A concept: Maria doesn’t want to cut her child’s hair until they are three. Howard tries to argue once, and Maria says nothing, but the expression she faces him with makes it clear that if he cuts off a single hair on her baby’s head without her express permission, she will cut off something very dear to him. Howard is not an idiot and agrees not to cut his child’s hair (ever, probably). Tony is born with a full head of dark hair. Maria squeals when she sees it. His hair is soft and fine and it smells lovely. It also grows incredibly quickly. Maria takes the utmost care with it.
He’s nearing three and his hair has cute little curls. Maria is already mourning the day when she’ll have to cut it. Peggy arrives to talk something over with Howard and pauses when she sees Tony happily eating gnocchi with his fingers at the table. She slaps the folder she’s holding into Howard’s chest. “Here. You were going to sneak a peek into it anyway,” she says, and flounces off to join Tony and Maria at the table while Howard looks through the folder. “Tony, may I do something incredibly adorable with your hair?” she asks Tony kindly. “Okay,” Tony says, dipping his gnocchi into a bowl of pesto.
Howard comes back into the dining room to find Tony has his hair in adorable little victory curls. “Next you’ll be teaching him how to put on lipstick,” Howard says, rolling his eyes. “He’d look marvelous with the shade of red I have,” Peggy scoffs. “Nonsense, dear,” Maria says, and Peggy awkwardly begins to apologize, but then she continues, “I think my wine red will look better with his skin tone.” “YOU ARE NOT PUTTING LIPSTICK ON OUR BABY,” Howard snaps.
Peggy and Maria wait until Tony’s five and no longer even close to being considered a baby instead.
