gets her wish.
I think that my grays are caused by my job–all the more reason to follow your lead and leave it all behind!
Don’t worry. I think all my grays have come from staying at home. We fathers are darned either way. 🙂
Hair health is a reflection of spleen/digestive health.
=)