Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Apples Don't Fall Far From The Tree

I remember quite well the day my mom brought home a brand new pair of sewing scissors. I remember her very clearly explaining that these scissors were only for fabric. I couldn't get over the idea that those scissors would only work on fabric and nothing else. I went over to check them out and brought them with me as I got into my bath that night. I decided that I would test out those scissors for my mom. I opened them up as wide as they would go, and snip, cut a huge V shape into the back of my hair.
When the lady at the salon finished evening things out, my hair was quite short. I don't remember having any problem with the 6 or so inches that were cut off, but I do remember the discussion with my mom about how we never, never cut our own hair.
Brynne has been equally fascinated with the scissors at our house. She found a pair of scissors one day and snipped off the ribbons used to tie a cushion to her rocking chair.
Another time she cut the rubber scales and fin off of her mermaid barbie to see what a mermaids legs looked like. She cut the floor length curtains in her room. Just on one side, just for fun she said.
I have yet to replace them.Regardless of hiding all our scissors in all of the highest hiding places, she always manages to come up with a pair.

When Wes called me a week ago while Jeff and I were at a friends house, I could tell he was pretty upset. "Mom I have something really bad to tell you" I braced myself and prepared for the worst. "Mom, Brynne cut her hair..." "How short" was my only reply. "Well it's still long in the back..."

I thanked him for calling and said I'd see him at home in a while. I didn't say anything to any of the 8 other people there about my phone call. Not even Jeff. I wasn't ready to talk about it and I didn't want to give in to my urge to go strait home to see how bad it was. There was nothing I could do about it.
No matter how hard I laughed at Josh and Jeremy doing the train together while playing Wii,
Jason taking his job at the drums so seriously,
Jeff trying to figure out the maracas,
or Tiffany tapping into her rock star,
I just couldn't get Brynne out of my head.
Once we were in the car on our way home I broke the news to Jeff. When we got home we saw the pile of her hair on the kitchen floor.

Then she came into the room. I am not sure how she knew that she has ties to Idaho, but boy did she look like she'd fit right in with the best of them. My daughter had cut herself a mullet!!!

I just sat there breathing in and out for a bit and then took her to the bathroom and worked with what was left of her hair. Desperately trying to figure out just how I could salvage it. I knew I'd want pictures of it later but just couldn't get a great shot showing just how bad it really was. But here are the sides of her head. Notice the small chunk missing from the top left side towards the back...



The next day I still hadn't figured out what to do with her hair, but it was making me grumpy just thinking about it. She was pretty somber as we went in to get her hair cut. Her only concern was them turning her completely into a boy, and having to wear boy clothes, since boys are the only ones who are supposed to have short hair.

This is my only daughter who was bald for more than the first year of her life. It had finally filled in and was getting pretty long. She was starting to let me put it into pony tails and tie ribbons and clip bows into it on occasion. Those days are long gone now...
A few days later I remembered that I was about her age when I had done the same thing. It dawned on me that my hair had been "fixed" just as short as hers. As Tara was going through all of my moms pictures this week she came across this one right after my hair cut.

How do you like them apples?

16 comments:

Tara Rickards said...

I've always thougth of Brynne as "little Jeni" because I have those pictures in my head. She looks SO much like you!! She is still cute as can be, even with her short hair!

Aaron and Devon said...

Holy cow- she looks just like you- that is just crazy. She looks cute though! I guess every child has to do it at least once right?````

shelleyv said...

What a great post! I love the pictures of both of you. You are both adorable!

Heather said...

I didn't know that you had a clone! Goodness, she looks just like you. And don't worry her hair is adorable and you'll be surprised how much it will fill in and thicken up being short like that.

Janelle Ehat said...

Oh my GOODNESS! That is crazy how similar you guys look! And I'm so sorry about her hair! I just trimmed the girls hair today (it's so thin it just gets SO scraggly at the bottom) and Emily turned her head to the side just as I was making a little cut... that turned into a bigger cut. It's still shoulder length but Peter was NOT happy AT ALL about it! He gets really upset when I touch the girls hair. Like really upset. We had words about it when Emily excitedly ran into his office to show off her new style. Anyway! Brynne is a doll no matter how short her hair is! At least it wasn't as bad as Maddie's was a few years ago when she cut her hair at Thanksgiving time. And her hair was so thin it just looked crazy! Oh well! They all have to do it at least once!

Kari said...

You are twins!! Bless her little heart...she still looks adorable! I am just waiting for the day Ava does this.

haley said...

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, especially with that photo!! Clara came into the room when it was you on screen and said, "Brynne"! Her hair will grow back in no time.

Kristen said...

The sacrifice of the haircut is totally worth the story! You'll be talking about this for the rest of her life! What a sweet and funny shared experience - this is exactly why we blog, to document and remember these crazy, funny, and heartwarming everyday life moments. Thanks for sharing it with all of us (and you could both be bald and you'd still be beautiful!)

GREENLAW said...

those pictures are unbelievable! she is truly a mini-you! aidan told me that brynne had a haircut (funny he noticed!) :) i didn't know it wasn't a planned one! it looks adorable, though!

Nicole said...

Cute blog!! Love the pics of Josh and Tiff. So funny!

Carie said...

Avery cut her hair nearly 2 years ago and it is STILL growing out. ARGHHH!

Brynne is darling.

Miss you guys!

Anonymous said...

She looks like you in that black and white picture.

The Gage Cage said...

Those are some serious apples! Like my dad always tells me.."Pay backs Baby!" followed by plenty of laughs. Those pics or you two are darling!

Tiffany said...

Them apples sure are precious! And even better to have the twin pictures. I had forgotten how long her hair was before the cut. I'm not sure how I would/will respond when Loie does that???

And I forgive you for including the rocker picture :-)

justjen said...

Thanks friends for your support and kind words. I am still not used to the "do" but I'm sure I will be eventually! And Tiffany, thanks for the forgiveness...;)

Tawna said...

haha, Jen. I am sure you are sad about it, but I just loved your post. Kids are going to be kids, and I just love it sometimes. You are just going to love this in about...3 years. ;) At least it can make a fantastic and hilarious scrapbook page. I especially like how Brynne cut the curtains on one side "just for fun." I cut Devon's hair once...yep. It happens to the best of us. ;) love you (and your super cute adorable family.)