Seriously? I knew better!!

Don't you hate when you make a parenting decision and you just have a feeling, but you go against the feeling...

Luke (9) has this thing with his hair! His assistant teacher told me the other day that Luke's hair almost has its own identity in their classroom. All the kids always talk about Luke's hair. Well, the hair had just gotten long and shaggy and 1/2 way to his nose and and way down almost to his back... and well, he needed a hair cut badly!

So, we had tried to go 3-4 times in the past six weeks or so.. and either the line was too long or Luke started to have a meltdown...so either way he got out of the haircut.

Fast forward: A new Lego Store opened in Raleigh this past weekend. Andrew had LOTS of birthday money to spend and Luke had ZERO dollars! There is a ship that Luke has wanted since Christmas, and to him it seemed like "We NEVER got it for him, and he's been asking for FOREVER!" (that's a direct quote! ha)

So I told him if he'd earn 1/2, I'd match him 1/2! Well, we leave in another week for two months, and we won't have a chance to get the ship. So we decided together, that we'd buy the ship and he would do this long list of chores to earn it!

Well the poor kid has been working like crazy to earn his ship! He's done trash and laundry and dishes and set the table and cleaned his room, vaccuumed, sorted all his clothes with me (even tried them all on!) And he cleaned out the entire fridge! I'm talking removing everything, washing the shelves, and putting back the food. Hey, this ship cost $50! He had to earn it! Last, but not least on the list was a haircut! :)

So today after school, the only two things left are the fridge and the haircut. So we go straight for the haircut. I really wanted a little bit more than a trim since we're gonna be gone two months...and I thought I explained that. BUT the lady really cut into it!! He was okay with it at first, I think because the ship loomed in the near distance! But the long shaggy layers he had on top and in the bangs are GONE!

He went to church with no problems tonight, got into bed and that's when the trouble started! He came downstairs and announced he hated his hair and wasn't going to school tomorrow or Friday (when they have a skit to perform) He's convinced everybody will make fun of him, etc.

The haircut is fine, it's just WAY shorter than I expected, nowhere near a buzz..in fact for some momma's it'd still be too long.

And to get back to the main point: I knew better! I knew, no matter how much or little they cut his hair that he wouldn't like it, because that's always how it goes. I should have just waited one more week until school was out! But no, I didn't listen!

He said tonight that, "I'm in control of my own hair!" Which drives me nuts!! Really, I don't care how the hair looks... and in fact, I don't mind if he does feel like he has control over his hair! BUT when it can go into a pony tail, it's too long!

So I'm dreading the morning! I already explained that if he refused to go to school tomorrow, that the ship would be taken for ONE week. So we'll see! I feel bad for him, really I do! But I can't reattach the hair, and if we even it up a bit it'll take longer to grow out!

And I know in the big scheme of life: poverty and homelessness and lost jobs, this is NOT a big deal! But in the morning, when Luke reminds me that his life is ruined... It's gonna be exhausting!

Wonder if I can get him up and out the door without looking in a mirror! I doubt it! :)