{36 Reasons} Hair Today

There's a Jewish tradition to keep a child's hair uncut until the age of 3. (Okay, it's really a tradition for boys, but I'm an equalitarian.) Except I haven't ever made it to that age with any of my kids.

Too. Much. Hair.

I thought for sure that Solly would be the one who would make it.

After all, who can resist those gorgeous blonde locks!? Not me.
But I was stymied. Halted. Thwarted.

Poor kiddo. He kept trying to brush the hair out of his eyes. And he inevitably woke up with a rat's nest of dreadlocks in the back of his head, no matter how much brushing or conditioner we put into it.

And while a ponytail might seem like a reasonable solution, it just wasn't in the cards.

So a haircut was in the offing. (Actually, I just learned that one sect of Hasidim cut their boys' hair at age 2, but I'm not too keen on modeling myself after various sects of Hasidim.)

I might have shed some tears. After all, this is my baby! My beautiful long-haired baby.

One last look....

Along the way...(he wouldn't wear the apron, so we thought we'd make it easier for the stylist)

 And the finished product...

He looks fabulous. But suddenly....so grown up.

Am I imagining things, or is he now standing up taller? Speaking more clearly? Acting older?
(But no, I'm not deluding myself, not more reasonable.)

I think it is true.
Two years old IS very grown up.

Especially when compared to this:

Blessed are You, O God, Ruler of the World, who has created us to grow and change, who has helped us to see both progressive and sudden growth, who has given us tissues to wipe away our tears, and who has brought me to this day.

Haircut Mitzvah

My daughter has beautiful hair. She is pure adorableness.

Each year at the synagogue, we offer our students the opportunity to cut their hair for Locks of Love, an organization that provides wigs for children with long-term medical hair loss.

I have participated a few times (I think it was 3 or 4 times) but not in Yael's memory.
We have talked about her possible participation for quite some time.
Can a five-year-old understand what it means to donate her hair?
I don't really know.
But she was totally into the idea.
So I went with it.
People asked me if she really understood what she was doing.
I don't know.
But does it really matter? She did it.
Na'aseh v'nishma.
We will do and (perhaps) then we will understand.

This week, we stand at Sinai.
Sometimes it takes something as simple as snipping a ponytail to help us remember what it all really means.

Separated at Birth?

I knew there was a good reason I was resisting the bangs.

But she's the happiest little girl around.

So who can complain?

Hair Today...

from this: (originally posted 9/8/09)

 

to this:

(see this post - yep, we had lice)

and now back to this:

taken this week, 6/11/09

Good thing she's cute no matter what length her hair is!

See more Wordless Wednesday posts at the original WW home and at 5 Minutes for Mom.