Hair to spare...

Emmy has been begging for a hair cut for ages. She had only had that one tiny trim last year for her birthday so it was clearly time. The only thing holding us up was me. I admit it - I was scared to death. I'm not sure of what, but I was. 

Well, I had mentioned that we could donate her hair several months ago and she latched on to that idea like white on rice. She just thought that it would be so awesome to cut her hair for someone else, specifically another child. (I think she knew the power this held in getting me over the hump of making an appointment.) So, I finally sent Karly a text and we were in the books... and I made an appointment for two. If my five-year-old can chop off her hair, so could I. I have done it before and I'm sure I will do it again, but I was still nervous. I have created some weird attachment to my locks, much more than I had anticipated which is kind of silly to admit. 

The night before I sent this text to my nearest and dearest to make sure I could go through with it. The minimum donation amount for two charities is 8 inches, I was good with going all the way up to 8.5 as illustrated by my handy-dandy piece of paper. I'm super scientific like that. 

Jenni responded like all besties should... with sarcasm and wit...

By the next day, we were both ready. 

(Photo cred to Rad)

Ryan wasn't helping with his response to that final picture... Ha!

I went first, so no pics of me... but after Karly made that first cut (that was 10.5 inches(!!!)) there was no turning back. Emmy's response was priceless...

Emmy: Mommy. 

Me: Yesss?

Emmy: She cut your hair, like, really short.

Me: I know! 

Emmy: Well, are you gonna be ok?

I assured her that I was... and for a minute she almost hesitated. She almost didn't want to go through with it. But she saw my courage, she saw my example, and she rallied. So many times we set that example and provide that courage as parents. And I think about how much that meant to her for something as insignificant as the length of her hair... what must it mean for things that really matter? 

I want her to know that beauty is about much more than outward adornment (1 Peter 3:3-4) and I if I'm honest, that's what was holding ME up. I loved my hair - I loved all the compliments I got. I loved that Ryan loved it. I loved that I could wear it down, pull it up, braid it... I loved it. And maybe, just maybe God was calling me to show her that I can still love myself without it. 

But she rallied - she was ready and she was pretty darn excited about the boy or girl that was going to get her hair, too. 

And then we did it - 9 inches gone!

She was so excited about getting the special stuff to make your hair dry faster - I think she felt so grown up and she WAS so grown up. The first thing she said when she saw the finished product:

Oh, Mommy! I love it! I bet that I can wear my hair down for school sometimes, now!

(We are big fans of the pony tail around here. And by we, I mean me, because hair in the face is not my favorite.)

I'm pretty sure it was around 20lbs of hair - it sure felt like it!

Rad snapped one last shot and we were on our way, everyone with celebratory suckers in hand. 

(Emmy's only disappointment came when she saw that I had three pony's and she only had two to give. But y'all, you can't even tell them apart. Our hair is almost the exact same color which kind of make me extra happy!)

So we got home and sent the pics out again to the nearest and dearest. Thumbs up all around... I may even get used to "short" hair.!

I'm definitely loving this sweet, sassy pony-tailed girl. 

I am so proud of her. 

She was so brave. She was so encouraging. She was so selfless. 

And that's what makes her beautiful to me. 

Hop on over to Holly's to see what everyone else is waiting on. Not sure they can beat Emmy's five year wait for that real hair cut!