So I had a I just want to scream moment yesterday.I had washed the middle two daughters' hair and instructed HMG to wash her braids for a new round of take down, detangling and styling. I expected it to take all day but was so distressed that it took ALL DAY.
My plan was to split the work over two days, but ran out of steam on Thursday after finishing up with MG3. I gave myself a break. After all, I was working after an intense school day and trying to be done in time for a committee meeting. I decided to throw in the towel and work on MG2 and HMG's hair the next day. I seldom schedule a serious take down (HMG's small braids) with a matted detangle (MG2's quick wash without detangling) on the SAME day.
The plan was to give them both a corn rowed style, but I found myself struggling to get through detangling MG2's hair. Mocha Baby threw a monkey wrench into the process. She's walking--ALL OVER. She picks up the smallest things and tries to put them in her mouth. If anyone approaches as if to pick her up, she screeches in protest. She wants to roam the entire house--at will. This situation alone is challenging when I'm doing hair, but matters were compounded by the fact that MB has been trying to shake off a bad cold for over a week.
She was particularly cranky, wanting to be held ONLY by me. We've started the weaning process, but suddenly she wanted to nurse ALL DAY. Am I whining yet?
I was so distressed!
The easy flowing rivers of nappy hair I usually relish playing with had become roaring rapids, and I felt like I was navigating my way without a raft. I couldn't seem to find a working spray bottle anywhere. I found myself doing stupid stuff like dipping my hands in water and trying to force it through MG2's very tangled and matted hair. FAIL. It all felt insurmountable.
Poor MG2. We were flash-backing to the days of her screaming, "Ow! That hurts!" with me insisting, "STOP fussing, it doesn't hurt that bad!"
Meanwhile, MB screamed by my chair wanting to be picked up. The true moment of madness revealed itself later as I struggled to removed one of HMG's small braids with one hand, while simultaneously trying to nurse and console MB, who was cradled in my other arm. My back was killing me and I was wishing to be anywhere else.
I really should have stopped.
I should have let the fuzz prevail a little longer. We were attending a couple of social functions that weekend, and I was pushing myself to give the girls a certain look. Ya'll know what I'm talking about.
In the end, I fashioned some quick styles for the girls and am allowing HMG to enjoy a braid out for the rest of the week. I can usually get a couple of weeks out of styles I invest more time into. We'll probably be styling again next week, but I plan to be smarter. It's just NOT worth it.
Whenever I'm doing my daughter's hair, I think "what am I going to do if I have more girls?" I see now that if there are more girls in our future that I will definitely have to get more organized.
ReplyDeleteHi Natacha,
ReplyDeleteWhat objectivity! That's such power for the course. And what beautiful, healthy looking hair in the photos. Thanks for sharing.
I couldnt imagine having to do this its enough having to do my daughter's hair and also do my own.
ReplyDeleteWOW! I feel stressed out for you! Lol... I have 3 daughters... I can't imagine having 4 and one a baby!! I feel for you. Sometimes doing hair can be frustrating. I admire your dedication.
ReplyDeleteI have a ahrd time with ONE set of hair and I'm not talking about my own... You are motivating me to try harder cause hair is definitly not my thing :)
ReplyDeleteYou are awesome, and their hair are so well kept, such a great example!
I only have ONE head to do and there are days when I feel this way. My little boy wants to be so into everything I and his sister are doing, that it proves difficult to do hair at times. I now often try to wait until he's napping for this reason :). I have a quick question for ya.....my little girl will be 3 in December and still doesn't have much hair around her temples....is this normal?
ReplyDeleteThanks Ladies!
ReplyDelete@Staci
It really depends. If you know you're not doing anything to stress those areas it could just be her natural growth process. All my babies had very fine hair on the sides and blad spots in the back. They were about three before everything kind of thickened up--it happened gradually.
I don't know how you do it! I have one daughter, and I feel like I have to really plan when I'm going to do her hair (full-on). Whew! It's so great that you take such good care of your girls though; they'll appreciate it (someday:))!
ReplyDelete