Brush it or cut it, your choice...
By TheRealDawn
@dawnald (85146)
Shingle Springs, California
December 15, 2009 10:59am CST
Naomi was a bit of a trial this morning. She was happy that I was able to get some strawberry Eggo waffles at the store. There's a shortage due to flooding at one of their factories if you haven't heard. Anyway, when they came out of the toaster they were toasted to a lovely golden brown.
"Mooooommmmmm, I can't eat these. They're burnt."
"Huh? They're just toasted."
"I don't like them toasted."
Deep breath. Deep breath. Another deep breath.
"Naomi, you took them out, you toasted them, you eat them. Food costs money and you aren't going to throw away two perfectly good waffles just because you toasted them two seconds too long."
So I finish my breakfast and am going upstairs to get dressed and Naomi informs me that she's still hungry and can she have a granola bar. "Sure", I say, forgetting that I really should see if she actually ate her waffles first.
As she's munching her granola bar, I walk by the trash can and there are two Eggo waffles sitting on top, one of which has about two bites taken out of it.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Lecture number one about wasting food goes in one ear and out the other.
So we're upstairs getting ready and Naomi's brushing her hair. Which, as usual, is quite messy. Naomi's hair is a constant battle. So I take a brush and go over and start brushing the back over Naomi's loud protests. Well the dang hair is all tangled underneath. Big tangles.
She wouldn't let me brush it Sunday after her shower. She wouldn't let me brush it last night before she went to bed. Today it's a rat's nest.
Lecture number two about taking care of her hair gets an argument back about how none of the kids at school care what her hair looks like.
Wrong number.
Tonight she gets a choice. Take care of the hair or we're cutting it off.
Mom is putting the foot down. So there...
8 people like this
14 responses
@dmrone (746)
• United States
15 Dec 09
Hi, dawnald! It used to be just like what you are describing with all four of my daughters. My youngest has really fine hair and her hair would become the most tangled. I threatened to cut it off several times, but we had a hard time getting her hair to even grow at all. She was five years old before she even had enough hair on her head to put a barrette in. I was looking for something to help with the tangles and i finally found it. It is by John Frieda and it helps so much with the tangles, and you just spray it in and the tangles brush right out. I understand putting your foot down, but in case you really don't want to cut her hair, you can find it at WalMart. It really works and works good.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
15 Dec 09
My oldest was the same, really fine blond hair, and didn't have a full head of it until she was 5. But she takes care of her hair.
Now Naomi has really thick, slightly curly hair and it's a bit harder to take care of. We do use a detangler, but I hadn't tried the John Frieda. Maybe I'll give it a go.
1 person likes this
@dmrone (746)
• United States
15 Dec 09
Hi, hatley and dawnald! You are both quite welcome. I works great on thick hair also. My youngest was the only child i had that had fine hair. All three of my other girls hair is still thick and fll, but it worked great on their hair also. We had tried the no more tangles by johnson and johnson, but we had to use so much of it that it did not seem worth the price we paid. Of course we had to use a little more of the John Frieda on the thick hair, but not as much as the no more tangles. Best of luck to you both.
1 person likes this
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
16 Dec 09
Hi Dawn,
What a cute mom and daughter scene. i am imagining and following all that's happening in every scene of your story. i have a curly hair and when i was still a kid.om used to have it cut short--lesser stress in maintaining it. although i love ribbons and clips but i am not so good in fixing my hair so it's better to be short.
you are right, kids nowadays need to understand how important food is and avoid wastage. but i admire her for trying her best to toast the waffle for herself. she will be able to perfect if soon. thanks dawn for sharing this to us.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Dec 09
The waffles came out just right this morning. :-)
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
18 Dec 09
that's a good accomplishment for your daughter. i am happy for this wonderful improvement in her preparing the waffle. more lifeskills related achievements for her my dear friend!
1 person likes this
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
15 Dec 09
Hi Dawn. I never had that problem with five sons.
My granddaughter has long bright red hair and she loves it so she cares for it, and both her parents are often asked to brush it for her. They use a detangler spray but I wouldn't have a clue which one. When they stayed with us, she used my shampoo and conditioner and was in raptures about how smooth and tangle free her hair was, and she has not used a different brand since. They say her hair has never been so manageable.
I would imagine you would have Clairol Herbal Essences there. I wouldn't use anything else.
1 person likes this
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
15 Dec 09
It might take an extra lot of conditioner the first time, but after that a normal amount should keep it right.
If she doesn't like you in the shower with her, how about suggesting the old way of over the kitchen sink? If the alternative is a hair cut she might be willing to try anything.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
15 Dec 09
Yes we do have it. Silly me, I use Aussie. 
Among other things...
Maybe I'll see how she does with the Clairol.
Among other things...
Maybe I'll see how she does with the Clairol.@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
15 Dec 09
We will discuss it and see what solution the little darling can best live with! :-)
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
15 Dec 09
I think that's a good thing & maybe a little overdue. U have to make a believer out of them or i did my 2 sons.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
15 Dec 09
Especially when the twins hit teenagerhood!!!
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
15 Dec 09
Good luck, u are probably going to need it.lol.
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
15 Dec 09
Don't cut it off Dawn,I suffered with a short back and sides for years as my hair was too knotted for my mother to bother brushing it. I was about to cut my sons pony tail off the other week as it had tangles in it but the hairdresser managed to get them out, good job as he sees that pony tail as his trade mark.
Just put lots of conditoner on and keep away from the scissors. You snip now and she'll never forget what you did.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
15 Dec 09
She says she does, but I generally don't sniff around to verify.
Maybe just offering to help will put some fear into her!
Maybe just offering to help will put some fear into her!@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
15 Dec 09
There's the other thing, she won't let me in when she takes a shower, so I'll have to fight her to have her let me put conditioner in.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
15 Dec 09
Well if she shampoos herself she should be able to put the conditoner on too. I know they quite often just pretend to have done so, but I send mine back when the hair doesn't smell of any product. Or you could try leave on conditoner and put it on when she steps out of the shower. I don't know if it works as I've only tried it when I've showered and put it on before going out to the beach where I'll be in and out of the sea a lot so don't want mine to dry up.
1 person likes this
@rosepedal64 (4188)
• United States
15 Dec 09
Hi dawn
I only had two boys and so I never had that problem with hair issues. But I have had many issues with the boys. Sometimes I think it might have been easier with girls. The boys got to the point to where I couldn't see them in the bathroom. I know my youngest said one time that he didn't have to wash his body because the shampoo from his head ran down his body while in the shower..LOL..That was a lecture too and the list goes on with them.
I too would give her a choice on the hair. Take care of it or cut it off..You go MOM..
Keep smiling.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
15 Dec 09
Even my son has problem hair. It's really thick too and if it gets a little bit long he gets the worst case of bed head!
@rosepedal64 (4188)
• United States
15 Dec 09
I have thick hair as well. My oldest son had thick hair for years. He always wanted it cut short too. I didn't have worry with him over that at all. Now that he is 29years the thick hair is gone and he has very little hair that he still keeps very short.
Im going to cut mine cut tomorrow as well. It is too thick and getting to long.
Keep smiling.
1 person likes this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
16 Dec 09
lol I used to have the Hair Problem with my Girl to so I know how frustrating it can be
She used to shout and scream at me and I used to tell her one more word I would take the Scissors myself and cut it of, if she would let me brush it every Morning and Night we would not have been going through all that lol so I do know what you are going through
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Dec 09
She was pretty good about it last night, hooray!
And on another positive note, my son, who gives me all sorts of grief about brushing his teeth has been brushing them well, night and day, ever since he got braces on his teeth. Hooray again!
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
20 Dec 09
god..my mom does this.if she doesn't like the food for one reason or another,she'll chuck it when i'm not looking.
or use half a can of something and not cover it/put in tupperware.
that drives me nuts,wasting food like that.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
21 Dec 09
Me too. Sometimes we'll save it but they almost never go back and eat it anyway...
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
16 Dec 09
I can't say I blame you about that one..I had a daughter with long hair too and it was a battle......my little granddaughters is down to her waist and she washes etc by herself.....well she gets a little help with her final rinse.....but (here's where I interfer)....I got them started on the Dove products.....and the conditioner rocks! My son even noticed and its so good for your hair and keeps it so managable! FYI
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Dec 09
Last night she let me brush out all the tangles. Then I gave her a lesson on how to put the conditioner in and leave it in for 2 minutes before she rinses it. Then we braided her hair before she went to bed. This morning there were no problems with her hair. :-)
So thanks to everybody for the great tips!
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
15 Dec 09
hi dawnald I am grinning, no I am laughing thinking back seventy three years, I am ten and my mom is trying to untangle my long hair. shirley temple was all the rage in the movies then and I was wearing my hair in curls like hers. only thing was my hair always tangled just like your Naomi's. And my mom was constantly telling me if I didnt brush it I was going to get a hair cut,well I remember yelling every time she jerked into a tangle.So the end result was a short hair cut,as my mom seldom backed down on anything. the sillything is that once I got used to it I liked my new shorter hair. Now I am growing it long and the darned stuff still gets tangled although I do brush it every day. Of course you are going to put your foot down. Oh yeah? he he he.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
15 Dec 09
Maybe I'll try the John Frieda first.
That girl is stubborn, I'll tell you. But I am going to be more in her face about making sure she brushes it and if she doesn't, she may be getting an unplanned hair cut!!!
That girl is stubborn, I'll tell you. But I am going to be more in her face about making sure she brushes it and if she doesn't, she may be getting an unplanned hair cut!!!
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
15 Dec 09
I don't know how old she is but usually around 12 years old there is a whole attitude change about hair. My daughter was like that too until she was around 12 now she spends an hour on her hair every day. She has long thick naturally curly hair so I know all too well about rats nests and knots underneath. I have a bit of advice if you braid her hair in two seperate braids parted in the middle every night before she goes to bed it will be a million times easier to comb in the morning. It is also good to comb out each individual twist individually a little bit at a time. It makes a world of difference.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
15 Dec 09
She is 9. Yep, we figure that when boys come into the picture, or even just other girls that age, there will be a total attitude change. But right now it's still pretty frustrating.
I guess I can try that. Thanks.
@savypat (20216)
• United States
15 Dec 09
The hair is pretty easy, try a very good conditioner. the tangles will brush right out. I know this because this was a war my Mom and I fought for years before conditioners came on the market. For the food, I was a very mean Mom, but food was short and my kids had to eat it when served or it turned up for the next meal. Truthfully I am pretty sure we had a couple of very well fed dogs.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
15 Dec 09
I'll try it, but if it doesn't work and she doesn't take care of it, snip snip...
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
16 Dec 09
We go through this every single day too! My daughter has very long hair and in the evening when she has a shower she won’t let me untangle the mess which means that the following morning when we are in a hurry she is screaming at me because I am hurting her sensitive scalp trying to fix her hair! I have very long hair too and, because she wants to be like me she hates the idea of shorter hair but this is becoming quite an issue for us as well. The same words have come out of my mouth, brush it daily and take care of it or lose it!
1 person likes this
@PeacefulWmn9 (10420)
• United States
16 Dec 09
Good for you! Nothing becomes more tiresome to a parent then somehow ending up with the kids running things instead of them!!
Go mom!
Karen1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Dec 09
She was really, really cooperative last night too. I don't think she wants it to be cut off!!
