My oldest daughter has beautiful long blonde hair. She loves it long, so we keep it long. However, she doesn't quite grasp that it still needs to be trimmed from time to time. Every time we go for a hair trim, she panics in fear that the beautician will "accidentally cut it short."
Last week, as we awaited the arrival of baby sister, I chose to do a few fun things with my girls and treated my oldest to a special trip to Sugar and Spice Kid's Salon for a trim and nail polish (Tip: check the December issue of KC Parent Magazine for a Coupon on pg. 53).
As we drove to the salon, I was admonished from the back seat to be sure they don't cut too much and was repeatedly told how much she loves her long hair and wants it to remain long so it can be curled for Christmas. I reassured her that it was just a trim so her hair would be healthy and nice, but the skepticism was painted clearly across her face as we walked through the door of Sugar and Spice.
We were greeted by the beautician who escorted my daughter to a selection of special kids' chairs, from animal seats to sports cars... she could sit anywhere she chose. After selecting a yellow convertible to "ride in" and drive (she loved the gas pedal), and choosing a DVD to watch while her hair was trimmed... suddenly she relaxed and this wasn't going to be so bad after all. She instructed the stylist "not to cut too much" and then she drove her little car while the stylist clipped. I was relieved, after clearly remembering her cowering and crying at her last trim... it wasn't fun! The distractions worked and she was thrilled.
My youngest colored at a play table with Mickey Mouse and Princess chairs as we waited.
After the trim, her nails were polished with sparkly silver paint for the holidays. I asked her as we drove home if she had fun and she said, "I guess it was a success. It is still long and now I my nails are sparkly for Christmas!" Victory!