A Deliberate Act of Kindness and Purposeful Beauty

My six-year-old has been growing out her hair for Locks of Love. It has taken two years. Tons of shampoo and even more conditioner. More ponytail holders than I can count. And lots of tears as we brushed out tangles. It is finally long enough to cut. It actually has been for several months, but we wanted to wait until after her spring dance. She has some amazing hair for the perfect "ballerina bun."

Now my child can be very sweet. But she is a strong-willed youngest of four. As a matter of survival, she has had to guard her possessions doggedly. She is attached to EVERYTHING. This is the kid that cries when we pass on clothes that no longer fit her to someone else.

So when it actually came time to do the deed, I really didn't think she would go through with it. But, as frequently happens on this mom journey, I totally underestimated her. She was fabulous!

The first thing she did afterward was run to the mirror, spend ten minutes doing her "6 going on 16 modeling pose," and come back and announce that she definitely thought her haircut made her look older.