It is Spirit Day, today, at the boys school.
And, in addition to just wearing your Spirit Day clothing, it’s Crazy Hair day.
Never a problem when Monkey Girl’s school has Crazy Hair day.
Her hair can be fairly crazy on a normal day.
However, I’ve got two boys with tight crew cuts.
Crazy Hair day and my boy’s hair doesn’t quite mix.
However, it’s been a few weeks since I last took the electric clippers to their hair, so we had a little to work with.
A little.
Last night, at dinner, Baby Monkey decided he wanted me to shave a mohawk in his hair.
It’s the best I could do with his hair as short as it was.
He had hoped for a crazy, punk-like mohawk, but based on the fact that he can’t stop looking at it in the mirror, I think he’s happy.
But then, he’s always happy.
So easy to please.
Then it was time to think about Monkey in the Middle.
He was NOT down with the mohawk.
He can barely tolerate a regular haircut.
A mid-season shave wasn’t going to happen.
So, we brainstormed.
He decided we should use hairspray and try to make it stick up as much as possible.
Great idea.
Except I don’t have hairspray.
I don’t have hairspray or mousse or gel or any other hair product, other than shampoo and conditioner.
And, apparently, this makes me mean.
Apparently, the reason I stopped using hair products, once I graduated from high school, is because someday, I knew I would have a 7 year old boy who would need hairspray for Crazy Hair day, and I wanted to be sure that he couldn’t participate.
Apparently, my lack of hairspray is a direct reflection of my lack of love for my 7 year old son.
Apparently, my low-maintenance cosmetic lifestyle means that I love one of my kids less than I love the other three.
At least, this is what Monkey in the Middle was telling me last night.
After some books and some cuddling, there were apologies (from him) and assurances that we’d figure something out (from me) and he slept.
Around 5:30 this morning, however, I woke to the uncanny feeling that someone was staring at me.
I opened my eyes to find Monkey in the Middle standing next to my side of the bed.
“So, what are we going to do with my hair?” he whispered.
And so it began again.
We tried using Monkey Girl’s detangler to see if it might dry hard and make his half a centimeter long strands of hair stand straight up, but to no avail.
By 6:00 am, I was online looking up homemade hairspray recipes and Googling things like “Will Jell-O powder stain the skin?” and “Food Coloring for Hair?”
We were both exasperated and frustrated and about ready to give up when I finally said, “How about stickers?”
He looked at me blankly.
“Why don’t we cover your hair in stickers? That’s kinda crazy, right?”
He loved it.
The stickers took hold of those little strands of hair and held on strong.
And so, while it may not have been the craziest hair of the day, it made him feel like a part of it all.
And we’re good.
Until January.
OMG! I love it! So glad that I am not the only parent who deliberately ruins her children’s lives by not having exactly the right thing here, or being able to prevent something, etc.
You had me laughing.
And, once again – you surface as a hero – stickers? I would not have thought of it at 6am. But – I would have suggested food coloring colored spots – or a rainbow of colors from markers (who cares if they are washable???? – crazy hair day can be anytime! – well, except for the week before school pics)
Comment by ckcorcoran — December 16, 2011 @ 2:42 pm |
You lucked out with the stickers! I made the mistake of telling my 14 year old daughter that I had a friend in high school who regularly dyed his hair with Kool Aid. A few days later, I awoke to see red splattered all over the bathroom sink, faucet and walls! My first thoughts were, “oh, no! Some kid was bleeding in here over night!!!” Then it dawned on me that it was red Kook Aid! Her dark brown hair was very lightly tinted and there were red stains on her forehead. She didn’t attempt that again!
Comment by doriskathlene — December 17, 2011 @ 10:40 am |
Ok, so next time you need hairspray, just call or text and I’ll bring it down the street. I also never have the right thing for my daughter. She always seems to tell me at the last minute these days when she needs something specific like an orange or green shirt, and when I tell her that the reason she doesn’t have those colors is because she doesn’t like to wear them, it’s still my fault somehow. Welcome to the preteen years . Oy !!!
Comment by allison — March 23, 2013 @ 8:22 am |
LOL…I’ll definitely give you a call. When this post originally went live, a friend of mine brought over a bottle of styling spray. It has been in the back of the closet since then. Probably doesn’t even work anymore. So far, Monkey Girl is pretty low maintenance, but lord help me if she changes!
Comment by WordPress.com Support — March 23, 2013 @ 11:47 am |
Very nice! BTW, my 17 year old son (born the Old Man) would never have allowed me to do him up like that for Spirit Days. It was (and still is) beneath his dignity to take part in such festivities,lol. WTG, Mom and Little Monkey for doing Crazy Hair Day up right. 🙂
Comment by Michelle K. — March 23, 2013 @ 10:34 am |
[…] You can read about the Crazy Hair day of the past here. […]
Pingback by Crazy Hair Day Revisited | My Real Life — June 13, 2013 @ 7:40 am |
I have a single child it is a nightmare when it comes to crazy hair such short hair
Comment by Guyguy — March 23, 2017 @ 2:16 pm |