Yesterday the littles and I were heading over to my Aunt’s for some cousin time and to circle the wagons. As we traveled the familiar path, our Princess announced from the backseat, hairbrush in hand: “I just want my hair to look nice, and I’m worried that it doesn’t.”
Yes. We are those people. We keep a hairbrush in the car. (Maybe even two) It has made me a better Mama to be honest. Instead of losing it as we are trying to head out the door and realizing I need to send someone (HER usually) back to brush their hair and wait THAT MUCH LONGER to pull out of the driveway, we just get in the car and she (or you know, whoever) can deal with it there.
I looked in the rearview mirror and saw that she had actually already brushed it and pulled it into a side ponytail style of sorts. It looked brushed, and really, that’s all I’m aiming for.
I was actually impressed. This is the child whom my great Aunt W once looked at and commented, “She sure is pretty. She’d be even prettier if you’d brush her hair.”
What could I say? I was busted. She was right. Our girl has never been a fan of having her hair brushed.
So you can understand why I was VERY confused that my child was suddenly so concerned about the condition of her hair.
She was brushing it and looking quite serious. “Do you want to know why I’m so worried about my hair?”
Well, ummm, YEAH. “Sure. I’d love to know.”
“Well I want Aunt to know how glad I am to see her. See, I heard that if you show up just thrown together and everything, it will seem like you aren’t glad to be there and you don’t care about that person. And I don’t want Aunt to think I don’t care. So I want my hair to look nice.”
Well.
For the love.
I’m not sure where she acquired such information, and I do intend to ask her, only I keep forgetting in the busy-ness of our day to dailies, but I will. I mean, it’s not a bad thing to do, putting yourself together because you care. Still, I am curious as to where she might have come across information such as that…..the mind boggles.
Tonight I’m thankful for my Aunt, the one our Princess loves enough to brush her hair for. (And y’all know that’s some for real, no kidding love.) I’m thankful for Cousins and laughter and dancing in the rain. For cups of coffee around a kitchen table and holding on to love and stories and the need to be together. I wouldn’t trade anything for my time with my people, and that I can have that, I am eternally grateful.
May you all have someone so happy to be with you they’re willing to do just about anything to show it–even brushing their hair.
Love to all.
I Might Need A Nap 