Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Growing out, growing up

I'm growing my hair out. You know, it's really not fair. It took a few minutes and a few snips of the scissors to cut off 12 inches, three years ago. Why can't it be that easy to grow it out?

With the back growing over my collar it was starting to look like a mullet, or as my sister calls it, Carol Brady hair. It doesn't help that my cowlicks were making one side look longer than the other in the back. And I was getting tired of wearing the same headbands over and over.



So with encouragement from some friends, I went out and got a cut. I was putting it off, not wanting to get rid of length when I'm trying to grow it out. But I'm so glad I did it. It actually looks like a style now (instead of grown-out short hair on a good day and a dead, greasy animal on a bad day.) I should have done this a couple of months ago.



It got me to thinking. As I'm growing my hair out, my kids are growing up. The kid growth is definitely a longer process...and kids go through far more "awkward" phases.

It seems that just when I feel like everything is going smoothly, we enter another of those phases. Akin to split ends and a mullet-ish look, suddenly my old ways of doing things just don't work anymore. Whether it's potty training, discipline, or even childproofing, I start to feel like a rookie mom again.

When we hit those times, part of me knows I need to make a change but I tend to put it off. Then when I finally shake things up and change the way I'm doing things, it's usually quite refreshing. Suddenly I have a comfortable parenting style again instead of one that's grown out...or rather, outgrown.

Recently we were working on potty training Chickie and sleep training Zoodle. At the same time. Those are two pretty major things, and they both require a lot more time and frustration than a haircut. In both cases, however, as I started to see the fruits of the changes we were making, part of me wished we'd started "cutting" earlier. Our old parenting styles were getting pretty shaggy since our kids had outgrown them.

Thanks to a good haircut, I feel like growing out my hair is going pretty well. And thanks to a lot of grace from God, and a lot of work, my kids are a joy as they are growing up. Having good kids is one of the deepest desires of my mommy heart.

But I'll be honest--having a good hairstyle makes me pretty happy too.

14 comments:

Sandra said...

So well written and wise, Beth. You have obviously inherited your dad's talent for words.

And I absolutely love your new cut. Pretty hair on a pretty woman.

beckiwithani said...

Very, very cute! And aren't you glad you got it cut before your unexpected fame? :)

You just need to get it highlighted so we can look like twins again...

Anna said...

Great cut! I remember growing out my bangs while potty training my 1st, it was a double struggle, so I know what you mean!

Special K said...

Cute hair! Great words. So true!

Becky said...

I love your new cut! I'm also trying to grow out my hair, and understand your frustration at how slow the process is.

Why is it, with kids, the minute you think you've finally figured out the game, they go and change the rules on you? It's good for our mental agility, I guess.

Brave Sir Robin said...

Alas, I have bad hair an any length.

C. Beth said...

Sandra--Thank you so much!

Becki--Yeah, regarding that fame thing.... I keep expecting the morning news shows to call but they haven't yet. Barack who?! What about me?

Anna--Thanks! Yeah, it might be nice to stagger these things. :)

Special K--Thank you!

Becky--Yes, maybe they just want to keep us on our toes!

Brave Sir Robin--That's too bad...how about shaving it? I hear it's very freeing!

Unknown said...

I have a theory that a good hair day can overcome just about any ickiness...

mullensfam said...

love the hair! Too cute!

C. Beth said...

Ellebee--I like that theory!

Mullensfam--Thank you!!

Anonymous said...

Hey! I found your blog randomly in the "blogs of note" area and just wanted to say I really enjoy reading about your "musings" ! :)

Ps, the haircut looks great!

C. Beth said...

Mia Leigh--Thank you! I'm so glad you are reading. :)

Other Mother said...

there's nothing like a new haircut to give a mommy a lift. it can make you feel 10 times lighter!

C. Beth said...

Jade--Yes, it's a great self esteem boost, isn't it! Anything that makes me feel like I'm not a mommy who's let myself go, is a good thing.