Hair today...

Ah...hair.

Let's go ahead with my life story--as it pertains to hair. My mom likes short hair. She always has. She had five (5) daughters and kept our hair short. We had cute little bobs--and by "bob," I mean sometimes it would get as long as the bottom of our ears, but not often. During the 80s, we had short, permed hair. Always short. When I got old enough to make my own hair choices, my hair got longer and longer (except when Mom would trim it). I have become emotionally attached to hair. It's pretty bad. I resist getting a trim because I'm afraid my hair will never grow back. During some sort of identity/mid-life crisis (pregnant with my 3rd and turning 30), I chopped my hair to just above my shoulders. It was among the worst mistakes of my life. Man, I hated that.

So, I have my own children now. I guess I've assumed I was giving them a great gift to let them (the girls) have long hair. As it turns out, they don't care as much as I do. I don't think they care at all. Sarah has repeatedly cut her own hair (though not for at least a year). Lately, it's been looking very pretty--almost to her waist. I love it. Beth's hair was just past her shoulders. It's still pretty thin, but it was pretty because she is pretty.

Well, last week my life changed. It all started when I noticed Beth had received a trim. On Facebook, I referred to it as a "mullet," but that may have been a slight exaggeration. Nathan cut her hair. His only response when I asked if he had done it: "She wanted me to!" Beth was delighted. The front of her hair was short. I didn't take pictures because I'm not sure you could tell there was a problem from a photo. The problem is that Beth's hair is so fine (like mine) and thin that those short hairs in the front were constantly filled with static and clinging to her head. It looked pretty bad. So, I decided it was time for haircuts. The boys needed them anyway and Sarah could stand a trim.

Back to my life story. My mom loves to cut hair. She started cutting hair when she was 11. She cut our hair while we were growing up. She enjoys it. Can you imagine how much money she saved by home haircuts? Eight kids--and never paying for a haircut. When I had kids, I was sure I could follow suit. I would be provident, self-sufficient, and frugal! I learned to cut hair. I think I know how to do the basics. And I have cut their hair for years. It takes me approximately three hours to cut two boys' heads of hair. It is the most miserable thing I have to do (and that includes cleaning toilets). I'm not sure I can express how much I hate it. But I hate spending money even more. Last Saturday, I was gearing up for the horrible task of cutting hair. But Chris (my knight in white armor--or as he would say, "Make that brown armor") came to my rescue and said we had enough money to go to the professionals.

All four kids got their hair cut. Ammon's and Nathan's looked terrific. Sarah got a nice trim and marched out to the car in tears. She was so angry. She had felt pressured and overwhelmed when she was forced to make a decision about how she wanted her hair. She wanted it shorter. So, we went back in. I was shocked. My daughter--my own flesh and blood--chopped off her beautiful hair. It's still long enough that most people don't even notice a difference. But I'm pretty sure she cut off about eight inches. She was beaming with confidence and joy when it was finished.

The stylist told me we wouldn't have to cut Beth's hair that much, so she just trimmed it, assuming the layers would blend. But Beth has very fine hair and an enormous static problem. There was no blending. There never is. (Trust me, I've tried on my own head.) The whole head had to be shorter. It just wasn't short enough. This is coming from me! I thought it needed to be shorter! Beth wanted it to her ears. So, she also got another haircut--this time by my mom. Super-short.

Another part of my life story. About a year and a half ago, on Thanksgiving day 2009, to be exact, my sister thought she'd give me a helping hand by cutting Nathan's hair for me. I was relieved. I hate to cut hair. And then I walked into the room and saw her giving my son a buzz cut! Now I know, a lot of people like buzz cuts on little boys. A lot of people like them on bigger boys. I am not one of those people. I was beside myself to see what my sister did to my boy. He had such beautiful hair. But eventually, it grew back and he looked normal again. Apparently, last week, Nathan decided he liked the way it felt when he rubbed his hand across his head after his buzz cut. So, just days after spending oodles of money at the salon, Nathan cut his own hair. The result? I had to buzz him.

Wow, that was a long explanation. Now for pictures.

Sarah before.

Sarah now. 

Bethie before.

Bethie now. 

Nathan's self-cut.

Nathan now. 

Ammon. 

The end.