...in the kitchen with the "good" scissors and the big comb.Yesterday was no ordinary hair day at Mom's salon. Well, there were the usual tears and threats to "leave you looking just like this". But, it was also much more, so much more, some might say it was the best hair day ever.
A few months ago after plans to have her nose pierced were thwarted by a responsible piercer (I say it's adultism...but that's a whole other post.) Yael Rose, looking for ways to express herself-gratefully sans the usual histrionics- spotted a young woman with BIG kinky curls. "Mom, can my hair do that? I wanna do that with my hair!" She was giddy at first sight.
Hair politics being what they are (and in my opinion aren't) I admittedly began deliberations; far more thought than was warranted for a hairstyle, but the pull of familiar thought patterns is strong even if said thought patterns are woven with ridiculous.
Whilst repeating, "It's only hair." In my mind, and at times aloud, it became clear to me that it may only be hair to us, but it is hair, like wow-oh-my-goodness-beautiful-amazing hair to someone in need, and the decision was finalized. Yael could have her cut, and BIG kinky curls and we'd entrust Locks of Love to pass on her generous gift of ooh-girl-thank-goodness-I-don't-have-to-comb-that-stuff-no-more...er I mean wow-oh-my-goodness-beautiful-amazing hair!
And, we did it! Her donation was just under 11 inches when pulled straight. After the big cut, Yael exclaimed, "Well, I'll never do that again"! Already wrought with anxiety, I came from behind to face her and said excitedly, "You regret it?!" She replied, "Yeah. I'll never let it grow that long again!" Heartbeat? Check. One cool kid? You bet!Note: BIG kinky curls 'grow' upon standing. Stay tuned...
Peace and love
16 comments:
You know I love this!! It's so important that we teach our children to be selfless. Even at the expense of being "uncomfortable" for a time before the end result of performing a selfless act can be realized.
I'm proud of and for you.
Hair politics indeed...EH. So impressed by Yael's sense of self as a young girl. My girlfriend cuts hers off every November for Locks of Love. What a wonderful thing!
Wow! Yael you look beautiful girl!! Hope to see you both soon! :o)
Great for Yael! You cut a mean hairdo!
Awesome! She's so smart and gorgeous. I love her style!
That smile says it all!
Oh that is so sweet and generous. And that is one cute hairstyle. I'm so loving it!
Agreed with the non-politics of hair.
Good for Yael! She is, like you say, one cool kid!
I love her hair.
PD
Oh my gosh, that was brave to cut all that length yourself! I highlighted one of my daughter's hair once.... never again! Your daughter is gorgeous and looks so happy. I'm relieved to hear too, that "hope" reigns for you now!
Tameka, what happened? I got some weirdo email from you today and now you're nowhere to be found on facebook and your shop is down for maintenance and even the Pretty in Peace page is gone on facebook. What's going on? You okay?
I got hacked, and I deactivated my FB account because I need some privacy. E-mail me teanhoneybread[at]gmail.com
First of all, I love this young woman's smile.
Secondly, I could have written this post myself. Every day, every single day, it's the same thing with my 9 year old. I had tears of joy and relief in my eyes as I rocked and sang "Thank you Jesus" when that child got 12 coily, easily knotted, inches cut off. I was sick and tired of the screams and tears and like you, the threats that I was going to let her walk around town looking like a hooligan.
That was a couple of years ago. *sigh. Now it's grown back.
My sister just had her nose pierced, she's 19.
And she is beautiful!
Hair really can make such a difference. 10 years ago my hair was very long and pure white, a beautiful white. I was 50 years old and my daughter said I was too young for so much white hair. She talked me into coloring it.
What a difference it made. People started talking to me instead of my hair. People started looking into my eyes when they talked to me and not my hair. Some people even commented that for the first time they noticed my eyes.
The gift your daughter gained is the knowledge that she is not her hair but the beautiful young woman who can choose to grow it long or cut it short. Growing it long and giving it away as a gift, awesome!
Just checking in...since it's been awhile since you posted. Everything OK?
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