Picture This: Lots of Love

Motherhood is crazy. Our hectic daily rounds are woven together with chaos and absurdities; meals to prepare, diapers to change, shoes to tie, hair to braid, school, soccer and swimming lessons, teeth to brush, stories to read, and kisses to give. Sigh. And in the midst of it all there sometimes lies a crystalline moment when you experience a poignant exchange with your child, an understanding, a meeting between you when when you are able to observe your child in all their beauty. You recognize that there is so much more than the swirling ordinary days. There's magic. Your child is an exceptional person in their own right and nothing exists in that instance but more love than a heart can hold and the pride that only a parent knows.

Tonight in a giddy serge of energy my daughter begged me to cut her hair as she has done on and off for weeks. We had agreed to make an appointment to cut it at the start of summer. But that wasn't soon enough. It had to be tonight. And it had to be me that cut it. I agreed (at which I am still slightly stunned). As we discussed how short was short enough she asked how much we'd need to cut to be able to donate it to Locks of Love. It was a request that came out of the blue. Something she came up with on her own. She had a friends donate ponytails last summer and she never forgot it.

They need 10 inches for a hairpiece but the best we could do was 7. They won't deny a donation of less than 10 (but more than 6) and since it was the best we could do she wanted to go for it. We combed out her clean blonde waves, pulled it back in a pony, debated a bit, dried it, and then cut it off. We both gasped as we took turns holding the ponytail in amazement (and maybe a tiny bit of shock). She put it down on the counter and said, "I think it's really nice to give this hair to someone who really needs it." And she nodded. I agreed and we spent the next half hour playing with her new, tousled A-line cut. "It feels good" she kept repeating. "It feels good."

It most certainly does.

Jump in the Pool

Comments

that is so sweet. i love that she kept saying it felt good- most likely in more ways than one!
what a special moment to have shared.

Posted by: carey | 06/01/2007 at 05:05 AM

The new cut is really adorable. And don't you love that you're raising such a generous, loving child??

Posted by: Alissa | 06/01/2007 at 05:06 AM

What a great memory this will be for you and your daughter in 20 years. And how beautifully told by you ;-)

Posted by: Jen | 06/01/2007 at 06:54 AM

What a great moment and a great gift. You are raising a very sweet little girl.

Posted by: Stacy | 06/01/2007 at 08:11 AM

Sigh...so sweet. My girl did the same thing mid-Winter, though (wisely for her since I cannot cut a straight line to save my life) she did go to the salon for it!

Posted by: Delia | 06/01/2007 at 08:58 AM

What a precious, giving young lady and a beautiful reflection of her mother.

Tell her this mom is very proud of her, and that I completely LOVE the after! You do realize how grown-up she looks with the new do, don't you?

Posted by: melody | 06/01/2007 at 09:28 AM

Thank you. . . I am now crying:)
Your daughter is beautiful inside and out.

Posted by: allie | 06/01/2007 at 01:39 PM

It is great the the word about Locks of Love is getting out there and our children are talking about it!! As a hairstylist I have been a part of a few donations. I cut by best friends daughters hair off a few months ago. She was so proud and felt so good!! We did too!
Your daughter has a big heart!! Good work MOM!

Here is the link to a digi scrap page I made for her...

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Posted by: Rachelle | 06/01/2007 at 05:31 PM