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Friday, February 29, 2008

The Home Cut

To boldly go where most stay at home moms have gone before.

A home hair cut.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. When I was a young girl I never knew anything besides a home cut. My feet NEVER dawned the door of a hair salon or even a cheaper version of a hair salon you know what I am talking about the kind where the workers have just gotten out of hair school and they are practicing and a cheap price. We had a tiny house bursting with 7 people and not a ton o' funds to spare for things like hair cuts.
I loved hair even at a young age and I would dream of the perm I could get or maybe the latest cut that most of the girls had. Why couldn't my hair just turn out like the rest? I would spend hours teasing my hair (the bad ideas of the 80's), curling it with a curling iron, crimping it, and spraying it with the cheapest hairspray (the kind that would make you smell like an old lady...Aqua net or something of the sort). But the time would always come and I would go and collect the items my mom would need to cut my hair: the kitchen scissors, old newspaper for the floor, a wooden chair, and a big trash bag to serve as a smock.

Then... she would cut. Nervously, I would wait and hope that for the love of all things...it just may turn out. My twin sister, bless her heart, had some major naturally curly hair so she just got hers whacked in the shape of a nest or bush or something. Bless her. My mom would survey her masterpiece after the hour or so of cutting and ask me if I liked it. Sometimes I did...and other times I wanted to run away and cry. She would always ask me if anyone liked my hair at school the next day. She did what she could.

One dreaded day my dad said he would do the honors of cutting my hair. It was my fourth grade year...a year of crucial importance in the life of a nine year old. If I were ever going to be popular...I had to have the right cut. That was my fourth grade line of thinking. I think the Lord used my bad cuts to keep me humble.
So you should be able to trust your mom and dad right, even with your hair?? That is where my naive thinking got me into trouble. This time we go out on the back deck (I will never forget) and with a comb he combs down to the top of my ear lobe (I had long hair) and whacks a section of my hair off. The whole world stopped as I cried out and ran to my room and cried for what may have been hours and my sisters made fun of the damage that was done. He would NEVER touch my hair again. For the rest of my fourth grade year I had to pin that side of my hair up in a clip. How was I ever going to be cool. It left a mark on my soul that still brings up terror to my mind...maybe it is a place that I need to seek healing over. I AM KIDDING.
As soon as I was old enough to work I went to a Salon and the days of home cuts were far behind me. So, I swore I would never give my kids the home cut. NEVER...

Well guess what? Morgans hair was getting so long that I was afraid people might think we were strangely religious and that we didn't believe in cutting hair (no offense anyone). So in a moment of desperation I went for the scissors and I prayed. Lord please go with me and make my hands (that have never dawned hair school) skilled like that of a great beautician.

God love her.

I went with trembling and sought to get my two year old to be still. Then I grabbed the back of her hair and studied the situation. I decided there was nothing I could do but grab it all as one piece, close my eyes, and cut. I cut about an inch and a half off and I don't recommend my cutting method. I had to trim it up while I let her pour a bottle of baby lotion all over her legs and while she shoved toothbrushes down the sink drain...anything to keep her busy. At one point she cried and said "I'm a good girl". I didn't understand why until I realized I actually nipped a little bit of skin on her back with the fancy scissors. I was so sorry. I vowed that I would not traumatize her again by the home cut.
Next time we will be going to the salon. It turned out O.K. but she has her hair in pigtails so I don't have to have anxiety over wondering if it is really straight or not in the back...but I think it is. She looks a little bit more like my baby girl...not so grown up with all the long hair.

Eccl. 3:1
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

14 comments:

Heather said...

Your stories always crack me up. I remember the first time that I cut Ryan's ... oh I'll never go there again. the things we learn as moms :)

He Knows My Name said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jan/lost-strayed-or-stolen.blogspot.com said...

I've had (and given) more than a few of those home cuts myself.
Thanks for stopping at my blog!

Heather said...

you have to check this out ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEFE3B0Rje0

Joanne@ Blessed... said...

I found you through Kim's blog. I am so with you about the home haircuts. I may date myself but when I was in 4th grade my world came to a screeching halt. I begged my mom for a Farrah Fawcett hairdo and was given a Dorothy Hammil cut. I still cringe when I think about going to school that first day...pure agony!

Blessings, Joanne

p.s. I enjoyed your blog!

Fran said...

Home cut or salon cut....you are a fantastic momma who loves that beautiful little girl! I bet she is completely adorable.

Y'all have a wonderful weekend!
Hugs~
Fran

Shonda said...

I agree with Fran, you're a fantastic mom and love your daughter.

I remember bowl cuts as a child. My grandmother put a bowl on top of my head and cut around the edge of the bowl. yuck!!

I have boys and for a season in their lives I got away with the clippers on 1 or 0. Just shaved their heads short. Now they both want the salon and even get highlights! My 10 yo said his highlights are gone and he wants more!! He likes the attention.

Blessings in Christ-

BethAnne said...

Bless my little Kaden's heart - I have sheared that little 'lamb' more than once and I hate to admit that I have nicked (is that a word?) his little ears more than once. The worst part is when hubs comes home and he says "Daddy, mommy cut me with the scissors today!"

Amy said...

girl...this story is so cute and i can relate! When I was about 8 I refused to brush my hair (it was long) and the tangles were so bad that my mom took me to the salon and they cut it all off! Then when I changed school systems the next year someone asked me if I was a boy or a girl!!! (Did I mention I had gained a bit of weight and looked a bit like a chunky dude :-)) I used to have nightmares that my sister would cut off my hair in my sleep! BTW, Sara was awesome! She talked a lot about her songs..I will have to tell you what she said about she and her husband.

Lori said...

We want pictures! You are braver then I. Emma Kate needed a hair cut for like 3 weeks and I could just not find the extra money. When I did I took her and found out that her first hair cut was FREE! My poor child had out of control hair for 3 weeks...who knew it was free!

Poet4Him77 said...

Hi, you don't know me. I found your blog through Emily's page. How brave of you to cut your child's hair! If it makes you feel any better, my mom always cut our hair too! And to this day, I cut my own hair! Sure every once and a while I'll get a "professional" cut, but honestly, my hair grows so quickly. I cut until it *feels* right. I get tons of compliments!

Lindsee Lou said...

Girl,

That is hilarious! My dad used to ALWAYS play with my hair. Always. I am the only girl and had some LONG locks. He loved it. It was torture for me to sit there for hours so he could figure out how to do a flippin' braid! :) He never took scissors to it, though, thank goodness!

Good story!

Lindsee

ocean mommy said...

This is so funny....

Just wait until that sweet little baby becomes 9 and decides she wants to cut her own hair....yep, that's what my 9 year old did last summer.. We are FINALLY growing out the bad cut. Little sister followed big sister's example about a week later. We've called her new "do" the mini mohawk. She attempted to give herself bangs. The only problem is that she cut them SO SHORT they stood straight up. Fortunately, it was just a small section of hair. She's been wearing a clip for 6 monts waiting for the "Mini MO" to grow out.

Sherry said...

Girl, I laughed out loud during most of this! As you can probably tell, I cut Mark's hair so I can totally relate! When I read about her saying "I'm a good girl" it pierced my heart! Mark says stuff like that, anything to make me quit! I evened Lily's hair out when she was like 4 months old and haven't touched it since. I don't know that I can do her's. I can't do the ole' buzz trick with her! I love this blog, your such a blessing -- to your daughter too!