LIFE LESSONS - HIDE THE SCISSORS

I must admit that I was a bit self-congratulatory every time I heard one of those nightmare stories about little girls cutting big chunks out of their hair.  After all, I'd made it 5 1/2 years without so much as an attempt by my children at self-styling.  I invested in Melissa & Doug safety scissors that were guaranteed not to cut hair, clothing, or skin (they don't even cut paper that well, but such is the price one must pay to save one's children's hair).

I guess what happened was really a result of several different events, a "perfect storm," if you will.  First, I noticed that the cherubs' hair was getting long and, consequentially, harder to brush without tantrums.  So, I off-handedly mentioned to Bean that she and Cakes were going to need haircuts.

Later that day, Bean was helping Grammy in the garden, using scissors to cut weeds while Grammy planted vegetables.  As Grammy watched Bean, she was reminded of the time I cut my own hair when I was three years old.  She chuckled as she shared this story with Bean.

Now, combine the last two paragraphs with a five-year-old's (non-existent) patience level, and disaster is sure to ensue.  I'll blame it on the shingles, but somehow no alarm bells went off when Bean later said to me, "Mom, I'm going to go pray to Jesus," walked into her room, and shut the door.

When she came out 15 minutes later, she was missing several large chunks of hair, including a big piece from the front, and was carrying a hairball roughly four inches in diameter.  Well, the deed was done, so there was no use panicking after the fact.  I calmly explained to her that only grown-ups who know how to cut hair should cut hair.  Then I made a quick call to Aunt Kimmy, who is a hairdresser, and had her come fix everything.  Six inches of hair was removed from Bean (and Cakes, who was not about to be left out of the hair-cutting festivities), and we all assumed she had learned her lesson.

But yesterday, Grampy was complaining of a headache.  Bean offered to rub his head to make him feel better.  After rubbing his head for a few minutes, Bean observed, "Grampy, your hair sure is getting long."  From behind her back, Bean pulled out a pair of scissors ...