Thursday, August 04, 2005

A Good Hair Day



About 4 or 5 weeks ago I gave the boys a haircut. Well, I gave them a buzz cut, for the summer cool, easy and free. It costs me about $40.00 to take them all down to First Choice and get their hair cut. I decided to save a few bucks and do it myself.

I had them sit on a stool and used the clippers with a short gaurd for the sides and longer one for the top, so it had some shape to it. The cuts came out nice, the boys sat still for me and they both liked it when it was done. PJ asked me if I would do hers the same as the boys and told her I was worried she would not like it and convinced her to let me trim her bangs and leave the rest alone. She was happy with that.

Today was haircut day. PJ watched as I got both the boys all trimed up, asking once or twice if I would do hers next. "I want mine like Sebastian's and Quentin's." she said. She tried this line to: "I will be able to talk on the phone better." She was trying to get me compromise to just cut it short around her ears. There will be no mullets for PJ.

I put her up on the stool. I told her I would take her to see Kenny for a big girl hair cut like mommy's. She shook her head no, she was adamant that her hair should be cut like the boys.

I got down on my knees, eye level with her, and I told her: "PJ, I will cut your hair to look just like the boys if you are sure you want it that way. That means no more pony tails, no more long princess hair, no more barettes. Grown ups will tell you what a cute little boy you are (I know this from experience) are you REALLY sure that you want you hair cut like the boys." She said, "Yes." in a firm voice.

I said, "PJ, it is nap time, I am going to put Quentin down for his nap and you sit here and think for a few minutes, if you still want it done when I get back I will be happy to do it for you."

I left her sitting on the stool for about 5 minutes (this is like 10 years to a 3 year old). I came back just in time to see her take the scisors and cut a large chunk of hair above her right ear. "Never mind Mommy, I can do it by myself."



She sat as still as could be...



It was far more traumatic for me than for her. I don't know why, I don't care how long or short her hair is. I have had short hair most of my life. I was afraid she would realize what we had done and she would cry, that she would want me to put it back. To "Fix it" I was worried she was not sure what she was asking for.



When I finished and she was sitting on the stool with a buzz cut, she looked at me with those big brown eyes and said, "Mommy, how do I look?" I said, "PJ, you look beautiful." She said, "But, wanted to look like a boy!" My hats off to my beautiful daughter, who knew exactly what she wanted and made sure she got it.



She is as happy as she could be. There has not been one tear, not even a trembling lip. I have not even seen her reach up to feel for the hair that is no longer there.



Debbles was shocked when she saw it. She said she would not have been able to cut it if it had been Layne.
I got a chuckle out of that!



Paul seems to like it too. I have heard him muttering to himself about how shocked Grandma Judy is going to be when she comes to visit next month.




I know my mom won't be surprised at all, it would take for more than this to surprise her. Mom bucked my hair off when I was quite young too, I couldn't be bothered to take care of my hair so Mom
cut it. The best part of the whole day is that PJ loves it, she is just as happy as she can be with her painted nails and her pretty dress. She is now calling herself Daddy's bald princess.



She is beautiful.

8 comments:

Bonnie said...

WOW, I am so inspired!!! Honestly, What I wouldn't give to have the balss to chop off all of my hair. Its my dream. I love that girl. Can't wait to see her on monday. She made me feel so pretty today already by painting my toes blue as well!!!
ciao
bon

Bonnie said...

That second sentence should read, " balls to chop off my hair" hahaha

Kelly O said...

Bonnie- The kids are missing you and you are not even gone yet (Bonnie is on her way to France soon on a Rotary Youth Exchange Program, she will be gone for a whole year) They keep asking me, "Where is Bonnine? We have 3 more days, when are they?"

It is day 2 and PJ still loves her hair cut.

Shannon said...

Kelly, you failed to mention the time that you buzzed all of your hair off. I would say that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Kelly O said...

Shannon- I just might do it again!

Anonymous said...

OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!! YIKES!!! i WONDERED WHEN THAT WOULD HAPPEN! One time Paul looked like "ghandi" and the next he had a Iroquois cut! But my missy needs to wear her diamonds _ To separate the girls from the boys! Wonder where that determination came from do you suppose????!!!!!! Love you

Wudas said...

As one of my ex-husbands told me. Only the really pretty girls can wear really short hair and look good. He knew what to say on occasion. PJ looks great. But don't be surprised, when people figure out she's a girl, if they treat her gently. They'll probably think that the boys got theirs short in support of her little cancer patient sister.

Shannon said...

Mom, your comment was very funny!