In the last few weeks our daughter has been asking to get her hair cut. Now, she's only 3 years old so we had to ensure she really understood that she couldn't change her mind afterwards. It had grown very very long and was a high maintenance "do"
Washing and drying it took up to an hour and if you've ever met a 3 year old you'll know they are messy messy creatures!
In that hair you could find paint, play-dough, toothpaste, glue, sand, yoghurt, weetabix.....and that's all by noon.
She does not like the feeling of having it brushed or tied up and she's a wild energetic healthy kid who bounces around. A lot.
So when she talked lately about getting it cut, we encouraged her and said it would be really lovely and that she's a gorgeous girl no matter what her hair is like.
We try to teach all our kids that it's what someone is like on the inside that counts. Looks are not the most important thing. But by age 3 how much of that can actually sink in?
Well, the day for the haircut came. She informed me on our way to the hairdresser that it was not a "haircut" it was a "hairSTYLE" She and I had looked online at toddler hairstyles and she was very sure of what she wanted. She loved Suri Cruise's style but asked why Suri herself was so sad.
Ha! I don't know darling I do not know.
So off we went for her extreme makeover. If she showed any signs of backing out I was just going to roll with that and wait till she was ready. But no, she was absolutely sure what she wanted and any nerves she showed were actually excitement. I was so proud of her sitting there smiling to herself in the mirror as I discussed with the hairdresser Lorraine what she had planned. Lorraine owns Main St. Barbers here in Cavan town, is actually related to my husband and a really well-known barber here in Cavan. Lorraine's was our salon of choice for another reason though. This was my daughter's first ever haircut and I wanted her to trust whoever was doing it. She has seen her brothers and her daddy have their hair cut in Lorraine's a million times and knows the girls in there so I knew she'd feel at home.
When Lorraine realised the length and thickness of hair we were having taken off, she suggested the Rapunzel Foundation. I had heard of this charity before but i didn't think we had enough to offer a donation. The Rapunzel Foundation takes donations of real hair, with which they make wigs for children who have lost theirs from chemotherapy or Alopecia.
So firstly the hair was tied back in a ponytail. And then CHOP! It was gone. The whole ponytail, all 11 inches of it, in my hand. It felt very weird standing there and already my little girl looked so grown up.
And she looked a lot happier than Suri Cruise!
Then some trimming and drying and voilá she was like a different child. She was genuinely thrilled with the results and when we explained what we were going to try to do with the hair that was cut off she was even happier.
I just said that some boys and girls have to take special medicine and it makes their hair fall out. They'd be very happy if they could have a wig made from some of her hair she doesn't need anymore.
That's enough for her to process at 3 years of age. But I on the other hand, know the truth of the heartache so many families are going through. The bravery and the courage of a little child fighting cancer is just beyond words.
So off we went to see if it could be donated. The registered salon in Cavan for donations like this is Déja Vu so after our hairSTYLE (not cut remember) we walked up with our bag of hair and registered our donation with the lovely girls in Déja Vu. You can see your nearest salon here .
She literally squealed with excitement when we left there and I knew that she really understood what just happened. I got down to her level in the middle of the street and I told her that she was now very beautiful on the outside with her new hairdo, but that she had also done a very kind and brave thing today, and that makes her a beautiful person on the inside.
She radiated pride and confidence the whole way home. It took a little longer than usual because she had to stop at every shop window and reflective surface on the way to admire herself.
It has taken us all weekend to get used to her new appearance. Part of me was sad for a few moments that my baby is growing up. But you know what? If she continues to grow up this kind and generous and brave and beautiful inside and out, I can't wait to watch every little minute.
You can get more information on the Rapunzel Foundation at www.rapunzelfoundation.com
and they're also on Facebook here
and Twitter here.
