The Haircut

One of the things that everyone has always loved about Ava is her long, thick hair. It's beautiful, but she gives us a hard time about brushing it. Every morning is an ordeal to try to get her to stand still while we spray de-tangler through it and try to get it arranged into pony tails or braids. She cries that it hurts, and has no patience for the time it takes to get through the long mass. I've often told her that we should just shave it short like Gaffer has it, then we wouldn't have to go through this every day, but she tells me that she loves her hair and doesn't want it cut. Then, I say, you have to take care of it - and that means brushing!

When she was two, we had to cut several inches off so that it wouldn't hang into the toilet. She was terrified, but the nice young hairdresser at Bubba's was friendly and gentle with her, and we got the job done. After that, she's been several times to Bubba's and enjoys the whole process - the shampoo, the booster seat, the cape, and the attention.

The other day I saw a picture of a little girl about Ava's age, with a short bob haircut. I started thinking about how cute Ava would look with short hair, and how EASY life would be without the de-tangling, brushing, and braiding every morning, and how convenient it would be over the summer when she's swimming and playing outside. Even eating would be easier - no long strands blowing into her ice cream cone!

So I showed Ava the picture, and she liked it! We made an appointment, and headed into Bubba's - leaving Gaffer at home with very uneasy feelings about the upcoming loss of Ava's long locks. Even the young hairdresser was squirrely about taking off so much! Ava, freshly shampood and sitting up high in her booster seat, draped in a cape, was matter-of-fact: "Cut it short!" I was sitting nearby, and the hairdresser turned to me with an anxious face, "Shouldn't we make it shorter in stages??" I said, "Ava, are you SURE you want it short?"

But Ava was fearless and anticipating her new 'do, so the scissors went to work and 8" long strands of hair fell to the floor. There was a mix of shock, horror, and admiration on the faces of the other customers and clients as more and more of Ava's luxurious hair was clipped off, but Ava sat there, like a little statue, calmly watching the process. I was second-guessing our decision, but was so proud of her for her courage and steadfastness, and I was already imagining how easy tomorrow morning was going to be!

So she's got herself a little bob now, and it's even fashionably "poofy" in the back where she's got a terrific cowlick - looks like a rooster-tail every morning - and it's wonderful. We've been able to put away all the ponytail holders and barrettes, and never need the de-tangler. She brushes it herself and she looks adorable. I'll leave it up to her whether or not to keep it short or to let it grow out again!