It was a day almost a year in the making–the day my eight-year-old daughter, Emily, was going to get her hair chopped off for Locks of Love. She orginally got the idea when she saw George Parros, of the Anaheim Ducks, cut off his long black hair for charity. Though she wanted to do it with him this winter (read that story here), the morning drama and the heat of the season got to be too much for her. She got it cut off and donated her hair this summer to Locks of Love.
I think it was harder on me than her. I was surprised I was so nervous about it. As we drove to the "salon" I felt nostalgic looking at her long locks and worried a little about what lay ahead. I remember too clearly the hair fiascos in my own past–frizzy perms,misguided asymmetrical bobs, and hair made orange by Sun-in. I worried for about half the drive, then I started to think about the moms whose daughters have cancer. How their worries and fears leap far past my frivolous concerns. And once again, I was surprised by my own pettiness. (When does that stop happening?) I snapped out of it and pulled out my camera.
Emily was unwavering and chatty through the entire thing. She proudly held up her ponytail to the camera and eagerly shoved it into the baggy. I have to admit, that ponytail was a little creepy, like carrying one of her limbs around in a ziplock. You don't realize how much your hair is a part of you until you see it severed and lonely through plastic. I guess that's all the more reason to support Locks of Love. Kids with cancer have already lost so much, this was a minor sacrifice in comparison.
Now Emily is asking all her friends to join her to grow their hair out for next year. She already has two friends on board and is hoping that this post will get more friends to participate. Email me at suzbroughton@yahoo.com if your daughter is inspired. Maybe we can do a Locks of Love party when it's time to get it lopped off…
Quite a few girls have done this in my daughters grade 5 class. Amazing little people! Kudos to you and your baby! What a gift.
I am so proud of Emily. And of YOU too.
My 9yo son! just did it. So proud!
Such a beautiful child. Inside and out….
so rad! 🙂
What a great kid you have, and what a great cause! I almost forgot about Sun-in, now I’m remembering the smell. 🙂
Such a great thing to do!
What a darling girl!
thank you emily for being so selfless.
If I had any hair I would love to participate. Unfortunately..
Ha, ha. I turned my hair orange with sun-in, too. Fried it with perm solution also. Never had the kind of hair that could be donated, but several of my relatives do and have donated to Locks of Love. Give your daughter a big hug (I’m sure you have done so many times by now) for being so sweet and selfless.
I’ll bet you’re proud! And having seen her…she suits her new hair. 🙂
It was so, so great meeting you and your family, Suz!! You are just lovely and a breath of fresh air.
What a wonderful little girl. So funny about Sun-in. I had more than one melt-down related to that stupid product.
It’s truly touching. She has a lot of courage!!
Kas Plateau: http://infobybvc.blogspot.com/2009/09/kas-plateau.html
What a cool idea. I cut mine off for lock of love after my oldest was born. I thought I would miss it but I think knowing it went to such a great charity made it easy to cope.
The asymmetric bob…oh the memories. I should try and find a picture of me with 1. an asymmetric bob and 2. my super orange Sun-In hair. I know there’s a few tucked away somewhere.
That’s so sweet of her! I actually have fallen in love with synthetic wigs lately – different styles/colors at the drop of a pin! I think I’ll get my real hair cut/donate it to something like this, too!
What a wonderful little girl you have! I don’t know that my DD’s hair would get long enough to cut it off. She doesn’t like it getting too long anymore. I cut off my hair for LOL a few year’s ago. Yeah, 12 inches was a lot to lose, but it went for a great charity.