I keep waiting. All day I have been waiting. For what? I'm not sure.
Yesterday, my 18-month-old got his first haircut. I was nervous. I feel, especially for a boy, that first haircut can be very "defining" - girls often don't get their first haircut for years! I felt for me, this would be some kind of turning point. From babyhood to little boy.
Would he hate it? (he did!).
Would he still be cute? (he is!).
Would he still look like my baby? (he does. mostly.).
Would he look older? (yes.).
The haircut itself was a bit traumatic. For both mom and baby. I put on my brave face and tried to console him. Inside I was freaking out because he was crying so much. If you want, you can watch the YouTube video, but I'm not embedding it because, frankly, this is the EDITED version and it still contains too much crying for me to handle.
Here's before the haircut... my unsuspecting son playing at Mima's. All morning I had asked him, "Who's going to cut your hair?" and he would purse his little lips and say, "Suuuee!" (Auntie Sue). Look at those blonde curls!
And here's during the haircut. Oh my, right? Could he be more traumatized? It probably didn't help that he didn't get his afternoon nap!
There were moments of laughter, and we got him distracted several times but overall, this was the face for about ten minutes! The cries he made were the most pitiful I've ever heard out of him!! And guess what, he called for DADDY! Not Mommy!! Sadness.
I saved two curls in clear vellum scrapbooking bags for the baby book! Finally, he was cut and calmed. Sitting on the front steps by the old blue mailbox. My little boy. All grown up. I appreciated that his aunt left some of his curls in back. I would have missed them too much if they'd been tapered off completely. Maybe next time. Although with all the crying, I'm not sure there WILL be a next time!
Today was day two of the haircut. This morning, I wondered how I'd feel going into his room and not seeing that halo of blond curls sticking up from his sleepy head. I'll admit it was a little odd to see him so trim, but I was tickled to find that the top of his head only got MORE curly from sleep!
So all day today, I've been waiting. I guess I'm waiting for the baby boy to peek out at me ... just a little. And although sometimes if he turns his head just right, I get a glimpse, a tuft of curl from behind an ear. But I think my son has gone full-fledged into the toddler years with this haircut.
I guess we are really leaving babyhood behind now. Good thing nobody is videotaping me!
Did you find your baby's first haircut to be a milestone moment for you or your baby? Is there any way to make haircuts more pleasant in the future!
We still warn the neighbors when it's haircut day so no one calls child protective services on us. We cut it in the back yard and T Rex sobs loudly saying, "I'm feeling a bit sad..." endlessly. It's still torture. Come to think of it - I think my little guy is about due for another hair cut - dread setting in.
Asher still looks adorable and those curls will grow again. You'll be doing it all over all too soon. But I bet with time it will get better - I hope.
We still warn the neighbors when it's haircut day so no one calls child protective services on us. We cut it in the back yard and T Rex sobs loudly saying, "I'm feeling a bit sad..." endlessly. It's still torture. Come to think of it - I think my little guy is about due for another hair cut - dread setting in.
Asher still looks adorable and those curls will grow again. You'll be doing it all over all too soon. But I bet with time it will get better - I hope.
ok I am NEVER cutting his hair! You are a brave mama and I am not showing Hubby that you cut his hair because I am not giving in! 🙂
A. looks adorable. Like a little man. Growing up!
ok I am NEVER cutting his hair! You are a brave mama and I am not showing Hubby that you cut his hair because I am not giving in! 🙂
A. looks adorable. Like a little man. Growing up!
Look at those curls. Such a cutie pie! My little one has had his hair cut every month at least since 12 months old and never cried until the last 2. Oh my gosh now there are lots of tears and yelling OW and fake sneezing every step of the way. Now I totally dread hair cut days.
Look at those curls. Such a cutie pie! My little one has had his hair cut every month at least since 12 months old and never cried until the last 2. Oh my gosh now there are lots of tears and yelling OW and fake sneezing every step of the way. Now I totally dread hair cut days.
Adorable. I remember my children's first hair cut. Brings back memories...They were all over a year old before they got it cut because of a superstitious thing my family believes in. They said it was bad luck to cut their hair before they turned 1.
You know I did not think about that. But I do remember having to be very careful around the soft spot.
Adorable. I remember my children's first hair cut. Brings back memories...They were all over a year old before they got it cut because of a superstitious thing my family believes in. They said it was bad luck to cut their hair before they turned 1.
You know I did not think about that. But I do remember having to be very careful around the soft spot.
Aww, the poor boy! My son will be 18 months on October 1st, and people have started asking me about his hair...his looks almost exactly like Asher's did before. I don't know if I could bear to chop those curls all off... but I know it has to happen sometime. *sniff*
Oh goodness, I forgot to say that Asher does look adorble with his new big boy haircut!!! 🙂
Aww, the poor boy! My son will be 18 months on October 1st, and people have started asking me about his hair...his looks almost exactly like Asher's did before. I don't know if I could bear to chop those curls all off... but I know it has to happen sometime. *sniff*
Oh goodness, I forgot to say that Asher does look adorble with his new big boy haircut!!! 🙂
Oh, Julie! I'm crying with you... (You write so well!) I, too, will cry when the time comes for the precious little curls to be trimmed on my Baby Boy. Maybe we can hold out until 18M, too? (She says with a definite note of hope in her voice...) 🙂
But the post that *really* made me cry was: "So he weaned..." I know that day is coming, too -- but I'm hoping it, too, will be about six months away. As frustrating as nursing can be at times, I'm treasuring the awesome experience that it is. I'm *so* thankful! (Thanks for sharing a glimpse into the heart of motherhood with that post!)
On the other hand, E loved her first haircut -- right before her fourth b-day. There's a local place that offers "Baby's First Haircut for $0.01! She got to play with an interactive toy while she got a very simple trim, plus bangs. (Those were a mistake, but that's another topic...) They also curled and French-braided her hair. Fun stuff for a Little Girl!
Oh, Julie! I'm crying with you... (You write so well!) I, too, will cry when the time comes for the precious little curls to be trimmed on my Baby Boy. Maybe we can hold out until 18M, too? (She says with a definite note of hope in her voice...) 🙂
But the post that *really* made me cry was: "So he weaned..." I know that day is coming, too -- but I'm hoping it, too, will be about six months away. As frustrating as nursing can be at times, I'm treasuring the awesome experience that it is. I'm *so* thankful! (Thanks for sharing a glimpse into the heart of motherhood with that post!)
On the other hand, E loved her first haircut -- right before her fourth b-day. There's a local place that offers "Baby's First Haircut for $0.01! She got to play with an interactive toy while she got a very simple trim, plus bangs. (Those were a mistake, but that's another topic...) They also curled and French-braided her hair. Fun stuff for a Little Girl!
I love the new haircut and the bit of curls left in the back. I don't see why you couldn't keep this 'style' for awhile. As for making haircuts more pleasant, sometimes I just think there are some kids that just don't like haircuts. My teenager still doesn't care much for them. Perhaps that's because he was born looking like a monkey and had to start getting hair cuts so early on.
I love the new haircut and the bit of curls left in the back. I don't see why you couldn't keep this 'style' for awhile. As for making haircuts more pleasant, sometimes I just think there are some kids that just don't like haircuts. My teenager still doesn't care much for them. Perhaps that's because he was born looking like a monkey and had to start getting hair cuts so early on.