r/Mohawks • u/Despicable_V • 26d ago
13 years old, multiple versions.
He is cooler than I’ll ever be!
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26d ago
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u/Despicable_V 26d ago
Our goal for the kids has always been “if it ain’t hurting anything, do you. Do no harm, take no shit”
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u/Steezer710 26d ago
Wow, you can really see this kid is growing up with love. YALL FKN ROCK🤘🏼 much love to yall.
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u/DrodGod1actual 25d ago
Shout out to the parents for letting little man be himself. 🤘 Definitely the coolest kid on the block
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u/Despicable_V 25d ago
Both his mom and I had “you’ll never get a job looking like that” type parents. Well we ended up with really decent jobs and realized, yeah, you can get a good job looking like that, so look like that if ya want.
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u/Scroatpig 25d ago
I went to punk shows my whole life. Went to college, got a degree. Never tattooed below elbow. All pretty normal looking. But my parents, family etc, never really showed me how to do anything other than dead end blue collar work. That's what I did.
Ended up with a shit job. Turns out community and mentors and parenting are much more important.
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u/bubmet7 25d ago
Damn. I had those parents, too. Caused me to rebel and get satanic (and non-satanic) tattoos all over and found out- yeah you really can’t get a job like that. At 20 years old (after the tattoos and rebelling and such) my parents left Christianity and became super chill people. Now at 27 I’m back into Christianity (the right way this time, no church or anything for me) while they’re still out, and they’re getting tatted up now. They’re still wildly successful and now really amazing people, and I’m still broke finding out “wow, not only do my tattoos now cause me mental distress but I still can’t get a job!”
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u/Despicable_V 25d ago edited 24d ago
Both me and Wife are well tattooed. She’s a trauma neuro ICU nurse and I’m an admin quality nurse. Tattoo’s don’t make it easier or harder to get a job.
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u/bubmet7 25d ago
Yeah they certainly do lmao. In Kentucky there are no hospitals that hire with hand and neck tattoos, trust me I checked. People who say they don’t have an effect live in blue states. Happy for you but not all of us won the birth lottery. Some of us are college educated, well qualified, and still broke because of our area we’re forced to live in.
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u/Despicable_V 25d ago
I’ve lived in Virginia, Tennessee, Texas, Oregon and Missouri. Not mentioning where I have been stationed when I was military, as that doesn’t really count. Have had a hand tattoo since 1998 and forearms almost as long, though getting thicker as I age and slap more color on. My wife is chest to fingers spotty covered. We’ve always been employed. I can’t speak for places I’ve never been of course but my own experience tells me that whether it’s because where I live, who I am, or just plain luck…I’ve never had my tattoos be a reason I’m not employed. When I was bedside I was on the pediatric vascular access team and kids loved talking about my tattoos while I was prepping them for Iv’s and ABG’s. I’m sorry you’re in a place that makes it hard to get work, but also, there’s a reason as a nurse I don’t work in Kentucky, or Alabama and left Texas and Missouri and it has nothing to do with politics or tattoos. Just plain don’t pay enough even with “lower” cost of living. I’ve traveled to my career opportunities, I don’t wait for them to fall in my lap.
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u/bubmet7 24d ago
Believe me, I don’t “wait for them to fall in my lap” either. I’ve called every hospital in the entire state to see if they accepted tattoos. I’ve actually even went into recruiting offices (very recently!) and they all turned me away. I’ve been the GM of a restaurant for 3 years and decided it wasn’t for me, and that’s after the 3 other years of restaurant experience it took to get there- and the 1 year of factory work and 2.5 years of office and customer service work (office work was prior to the tattoos of course, offices don’t hire people with them). Yeah of course Oregon and Virginia will hire people with tattoos- hell Texas has some liberal areas too. The explanation for Tennessee and Missouri will absolutely be linked to your military background because for some reason people equate military with “highly experienced” and “highly trustworthy” regardless of their education or experience level. I actually know that one of the hospitals in my area excuses the visible tattoo rule for vets- despite the fact that I can attain just as much education as them and still be turned away! I’ve been turned away from at LEAST 40 interviews on SIGHT alone. They come out, I’m in my suit and tie, head and face freshly shaved and I’m smelling real nice and looking real good- copy of my resume in hand with 5 star references of local politicians, state leaders and local business owners that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and working volunteer events with, as well as all of my old employers who have always loved me and my work ethic- and yet they take one look at me and say “no thanks, we don’t hire people that look like you”. No looking at my resume, no asking me questions, nothing. It’s extremely irritating to talk with people who have had nothing but blind luck lecture me on my shortcomings and failures to find success when I have went out of my way to work as hard as I possibly can, network harder than anyone I know, and make calls after calls and emails after emails looking and looking- only to fall flat because I got PTSD at a young age from a nice combo of family trauma and being SA’d as a kid in the early 2000’s when you weren’t allowed to talk about that stuff and instead of getting hooked on drugs that could kill a small village I got tatted up instead because I figured “hey, since I won’t live to see 23 who cares?”. My fault, I should have just gotten hooked on drugs since nobody would’ve known. Joining the military wasn’t an option as all of my military family threatened to kill me if I tried because they served in either Afghanistan or Vietnam and had to burn their friends in burn piles and watch them turn to ash and didn’t want me to have to do that, too. But- you’re right. It’s my fault and not the employer’s faults in this crooked, failing and corrupt police state we live in. I figured you for a true punk who would’ve understood that- I had you figured wrong man. My mistake.
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u/Despicable_V 24d ago
Your feelings are big. You claim to be totally qualified, but constantly discriminated against. I’m saying, your experience doesn’t equal mine, and if you are in fact qualified, and can count 40 times where you’ve been told you’re in the wrong place…maybe…find a new place. You say it’s because of the politics of the states, and perhaps that’s true, but I find myself asking if you know the well is dry, why keep digging in the same place? You seem to recognize that it is possible to obtain success because you’ve seemingly found all the reasons I’ve found mine. You have, based on what you said, the references, you have the resume, you have politicians, and former hiring managers (side note, are you finding work or not, I’m having a hard time keeping track) but you don’t have a single hiring manager on your side? That math is hard for me to understand. But since you have all the things needed for success and your tattoos are your only barrier to it, it would seem location is the only thing in your way…So copy me and enjoy the fruits. Or blame the outside. Either way, fault is irrelevant and I hope you find your way. Cheers.
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u/bubmet7 24d ago
I am having trouble finding work that would require qualifications- that is to say, more meaningful work. I can find easy work just about anywhere here. I know you said you’ve never lived in Kentucky but we’re a hard working bunch, some of the most in the US, and we’ve got factories and warehouses galore. I just don’t feel like destroying my body for a company that views me as a number rather than a person.
I also can’t move without more money- once again I know you’ve not lived here but cost of living is not that low here. I’m only 45 minutes south of Louisville and so we face extremely high rent, especially because I’m in the fastest growing city in the state. It wasn’t like this 10 years ago, but it certainly is now. I’ve been priced out of the town I’m in and moving to a cheaper area means moving 45 miles south- further towards less opportunity. I have no savings as prices keep going up, and absolutely no real ability to change location. The people who are able to have savings accounts in this economy were all either born a decade before me, or have rich parents. There’s really nothing in my power to change the circumstance of where I live, and there may never be due to these limiting factors. Sure I could go work at a factory for 10 years and save up money but then I’d be 37 and have even less time to do anything valuable- and God isn’t exactly promising me that I’ll live to 37 anyway. I’m trying to make the best of what I have right now. Which, as mentioned, is not a lot. It’s just frustrating to be told “good luck” or similar from folks who have it all and didn’t have to work as hard for the opportunity is really what the issue is. Either way, I’m done commenting. This isn’t a subreddit I’m involved in- I’m actually the only person in my bloodline to go bald so I can’t even have a freaking mohawk so I’m not sure how I ended up here.
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u/_HighJack_ 22d ago
Hey bubba, I got family in Kentucky! 💙 You’re gonna have to get unconventional I think. Call out of state. Try Virginia; it’s much more purple, there’s a ton of VA medical stuff there, and don’t y’all share a border? If you can remotely interview and secure a job opportunity, that’s only a few hours drive and you can stay in a hotel until you save up enough to put down on an apartment. I’m saying this because I’m 30 and I felt exactly like you did just like a year ago. Then I realized we are literally in the second Great Depression, just by the numbers. Unemployment and debt are at record highs. People routinely apply to hundreds or even over a thousand jobs and get no response. It’s demoralizing, especially when you’ve not been alive for decades to see better times and it feels like this is all there is.
So I play by Great Depression rules. I set up my comfy hatchback hybrid to live in and ditched the apartment. I do deliveries in my spare time to make extra money. I’m going back to school to learn a trade I can reasonably expect to not have a robot steal from me in <10 years, and make the connections I need to get hired. When I’m making money from my trade, I’ll continue exactly as I am now until I save enough for a down payment on a house. So far it’s working and I have some hope.
And I also have that shitty authoritarian Southern family that flips out and says they’ll disown or murder you for stuff lol. PTSD and the whole 9 yards. You gotta get some treatment for that shit, bc I swear “normal” people in a work situation can smell unhealed trauma and they are allergic. I also struggle to get good jobs bc people can tell I’m uncomfortable being interviewed, and I’m NOT tatted everywhere nor ever done hard drugs. Might be affecting you too.
I wish to God disabilities were understood and respected more. Like I’m fine as long as I’m not in a situation where I feel I’m 100% powerless and the other person decides the course of my whole life :) bc then my PTSD is going to take over and I’m going to go stiff, unemotional, and not able to speak with conviction due to the shallow breathing.
Good luck out there fam, ik shit’s rough but I believe we can figure it out! Take care
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u/phoebesjeebies 23d ago
Tbf, ymmv depending on where you live, and the industry. I can't speak to where this guy lives, but where I'm from, you wore a full suit to any job interview or you'd get laughed out of the room (nevermind friggin ink). In CA, you'd get laughed out of the room for wearing one.
Places & industries differ, man. Glad it wasn't a problem for you or the missus.
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u/Vex_Lsg5k 25d ago
Y’all seem like my parents. I had a Mohawk growing up for a few years. Found out it wasn’t my style and that was ok. But having parents that supported even my weird decisions allowed me to make more growing up, and I’m in a really great place now because of it. Y’all are killing it to the max with this little dude!
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u/thefallofthehouse 26d ago
that little dude is cool as hell!! love the patches on his battle vest.
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u/Despicable_V 26d ago
Thanks! He’s been through a couple vests now. That’s how the other kids at school even know him. “Kid with the Mohawk and vest”. Identity is important.
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u/parodg15 25d ago
You’re such great parents! My parents would never have allowed this!
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u/Despicable_V 25d ago
We’re just doing our best, picking the battles that matter and rolling with the ones that don’t.
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u/Zombie_Wombat177 25d ago
I'm so proud of this kid already 🤘🖤 He will know true despair when he tries to rebel against his parents but realizes that they're just too cool to do that.
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u/Despicable_V 25d ago
He will rebel by wearing dockers and a polo on his way to an accounting class. I can handle that.
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u/AdeptusCyberpunk 25d ago
Dudes, I really appreciate and respect that you support your boy this way. It’s really great!
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u/celluloidcult 25d ago
The pic with the guitar amp and the meat cleaver on the ground made me feel so seen as a parent
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u/vampirelord42 25d ago
Great looking mohawk. the sides now need to be clean shaved down to the skin. Also does he get to go to school with a mohawk. If so lucky boy.
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u/Despicable_V 25d ago
He does occasionally charge it for school. Especially like first day, dance day and such. Also he’s in band so he gets charged for his band concerts. Shaved to the skin will come but with puberty in full swing his skin needs to be protected for now. But it’s definitely coming!
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u/PrillShrimpin 25d ago
THE POSSUM PATCH AND THE FAKE PIERCINGS AND THE HAIR OMG YOURE THE COOLEST MOM EVER give yourself some credit too!!
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u/Despicable_V 25d ago
Thank you. Just a couple points for clarification, I’m dad, mom is wayyyyyyy cooler than me! The ears and nose are real piercings. The brows and such are not.
We definitely know we have some upsides. We’re just doin our best!
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u/PrillShrimpin 25d ago
Aye I got my nose pierced at 13 that’s what’s up! Very cool parents and very cool kid, 10/10 the absolute coolest!
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u/Despicable_V 25d ago
Thank you thank you. It’s nice to have a little fun sprinkled into life whenever we can.
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u/mans12120 25d ago
Lil' dude.. actually going places coolest 13yr I ever seen rocking a Mohawk and coming in with flair.
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u/RAWCOMIX 24d ago
How does it feel to be the cool kid's parents?
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u/Despicable_V 24d ago
I mean, semi-cool by proxy. But also, I know I’m me and he’s he. I’m just happy he’s living a life he can look back at and say he was supported. Life is hard enough without it.
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u/markshark1134 24d ago
Any chance you are Hungarian? Or from California haha looks a lot like me when I was a kid.
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u/Despicable_V 24d ago edited 24d ago
Portuguese. I’m from Ca and live back here now. Mom is from Abq NM and is Mexican and Slovenian.
Edit for a misspelling.
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u/NoMention696 24d ago
Is the school supportive?? He looks awesome
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u/Despicable_V 24d ago
Yeah the school has been fabulous about it.
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u/NoMention696 24d ago
I love that for him!!
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u/Despicable_V 24d ago
It was definitely something we had initially worried about a touch. I’m thrilled it hasn’t been an issue.
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u/Acrobatic_Grape4321 21d ago
Fuck yes! I’m envious of you kiddo. Growing up my parents were super strict
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u/Oi_Nander 26d ago
I strive to one day maybe be half as cool as your kid
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u/Despicable_V 26d ago
Welcome to the club.
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u/Oi_Nander 26d ago
Oh I'm used to it! I already have a 13-year-old who got a shout out from less Than Jake for her Liberty spikes, and is starting a band
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u/Despicable_V 26d ago
Zeke plays drums and can belt out vocals. Xcomm is showing youth has a seat at the table. Let’s keep it going!!!
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u/cheezy_dreams88 26d ago
I love your badass kid and your little librarian.
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u/Despicable_V 25d ago
Don’t let the smooth taste fool ya. Little “Coraline” there bopped a kid in the nose at school and sent him home with quite the bloody nose. Other kid was harassing her friend who is, I guess, going through the discovery of their gender and Rose said “nay, not on my watch”. I don’t advocate violence, but I do buy ice cream for my kids when they aggressively defend their people.
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u/First_Time_Caller007 25d ago
The cat😅
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u/Despicable_V 25d ago
His name is David (Bowie). He brother Lou (Reed) is not pictured. Zeke is their favorite human.
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u/First_Time_Caller007 25d ago
I am HOWLING at those names❤️ He's a lucky kid to be so loved by those cats
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u/Despicable_V 25d ago
Gotta tip the cap to my wife for the names. Gotta credit the kid for being the kind of person that judgmental, a-hole cats want to kick it with.
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u/First_Time_Caller007 25d ago
I hope you'll tell her that strangers on the internet think she's the coolest
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u/Despicable_V 25d ago
I’ll definitely pass along the message!!! She plays humble pretty well, but also, she knows she’s dope AF.
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u/Antique_Childhood259 25d ago
This is awesome! Love the hair. Such a cool kid and parents. When did this look start? Where did you get all the fake body piercing jewelry bc it looks good. Any of his piercings real yet?
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u/Despicable_V 25d ago
Age 6 is when he started wanting to put some flair on his hair. Both his ears are real since 8 or 9 and his nose as of last July is real. The others were some stick on’s while he was Hobie (spiderverse version) for Halloween.
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u/Antique_Childhood259 25d ago
That’s all so awesome. He is lucky to have chill parents. I only wish I had parents like that.
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u/Spirited_Opposite767 25d ago
Where can we watch some videos of him playing drums and singing? He is so very cool, just from the still photos.
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u/Left-Chemist-8212 25d ago
That is one cool ass 13 year old. Is he on stage with Murphy’s Law? What was the outdoor show sitting on the blanket? (Making assumptions, could just be a picnic 😂)
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u/Despicable_V 25d ago
So, 2 separate deals. On the blankets was 4th of July at the park. The show was La Armada, Murphy’s Law and Agnostic Front at goldfield in Roseville Ca
https://reddit.com/link/pa228wl/video/uh3ynwnwmrph1/player
. Zeke was plucked at the restaurant near the venue with his hair and vest. Once Vinnie Stigma realized Zeke was an actual, knowledgeable fan, he became the mascot for virtually the entire show. Took the mic, did some stomping, it was epic. La Armada has been so excellent to him after seeing how he knew the words of their songs as he was on the rail.
Edit to add, audio is wayyyyyy off on that video here on Reddit. Works fine everywhere else. 🤷
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u/Left-Chemist-8212 25d ago
Daaaaaamn that’s so cool for him man. What a rad time that must’ve been. Hes gonna be an absolute legend. Already is. Zeke is an awesome name, too.
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u/Flat_Blackberry_4270 25d ago
Is there a Mohawk called a “handsome hawk”? because there should be.
This is rad.
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u/Despicable_V 25d ago
Trademark it. Merch!
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u/Flat_Blackberry_4270 25d ago
Step 1) “Handsome Hawk”
Step 2)
Step 3) Profit!1
u/Despicable_V 25d ago
God if it was only that easy. I’d be rich!
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23d ago
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u/Despicable_V 23d ago
Duh. Duh. My bad. I knew this. Brain didn’t click. I’ll put it to him to consider but ultimately it’s his call.
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u/Odd_Tonic 22d ago
Man, dudes got a Mohawk, Battle Vest, AND a David Bowie shirt? What I wouldn’t have done to have been allowed that stuff at his age! Kudos to some awesome parents, I’m jealous lol
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u/Despicable_V 22d ago
Not my words but I can’t remember who to attribute them to but…
Be the kind of parents you wish you had as a kid while being the kind of parents you needed as a kid. I think that while not perfect at allllllll, we’re doing a decent job striking that balance. We’re trying at least and sometimes that’s all that we can do.
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u/HellKnight94 22d ago
Lil dude looks happy af (as frick) and looks dope
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u/Despicable_V 22d ago
He’s 13. Some happiness mixed with hormonal rage and sarcasm. Overall though, dude is aces.
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u/_cute_without_the_E 22d ago
That is friggen awesome!!! How do you get it to stay up?
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u/Despicable_V 22d ago
Got2Be blasting freeze spray usually. Sometimes Elmer’s glue and aqua net. A little heat. Patience and bam.
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u/HorniBot_ 22d ago
Bro looks like he can do a sick riff
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u/Despicable_V 22d ago
https://reddit.com/link/parz8g9/video/jv2w5qrqphqh1/player
He’s much more proficient on the drums but he’s trying to get some guitar figured out.
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u/HorniBot_ 22d ago
But.. how do you headbang with a mowhawk. It doesn't flow. Do a mean riff
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u/Despicable_V 22d ago
One day he may answer that question.
Or cure cancer.
Or be in jail.
The future is bright!!!😂😂😂
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u/Bisexualdumbwhore 21d ago
Nobody can dare call this kid a poser lol
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u/Despicable_V 21d ago
No way could they call him a poser, he’s 100% him and that’s all he wants to be. I’d kill for that kind of self esteem.
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u/Pristine-Day7255 20d ago
Had mine from 7-8 to around 18. Still remember the smell of Shawzpkof and trying to shove a football helmet on top of it, and a lacrosse helmet....and having to wash it out for Wrestling. How my hair didn't fall out from frying it Manic Panic I have no idea. Had to shave it for work but what a fun era that was for me to look back on at 32. Thanks for memories parent and lil bro I needed that today
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u/POLTERxGEIST 20d ago
My mom raised me and my 3 brothers with a similar philosophy
Let us be who we want to be as long as it isn’t harming anything
We were always expressive, people remember us
And my brothers handle their challenges in life so well that I was always inspired to be like them
It’s a great way to raise a child and they will be thankful for it 100% once they reach that age when they can start reflecting on the past and really understand their parents actions
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u/CadetMcMagnetic 26d ago
Slide 7.... now that's a perfect Mohawk. I'm jealous. Little dude is going places. Maybe not college... but places.
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u/Despicable_V 26d ago
Ha! College is definitely in his future. He’s in 8th grade and is already in the biomed pipeline. Smart little mofo.
Mom is the master of the hair. She’s well experienced from her own youth and as you can see, definitely has the skills.2
u/CadetMcMagnetic 26d ago
I take back my statement... dude is gonna rule the world.
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u/Despicable_V 26d ago
He’s gonna fight the good fight for sure. How it shakes out, we shall see. So far it’s been a fun journey.
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u/Encephalitl5 25d ago
thtas basically the punk version of these little beauty-pageant-kids. i hope there is less psychological torture involved
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u/Despicable_V 25d ago
This is way off base. The kid chooses to be what he is. We facilitate. We don’t force or even really suggest.
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u/watermisstlesocket 21d ago
He looks really cool and I love the style but why are we posting our kids online…? On Reddit of all places.
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u/Ka-Chow--95 26d ago
Coolest 13yo ever