When my daughter was younger, about four years old, she wanted her hair cut short like her brother’s. Her curly hair was taking forever to grow out to where it looked long at all, so I wouldn’t chop her beautiful curls for no man’s money. Then she started preschool and her little best friends had long hair, so of course, she wanted to keep her hair long, just like them. I told her that she should wear her hair the way she wants and not some way that’s popular with her friends, be yourself... but I was glad she wanted to keep it long. I loved her hair, that you could literally wrap strands around your finger and make ringlets. Then she saw the Disney movie Tangled and decided that she would never cut her hair again. She wanted to be just like Rapunzel! Well, that wasn’t going to happen. Her hair did get pretty long though. This summer, it was just about to her waist line and every inch of it began to be more tangled than it was Rapunzel. The heat, humidity and sweat wreak havoc on her curly locks and binds them up real tight. I try to keep her hair up off her neck to keep her cooler and prevent knots, but she removes hair ties when she’s had enough of them, and that takes about as long as the walk from the house to the car. Today, as I was brushing her hair and struggling to get the brush through it again, I casually suggested that perhaps we have her hair cut today. Well, she must have been pretty tired of the tangles too, because she agreed with me. Agreeing with me is shocking in itself.
As we made our way to the salon, I could tell she was getting nervous. Mainly because she said “I’m not going to be scared.” So, yes, she was scared. I reminded her that there was nothing to be afraid of and she reminded me that there were scissors involved and that she could get cut. I reassured her of her safety and we walked inside. After about five inches off, a few layers thrown in, and the cutest blow out I’ve ever seen, my girl looks renewed. She looks beautiful like always, and even a little bit older (which, I might add, doesn’t need to be sped up). I have to admit, I didn’t realize it would be that much shorter and it’s not exactly what I’d call short, it goes well past her shoulders, but the layers make it appear shorter. I wasn’t sure what she would think of it. I found out soon enough...
“My friends won’t know it’s me. Megan might not recognize me today.” Oh, boy.
I could tell that she definitely liked her new haircut. She kept touching it with her hands, telling me not to let it get messed up and talking about how straight it was. She asked me to dry her hair this way every time she takes a shower or a bath. Gee, that sounds like fun. So I knew the style was a hit.
“My dear, no one will struggle to know who you are. You are one of a kind and no matter how short or long your hair is, your friends will know you and love you.”
She went to track tonight with her lovely hair down. I couldn’t get her to wear it up, she didn’t want to mess it up. She showed her coaches and friends her new hair stye , and no one had trouble recognizing her. She ran with a little extra pep and ran for the entire 12 minutes. She laughed a lot and was tremendously happy. That made me happy... and that makes me smile.
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