Shearing of the Lamb

It was a year ago that the Grand Experiment began. Kohai wanted to grow his hair long to eventually pull it back into a ponytail so we decided to indulge him. I think mostly out of curiosity to see how far this would go. It didn't turn out the way he wanted it to, sad to say.

You see, he didn't have long, straight flowing locks, but a mass of long, curly ringlets. His hair was gorgeous and envied by all, mostly me. My hair is curly, but not this kind of curly. If left alone to its own devices to air dry, my hair is a fluffy cloud of waves and curls that looks more like a lion's mane. And that's why I blow it out, straighten, then curl it, much to the confusion and amusement of the Hubs.

But enough about my hair woes, on to Kohai's. Every one loved his curls but him. He hated them and the compliments that it would garner. He doesn't take a compliment very well, he would get so embarrassed any time people would fawn over his hair. And fawn they would, everyone from aunts, grandmothers, teachers and girls in his classes.

For the past few weeks he's been asking for a haircut, and for the past few weeks we've been asking if he was positively sure that was what he wanted. He was positive. His hair was too much trouble for him, he wanted it short again. So on Saturday I mournfully took him to our local barber for his haircut.

It was a younger barber that had the task of cutting his hair. He looked a little daunted by Kohai's mass of curls and as he stared contemplating a strategy for cutting, I asked him a favor. There were grandmothers, aunts and probably a couple of his teachers that would want a lock of his hair, so I presented the barber with a baggie to see if he could fill it with a few memento curls.

I know Kohai felt a pound lighter than when he went in, and I have to say he looks even handsomer with shorter hair. This isn't a mother's bias talking, I can't help it if I have a good looking kid. I'm sure I'll hear all about the reaction to his new look at school when I get home this evening.

There was a draw back to having a shorter haircut he discovered, his neck gets cold. I told him he could either grow his hair out again or invest in some turtle neck shirts. Think he's choosing to live with it.