Monday, January 17, 2011

i have a dream (too)

I'm not sure if it's my desire to save a buck ... or my desire to save time ... or perhaps in some delusional way, I actually think I can do a decent job ... but for whatever the reason, or compilation of reasons, I continue to cut my children's hair.

Despite my history.

Have I ever mentioned that I've always wanted to be a cosmetologist and wield scissors and cut hair so it looks good? Tonight I continued to pursue that dream, as I gave my boys a haircut.

Not to brag or anything, but I actually think I'm getting better. I cut one of the boy's hair first, and then the second. And then Charlie came along and told me that he thought the second one definitely came out a lot better than the first. And I told him that since I was improving, maybe he could go third? But he'd have to pay me first. Snort.

Oh please. Is it terribly obvious who went first?

DSC_0007

As I was cutting William's hair, he told me that he hoped it came out really nice, because apparently, there is a girl in his class with whom he is quite smitten. I was so focused on not chopping off an ear, I didn't respond.

He continued, "She is so nice, Mom. Guess what? Luke L. fell down doing the jump rope and a lot of kids laughed at him, but she didn't laugh. She helped him up and showed him how to jump so he wouldn't trip again. Guess what? SHE IS A REALLY GOOD JUMP ROPER. And guess what else? One day Sophie forgot her snack but she shared her snack. Isn't that nice? And guess what else? She is really good in school because she knows all her numbers and she can read."

He stared off in space, with a love struck look across his face, before adding, "Did you know that I always like to sit next to her on the bus? But sometimes she is sitting with someone else and I don't get mad, I just say, "That's OK!" even though it hurts my heart?"

With his beautiful eyes, he gazed up at me and concluded, "Next to my sisters and you, Mom, I think she might be my favorite girl in the world."

Oh mercy, the sweetness of a six-year-old boy. It is unparalleled.

Tonight, just before bed, the children showed me a video that had been created of their entire kindergarten class singing a song about Dr. Martin Luther King.

I've volunteered in the children's classroom before but I couldn't place William's crush. So tonight, as we watched the video and the camera panned the room, it caught me by surprise when William excitedly pointed out his crush and I saw that she had dark brown skin.

Dr. King! Dr. King!
Dr. King was a civil rights leader!

Dr. King! Dr. King!
He had a dream!

He wanted everybody to love one another!
He wanted everybody to love one another!
He wanted everybody to love one another!
That was his dream!

Dr. King! Dr. King!
Dr. King was a civil rights leader!

Dr. King! Dr. King!
He had a dream!


In August of 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King said, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

In January of 2011, I'd say that Dr. King's dream is very much alive.

Especially for my little boy.

*************

"Mom, I really hope that my haircut looks good so that she will stare at me all day, tomorrow."

Well, son, she very well might. But I'll tell you what... next time YOU can go SECOND.

Oops. My dream has yet to come to fruition.

19 comments:

  1. How precious! You have a very special young man.
    A little advice, and I really don't mean to hurt your feelings...but let the professionals do the hair. That is what they went to school to learn:) My grandson had a horrible haircut (by his mom) for his 2nd bday and that is all I see in all his pictures. In my opinion it ruined every picture taken. It was a crooked mohawk! I will gladly take him and pay for all the haircuts he needs for the rest of his life.
    Kathy

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  2. OH MY WORD. WHAT DID YOU DO TO THAT CHILD'S HAIR????

    Okay. William is a sweet doll, but I am showing that picture to my sister. She might not let you go on our cruise now. You are FORBIDDEN to touch the scissors. FORBIDDEN.

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  3. How very sweet - don't you just love the way children see people for who they are?

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  4. Wow. How cute! I love this post. :)

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  5. Kathy, I am cracking up. Let the professionals cut his hair?? Are you also suggesting that I have no idea what I'm doing?? You don't see ANY improvement?

    Don't worry, I'm not offended.

    I do take them to professionals, just not very often because their hair grows SO fast. I'd be in that salon ALL THE TIME. Fact: I haven't been in to get my hair cut since July. JULY. I've made and canceled three appointments in the last two weeks because I've been so busy.

    You know, I've always wanted to be a cosmetologist. I've always wanted to know how to cut hair...

    I have a dream too, you know!!

    Heck. I might have to go change the title of this post.

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  6. That brought a tear to my eye (the bit about MLK, not the haircuts......though they are pretty bad!). William is so sweet, and his crush sounds like a sweet girl, too. Hope she sees past those crazy bangs ;)

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  7. Love the new title!
    Kathy

    Yes I did see improvement, but...not enough. Please don't make that child suffer again, he does have to go into public you know, lol.
    Kathy

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  8. Truly it's not your fault Jen. My Mother cuts her hair all the time. Snip here. Snip there. And then the hairdresser has to fix it. It's a Coleman thing. Part of the DNA.

    But some people; like our dear cousin Anne Marie... got it from her Father's side! She has many many talents in the field.

    YOU DON'T! Stick with saving the environment. For the sake of your own dignity Jen! PUT THE SCISSORS DOWN!

    If we need to we will take up a collection so that you can take them to a "specialist". Now that your in Virginia ~ a family intervention can and will be arranged... It has to stop.

    Leave those poor adorable children alone!! ;-) Love, Marg.

    (Cute post)

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  9. Precious, Priceless and Hilarious!! You may not have cosmotology in your near, near future but you sure tell amazing short stories that make me smile!! I hope he got to sit next to her on the bus this morning =)

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  10. Sorry, Jen... I have to agree with Kathy and Michele S!

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  11. Just put the sizzors down and slowly back a way. Gracie has beautiful hair as does Elizabeth, but PLEASE they will never get a date. Poor William he won't stand a chance.

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  12. I think he looks great and what a great time to remember his heart.It is not on the outside that is important, not color, or hair cut. I always cut our kids hair because I could not afford to go to a salon---and in the pictures they all laugh and say, "That is one of Mom's specials." Remember Wallly's stint as a barber. That Will is a sweetheart liking that girl because she helped others. I am so proud of him.
    I cut my hubby's hair and he would not go to a barber---so there.
    MOM

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  13. Continue to cut their hair, you did a fine job and YES their was a huge improvement :o) PLUS it's so crazy expensive when you x4 to leave it to the professionals! I still cut our 13 year old's hair -he loves the attention too and we'll go every few months for a pro job to get things realigned! How sweet about your boy's crush -out of the mouths of babes :o) reminds me of our daughter (who is now 24) always had to have "brown" Barbies because they were "prettier!"

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  14. hahaha ... oh poor little William. But he will be ok, it will grow - just like his heart. What a SWEET boy!

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  15. Hahaha poor William, its lucky he is so cute to carry it. Makes me laugh so much because it reminds me so much of the haircuts my dad used to give us when we were kids.
    That kid in his classs sounds like such a kind child, its no wonder he loves her.

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  16. Out of the mouths of babes. How wonderful that your raising color blind (in the best sense of the word) children. William is a delight.

    Oh and what Michele said.

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  17. Oh my, how did you get such a sweetie? I want to squeeze him.

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  18. Speaking of Maynard... and haircuts...as I recall you had a salon style chair, washbasin and hairdryer set up in your basement there! See, it wasn't just play we were engaged in but training for the future! The kids look great!!

    Marie

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  19. I'm still convinced that my social development in middle school was significantly stunted thanks to my mother and the 45 degree angle bangs she gave me.

    Although I think that middle school generally sucks for everyone, I've still found it in my heart to forgive her. I'm just that awesome. But she cannot come near me with scissors. Hahaha.

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