In a world where constant criticism abounds, children are regrettably not spared from its reach. One effective approach is to empower your children to confidently navigate criticism, which can encompass issues ranging from gender stereotypes to body image, all of which persist as relevant concerns in today’s world.
Devoted father Aaron Gouveia, who goes by the TikTok handle @daddyfiles, took to the platform in September 2023 to share an inspiring story about his 7-year-old son, Tommy Gouveia. Tommy fearlessly challenged gender stereotypes at school, standing up to a woman who reprimanded him for wearing nail polish. This incident wasn’t the first time the father of three boys had addressed questions about his children’s fondness for nail polish.
In October 2018, Tommy’s brother, Sam Gouveia, also faced criticism at school for having painted nails. According to ABC, Aaron revealed on Good Morning America that his 5-year-old son came home from kindergarten in tears, seeking comfort from his mother. Sam even called his dad at work, explaining that other kids at school had advised him to “remove it.”
Prior to this incident, Aaron’s son had no reservations about wearing nail polish, as his grandmother, a skilled manicurist, frequently applied it for him. The father of three expressed his frustration over how his son was introduced to toxic masculinity in a now-deleted tweet on X platform.
The incident left Sam disheartened, and after school that day, he expressed a desire to remove the nail polish. Aaron shared that Sam “felt upset because he had never faced mockery like this before.” Nevertheless, bolstered by uplifting comments from supportive men, Sam regained his confidence. He returned to kindergarten proudly wearing nail polish, now embellished with a touch of glitter.
Don’t forget to scroll to the end of this article to watch the complete video 🙂
In contrast to his brother Sam, Tommy didn’t hold back in responding to critiques about his nail polish. The video began with Tommy donning a navy blue football jersey in front of their house.
In the video, Aaron prompted Tommy to display his nails for the camera. The 7-year-old promptly raised his hands, proudly showcasing his deep blue nail polish, perfectly complementing his uniform. Following this display, Aaron inquired, “How did your day at football go?” To which Tommy confidently recounted:
“Someone’s mom told their child that only girls can wear nail polish.”
Aaron followed up with another question, asking, “And how did you respond?” To this, Tommy shared his remarkable reply, saying, “I told her that she’s just upset because I have better taste than she does.”
Aaron wholeheartedly praised this bold response, then proceeded to address the broader audience. He emphasized that “anyone, including football players, baseball players, and anyone else, can wear nail polish.”
Tommy’s self-assuredness garnered applause from fellow social media users who quickly filled the comments section. One person remarked, “YES! If I had that mindset at his age, my life would have been so much better.”
Another individual wrote, “Way to go, buddy! I wish I had that level of confidence when I was in school!” And someone else concurred, saying, “Kids like this young man give me hope for the future. What a great dad!”
Underestimating or criticizing children can have a lasting impact on their self-esteem and confidence as they grow into adults. Parents must recognize that since societal criticism is inevitable, it’s essential to equip every child with unwavering confidence to navigate these challenges.
It’s truly remarkable how Tommy refused to be limited by stereotypes. How do you believe we can further enhance children’s confidence? Share your thoughts, and don’t forget to share this with others.
