New York Mom|The Mama Bird Diaries

10 Jun

step away from the scissors

My daughter Dylan’s hair just keeps growing and she keeps refusing to get a professional trim.

dylan-long-hair

So finally, last night, while she was watching TV, I impulsively took out a pair of scissors and trimmed her hair.

Except it wasn’t really a trim exactly.

More of cut. Like 3 inches.

I never intended to chop off that much. I don’t know how it happened. Hair seems so much longer when it’s wet. I blame moving delirium and my concern over Bret Michaels’ Tony Awards injury. How is he going to find love with his nose all out of whack?!

As I looked at my handy-work, I suddenly got that pit in my stomach. The one from 9th grade when I let a hairdresser talk me into an asymmetrical cut. Or maybe it was my idea. The point is – that was the year I learned that hair grows very very slowly.

Dylan was so engrossed in her TV show that she didn’t even notice my makeover. So I said nothing. I read Dylan and Summer their books and put them to bed like any other night.

But wouldn’t Dylan wake up the next morning and notice that THREE INCHES OF HER HAIR WERE MISSING? I started really stressing. I’m no psychotherapist, but I think I was taking all my fears about moving (the quiet, no friends, being forced to garden and an inability to find a drug store when I really need candy) and redirecting my anxiety on Dylan’s hair.

I seriously had trouble sleeping.

In the morning, I practically dragged her over to the mirror and said in a very peppy voice, “Honey, look, I trimmed your hair. Do you like it?”

“WHEN did you do that?” she asked perplexed.

“While you were watching TV last night. Do you like it?”

“Yeah.”

And that was about it.

Totally no big deal. She just rolled with it. She obviously gets that laid back vibe from me.

dylan-hair

And if you think I’m wasting time writing blog posts instead of packing, well you’re so wrong.

dylan-and-summer-in-the-box

You’re supposed to pack your kids first. Everyone knows that.

mama bird notes:

The winner of the Blue Bunny^®ice cream is KidSafe Mama! Congrats!! Everyone else will have two more chances to win this month. And if you don’t end up winning, I promise to buy you a scoop of your favorite kind the next time you’re in the New York area.

And many of you have been following my journey on 23andMe and now you have a chance to win a free DNA test from 23andMe!! 400 dollar value. To enter, just leave a comment on this post and let me know what genetic trait you hope you pass on to your children. I personally hope to pass on my insane ability to parallel park in very tight spots.

Note: You must be a legal US resident and 18 or older to win. Click here for official rules. Good luck everyone!

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Comments

June 10, 2009 @ 3:20 am, by Stoneskin

I can’t believe she didn’t hear the snip snip snip and the heavy breathing of her mum who was trying not to be caught!
June 10, 2009 @ 4:24 am, by Momcat

That was probably the best time to do the cut, when she was engrossed in an activity. Next time if she doesn’t notice something, dont point it out to her!
June 10, 2009 @ 6:52 am, by EntertainingMom

I’m completely baffled over the fact that she had no idea that you were cutting her hair! I think I would have lied and told her that the HairCut Fairy did it or somethnig… I have become a terrible liar iin my 10 years of parenting!
June 10, 2009 @ 7:15 am, by The Dental Maven

Ahhh, the resilience of youth…
June 10, 2009 @ 7:32 am, by Inna

Phew, for a moment there I was a little worried…
June 10, 2009 @ 7:39 am, by Terra

I can’t believe you slipped that by her, mine would have screamed on the approach! However they LOVE the salon and getting their hair done though it costs me a small fortune
June 10, 2009 @ 8:06 am, by Ann

running with scissors seems perilous, but YOU are engaging in some serious risk-taking!
June 10, 2009 @ 8:29 am, by Robyn

Make sure to put “this end up” on the box!

I’m impressed that Dylan was completely unaware of her first haircut — good job!
June 10, 2009 @ 8:36 am, by mother-in-law chronicles

When my oldest was about three, I started trimming her hair, except I was really, really bad at it. Her hair would end up so short because I’d keep trimming to get it even all the way around. My husband eventually taught her to say, “No Mama! Only Miss Pam cuts my hair!” any time I came near her with hair scissors.
June 10, 2009 @ 9:04 am, by christy

I hope to pass on my adaptability – I’m good with change, and hope my kiddos are too. I’m a bad-ass parker too. Love that.

And that is so funny that she didn’t notice you cutting her hair!
June 10, 2009 @ 9:07 am, by Lanie

Very cute packing picture! Great post!
June 10, 2009 @ 10:41 am, by kristen

you did a good job! xo
June 10, 2009 @ 11:49 am, by Stephanie (Tyler's Mom)

I wish all things were that easy with kids! My 21 month old has refused to wear shoes for the past three weeks. I’m not up for the GIGANTIC battle so I’ve let her go barefoot. I can only imagine what will happen when the time comes to cut her hair.

What do I hope to pass on to my daughter??? My compassion, my love of the written word and my passion for wine….of course when she is of age, right?!?!
June 10, 2009 @ 11:54 am, by Kim

I hope to pass on my work ethic. I like to work hard — it’s like play to me. So far, my oldest (9) works hard only in infrequent spurts, which is good enough.

I cut my boys’ hair. With the youngest, sometimes it takes a couple of days of snipping here and there before it looks decent.
June 10, 2009 @ 12:31 pm, by Becky

Those are such cute girls. And um, was one pictures before and one after. I didn’t notice the length change.
June 10, 2009 @ 1:28 pm, by suki

very cute photos!!!

i can parallel park very well too, so that’s a gene i’d love to pass along. my height as well… i want some tall babies if anything. hah!
June 10, 2009 @ 1:30 pm, by Gabriell

I hope to pass on green eyes to my children – I’ll just have to find me a green eyed gentleman first.
June 10, 2009 @ 1:31 pm, by Titanas

Wondering if my kids will be deaf .. :/
June 10, 2009 @ 1:32 pm, by Andrei

I hope to pass on my ability to identify Polish accents.
June 10, 2009 @ 1:33 pm, by T. Kunau

We have the same problem with our daughter’s hair. Though the problem lies mostly with her Mom. It is hard to see your strengths and weaknesses in your children. They are, above all, bright and curious. I hope these traits will work well for them.
June 10, 2009 @ 1:43 pm, by Christina

I still trim my daughter’s hair because she can’t stand going to the salon. It scares her too much.

I already know she got her blonde hair and pale skin from me. I’d like to know if she will inherit my risk for skin cancer. And I hope she’ll inherit my ability to easily absorb new knowledge and be an easy test-taker.
June 10, 2009 @ 1:57 pm, by sung

I hope to pass on my insane love of books!
June 10, 2009 @ 2:01 pm, by Carl

I think so much of personality is already pre-determined by other factors, so a physical trait I’d like to pass…

virtually hairless arms.
June 10, 2009 @ 2:09 pm, by Jeff

I want my son to have my great sense of humor and a way to get rid of his peanut allergy. Scary!
June 10, 2009 @ 2:10 pm, by johanna

You were so brave to cut her hair!
I’d like to pass on my love of organization I could spend all day in the Container store buying a million fun boxes and labels!
Sick, I know!
June 10, 2009 @ 2:20 pm, by mom2tot

I hope to pass to my son my positive way to see the world.
and my ability to adapt so easily
June 10, 2009 @ 2:32 pm, by JimB

Really hope to pass on my laid back attitude and ability to put together IKEA furniture in record time.
June 10, 2009 @ 2:38 pm, by Russ

I’d really hope to pass on my curiosity about the world around us.
June 10, 2009 @ 2:51 pm, by SoMi's Nilsa

Oh, but Dylan’s hair is still long and absolutely adorable. No wonder she rolled with the punches! Unlike my aunt when she was a kid. My grandma would cut her bangs and keep going at it until they were even, which usually left barely showing; they were that short!
June 10, 2009 @ 2:52 pm, by Melanie

Great post! I’d love to pass on my empathy, my love of learning and my ear for music.
June 10, 2009 @ 3:28 pm, by Kate Coveny Hood

I hope that my children get my ability to stay calm in a crisis. Of course I could just start giving them my Prozac – but there are three of them and my doctor will definitely notice that I’m plowing through refills.
June 10, 2009 @ 3:42 pm, by Chris P

I would share my ability to take charge in situations when there is not a leader.
June 10, 2009 @ 5:03 pm, by Steph

Both my daughters would have considered that an unforgivable act–you’re so lucky! I hope my girls inherit my love of reading (but only til bedtime:)
June 10, 2009 @ 5:09 pm, by Jaclyn

Really? You cut her hair without her knowing? If I were you I would have wanted to pass on your cat like, stealth ability to do things like that! LOL. I would love to pass on my laid back gene…although I might be that way due to meds and well, those dont change the gene pool. Crap. Can you still enter me in the contest anyway? Ha.
June 10, 2009 @ 5:52 pm, by Marinka

You did a great job. Do you have an opening for 3pm? I need a trim.
June 10, 2009 @ 7:59 pm, by tracey

Hmmmm. I would recommend some packing peanuts or something with those kids… Just for insurance sake…
June 10, 2009 @ 11:03 pm, by Jen

If I were to pick a trait of mine to pass on to my children, I would like them to be able to a solution present in most any problem they might encounter. It’s gotten me out of some tricky spots and helped me when things don’t work out quite the way I think they should.
June 10, 2009 @ 11:04 pm, by Jen

that’s “to be able to SEE a solution present…”

Apparently, I don’t want them to get my typing ability.
June 10, 2009 @ 11:10 pm, by scrappysue

so funny. you’re gonna need that handy drugstore from all the stress of moving!
June 10, 2009 @ 11:19 pm, by Cathy

she just wanted you to cut her hair all along!! glad she didn’t freak.
June 11, 2009 @ 12:15 am, by Bob & Amy

We hope to pass on our love of science and the environment to not only offspring but to non-genetically linked generations through education and example!
June 11, 2009 @ 12:20 am, by Jordana

I love the kids in the box photo – I have a bunch of Ava in a box photos. My question is how did you cut it w/out making a mess since she was watching tv (how me is that question?). Or is it like a hotel room – you’re just trashing the place now that it’s sold??!!
June 11, 2009 @ 1:12 am, by Auds at Barking Mad

I can hear scissors coming towards me from a mile away thanks to a botched hair cut when I was 16! I have hair like my daughter’s (the Little Imp) and it’s always wayyyy longer than it looks when it’s dry. The stupid cow who cut my hair, cut it DRY. My hair was actually almost down to my waist when wet. She cut off 7 inches and it looked horrible afterward. Just awful.

I long to have hair like your daughter’s. It’s gorgeous. Absolutely beautiful! But I am so surprised she didn’t notice you trimming it. She must have really been engrossed in whatever she was watching.
June 11, 2009 @ 1:36 am, by flutter

her hair is so gorgeous
June 11, 2009 @ 1:41 am, by Jennifer H

I packed my kids three weeks ago.

But they busted out. Darn.
June 11, 2009 @ 2:54 am, by Kathy

Wow mom you cut a lot, looks so cute and she loves it! Good luck packing don’t forget air holes for the kids box.
June 11, 2009 @ 3:33 am, by Brian

I would like to know if I have the fickle gene…or maybe not. Moving is a hard won skill.
June 11, 2009 @ 8:35 am, by Bitsy

I used to trim my daughter’s bangs when she was little. Then one time when I was out of town, my husband decided that she needed a trim. I don’t even let him trim bushes, mind you. When I came home she had bangs over her ears. Not a pretty sight, poor thing. You did a beautiful job on Dylan. I don’t want any genetic testing, just ice cream.
June 11, 2009 @ 8:43 am, by Brittany

You did a great job – I do not trust myself around scissors enough to cut Noah’s hair! Job well done!
June 11, 2009 @ 9:38 am, by Alllison T.

Wow- if I’d known you were buying ice cream, I’d have called when I was in NYC this week. But you know, I didn’t want to bug you while you were so busy packing. Or maybe I knew you weren’t packing and I didn’t want to get volunteered into helping you pack. Which brings me to the trait I’d like to pass along to my kids…bring proactive and not procrastinating. Except I don’t think that I actually have that gene. Better get the DNA test to find out.
June 11, 2009 @ 9:54 am, by Sandrine

Great job on the trim it looks good, I’ve done disasters on my sister and mother once…and then I tried on Tengo never again I promise. So I don’t want to pass on my lack of hair cutting skills for sure…what would I like to pass on, my logic, my sarcasm and my french!!! I guess the first one is the only one that can come handy the rest may get them into trouble!
June 11, 2009 @ 10:10 am, by francine Kasen

Remember, MOVE is a four letter word. Don’t pack the vodka…..keep it in your purse!
June 11, 2009 @ 10:11 am, by Portia

I hope my future kids have my great smile and my compassion for people
June 11, 2009 @ 11:53 am, by Lauren

I hope to pass on my eyes to my kids. I think they’re my best feature (color and size). And although you didn’t ask, I hope NOT to pass on my acne-prone skin!
June 11, 2009 @ 1:27 pm, by erinb

Baby K totally needs a haircut- its unreal for her to have such long hair…maybe I will attempt a a-la-mommy haircut one of these nights.
I have a longer list of traits I hope she does not get from me. Is there a giveaway for that? no? hmm…well maybe she too will be a writer- and then she can finish my book :-}
June 11, 2009 @ 1:40 pm, by Julie

I hope my kids will have my empathy and my ability to breathe through my nose (my husband can’t).
June 11, 2009 @ 2:46 pm, by magpie

Lord. Were you tipsy? I’ve not cut the kid’s hair while watching TV, but I had a terrible result when I (tipsy) cut her hair in the bath one night. Totally crooked. Had to cut more to straighten it out…

Love the kids in the box photo. Classic.
June 11, 2009 @ 5:57 pm, by Dixie Chick

Love it!! Her reaction was priceless. Now how did she react when you talked about trimming her hair in the first place over and over again I’m imagining?
June 11, 2009 @ 6:10 pm, by divrchk

I’d love to pass on my love of reading. I do believe that’s genetic.
June 11, 2009 @ 6:21 pm, by Tim

I’d love to pass on my ability to eat almost the spiciest of foods, and still be hungry!
June 11, 2009 @ 11:07 pm, by michele

We will be in the city on Sunday the 21st I just might take you up on that Ice Cream offer.
June 11, 2009 @ 11:11 pm, by Amy

I’m a really quiet typist. It’s my best quality. I hope my kids get that from me.
June 12, 2009 @ 8:53 am, by Miss Awesome

It’s hilarious that she didn’t notice you were cutting her hair. The show must have been really good!
June 12, 2009 @ 9:03 am, by KidSafe Mama

Hurray! I can’t believe it!!! I won the ice cream. Okay I wont rub it in…but I hope you are all insanely jealous. And way down here in Florida we need the ice cream to get through the awful heat of summer (and winter) . Thank you Kelcey! and Blue Bunny!
June 12, 2009 @ 3:54 pm, by Rachel

I hope to pass on genetic features that I won’t know about unless I win the test.
June 12, 2009 @ 4:33 pm, by Lee

I plan to adopt and therefore won’t be passing on any of my genes. But I hope that that they’d share my love of art.
June 12, 2009 @ 4:38 pm, by Tim

I hope to pass on my resiliency.
June 12, 2009 @ 7:05 pm, by Penny

I hope to pass on my love of traveling and seeing the world.
June 13, 2009 @ 11:59 am, by andrew

i’d hope to pass on my height… i’m 6’5″, my father is 6’5″, but my mother is only 5’0″, so i know there are some recessive short genes in there somewhere.
June 13, 2009 @ 12:10 pm, by andrew

forgot to leave my email address in my previous comment:

andrewDOTellisATgmailDOTcom
June 13, 2009 @ 1:12 pm, by jolynn

Such darling daughters!! You haven’t moved yet?? I haven’t talked to you in a while and thought you were busy with the big move!!
June 14, 2009 @ 6:37 pm, by Halala Mama

Ha! This brought back memories of the first time my mother cut my hair. I, too, was fine with it, but it was really short, really crooked, and really bad. I showed my dad when he got home and he looked straight at mom and said, “You ARE taking her to the beauty shop to fix that aren’t you?” And thus, my first professional cut!
June 15, 2009 @ 8:47 pm, by Sam

I hope to pass on my intelligence and my height to my children.
June 15, 2009 @ 10:09 pm, by Betsy

Hey I remember your haircut from 9th grade. I am bummed that the Lollilocks kids salon where I took Samantha recently closed. When I trim her hair I still have to give her a lollipop.

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