We made a classic blunder in our Saturday morning parenting playbook. I was cozied up in bed, enjoying a rare moment of warmth, when my partner, Mark, slipped in and snuggled up against me. Before we knew it, we were both fast asleep for a solid two hours. Nothing wild happened — we just needed the rest. Yet, in those two hours, our three rambunctious boys, aged 7, 5, and 3, had free rein over our home.
When we finally woke up, we were greeted with complete chaos. Toys were strewn across the living room, clothes were everywhere, and the dining room looked like a tornado had hit. But the most shocking sight awaited us in the bathroom.
“Mark?” I asked hesitantly, “Do you think Leo’s hair looks a bit… sparse?”
Our youngest, Leo, usually sported long, tousled golden hair that cascaded down his back. But now, it looked like someone had taken a pair of scissors to it. I gasped as I realized the extent of the damage. Chunks of hair were missing from the back, and in one spot, it had been cut down to just a couple of inches.
As a mom, I had a sentimental attachment to my boys’ hair. Just a few weeks ago, my middle son, Finn, had pleaded for a haircut to match his dad’s short style, and I had reluctantly agreed, keeping the ponytail as a memento. Now, Leo, who I had envisioned with long hair like his brothers, was sporting a very different look.
The identity of the culprit quickly came to light: Finn. At just 5 years old, he admitted that he wanted Leo’s hair to match his own, clearly inspired by his recent snip. I wanted to scream and take away all his toys as punishment. Instead, I settled for a lecture titled “Scissors: Only for Grown-Ups.”
Afterward, I locked myself in the bathroom for a good cry. I have to admit, I’m a bit attached to the idea of long-haired boys. Maybe it’s my inner 90s music fan coming through.
Once I composed myself, we faced a decision: should we embrace the “Great Haircut Disaster,” as I dubbed it, or take Leo to a salon to fix it? I was inclined to let it be — after all, a hairdresser would only make it worse by evening things out. Mark, however, thought it best to tidy it up. He pointed out that “it’s just hair; it will grow back,” which is what everyone says in these situations, but it didn’t bring me any comfort.
Reluctantly, I agreed to take Leo to the local kiddie hair salon. The place was bright with playful decor, and they offered prizes to kids after their cuts. As Leo sat in the chair, wrapped in a colorful cape, the stylist asked that dreaded question: “So, you just want me to even it up?”
“No,” I replied, a little too quickly. “I want you to keep as much length as possible while making it look decent.”
The stylist started snipping, and to her credit, she kept checking in with me. “Wow, I’ve never seen such a creative brother haircut,” she remarked, clearly amused. “Usually, it’s just little girls who do this.”
I pointed to Finn, who was grinning, knowing he had crafted the perfect excuse for his actions.
In the end, Leo ended up with a modified bowl cut — a bit shorter in the back, which gave him a pop-star vibe. Everyone at the salon agreed he looked adorable, and he even got a prize. I feigned enthusiasm, but deep down, I missed his long hair.
Months have passed, and thankfully, his hair is growing back nicely. I’ve learned that falling asleep on a Saturday morning could have led to worse outcomes than a sibling haircut. And they were right — hair does grow back! Yet, the guilt of dozing off on that fateful morning still lingers.
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Summary
In this humorous account, Jessica shares her chaotic Saturday morning experience when her middle son decided to give his baby brother an impromptu haircut. After a few hours of peaceful sleep, the parents woke to find their youngest with a hacked hairstyle, leading to a visit to the kiddie salon. Ultimately, the hair will grow back, but the lessons learned about parenting are here to stay.