A few days ago, I took this picture of Hayley:

Her hair grows fast and since I had cut her hair back in March, it was already getting long again. Actually, hang on, I’m a little stunned at how quickly it grew. Anyway, brushing it was once again becoming an exercise in patience – for myself and also for all the neighbours within a hundred yards who could hear her screaming and wailing. The thought of having to deal with that every morning before school was enough to make me consider dreads just to avoid ever brushing it again.

Instead of dreads, after Breanna woke up from her nap, I left her at home with George and Hayley and I walked to the salon and I got her hair cut. I could have theoretically done it myself but I figured she’d enjoy the experience and she really did, even though she was shy.

Overall, she’s pretty good when I wash her hair now (especially compared to Breanna who hates it with the passion of a thousand fiery suns), but she’s not crazy about it. She liked having it washed in the big sink though, and loved the smells of the shampoo, conditioner, and cream rinse that she got.

(P.S. – Those crocs are totally NOT MY FAULT.)

She was also a big fan of the bright cape that she got to wear. Note that she brought Willy the orca with her.

I think this was the hardest part for her – keeping her head down and still. For one thing, she kept trying to peek into the mirror, and then she also kept trying to turn to talk to me. I had to stop taking pictures after this because the hairdresser asked me if I could stand on one side and help hold Hayley’s head. She’s a mom too and she said when she cuts her 5-year-old daughter’s hair at home, she gets her to straddle a kitchen chair and rest her forehead on the back because it’s just too hard for them to keep their big old heavy head still.

When the hair cut was done, the hairdresser brought Hayley over to the big old hair dryers and sat her under it. Hayley thought it was *hilarious* and was fascinated by it. I told her she looked like she was about to blast off into outer space with her big space helmet; she immediately burst into song, singing the “We’re going to Mars” song from one of the Backyardigans episodes. Of course, I’m a giant dork fan of the show, so I sang along.

Her hair was still a bit damp when we left but it looked so cute! And it was hot and sunny so it was dry by the time we walked back home.

She literally skipped about 3/4 of the way home. She really wanted to go to the dollar store for some hair bands and clips but I knew she’d be too tired to walk all the way there and back by then so we’ll save that for another day.

She was a bit worried no one would recognize her but Breanna greeted her with a big “Hi ‘Ayley!” and a hug at the door, so she was relieved. Then she spent a great deal of time at home looking at herself in the mirror. After supper I actually caught her standing in front of our metal bread box, staring and preening at herself in the reflection of the door. I think it’s accurate to say that she loves it.

Me too.