Her 6 sons are bullied for their long hair, but then they cut it all off and everyone realizes why
Phoebe Kannisto and her six sons were often the subject of curious stares, whispered judgments, and outright bullying in Cheektowaga, New York. The reason? They all had long hair — all six boys, from her youngest triplets at just five years old to the oldest, age ten.
For most people, it appeared like a fashion choice gone a little too far. Classmates teased them. Even some adults offered serious, or even thoughtless, remarks; something akin to “oh it’s great that your whole family is artsy.” What critics failed to grasp is that this was not a personal fashion choice; it was about something much more important.
The boys made the emotional decision to grow their hair after they lost a family friend to cancer. The experience was significant, and they wanted to do something in honor of their friend. They all decided to grow their hair long enough to donate it to Children with Hair Loss, a nonprofit that provides free wigs to children who lose their hair due to medical conditions.
The boys lived through ridicule for months. But they never faltered. Their sense of purpose was their fuel. Finally, when they decided to cut their hair, they had grown a total of 17 feet together, all together; a donation of total selflessness to help children feel a little more like themselves during a challenging period.
And just like that, the narrative changed. The people who wrote them off as a bunch of weirdoes, suddenly (and quite dramatically) changed their mind-set when they were needed to seek fault in the selflessness of the boys. All of a sudden the community of strangers who judged them became supportive and admiring.
Phoebe’s story, and her sons’ quiet courage, is a great reminder: you never know the rationale behind someone’s choices. What seems odd may have roots in empathy, strength, and love. These boys didn’t just grow their hair: they were just growing to become compassionate young men on a mission. During that time, they also inspired everyone around them to just be kind.
