Thanks to a Sudanese woman I met at a local farmer’s market last week, Ruby got her hair done today and we have no combing for two weeks! I know I just wrote about how important and meaningful that time is for me but, to be honest, combing my child’s hair has been extra challenging lately and I felt that we both needed a little break.
Ruby sat on my lap while Agnes put the braids in. At first, Ruby was very still and concentrated. But by the third braid—there are ten of them all around her head—her face began to twist and her eyes filled so slowly with thick silvery tears, that I almost thought she was faking. She pressed her face into my neck and began to whimper and then sob quitely, stiffling her breath like an adult attempting to hide the fact that she’s crying. It was so weird; I’ve never seen her like that.
She tried so hard not to cry, my big girl. But eventually she gave herself over to it and she wailed her way through, clutching desperately at my neck, calling for me and then her father. It was heartbreaking. But she remained on my lap and as soon as the last braid was in, the tears stopped. She asked to see the back and later, when the ribbon fell out, she made me put it back in.
When we got home, I was the one who cried as she got herself out of the car and sashayed into the house in the confident way that she does, shoulders back, arms swinging. She looked regal and stunninng and so much older than she is.
17 responses so far ↓
1 Jamie // Apr 25, 2008 at 10:02 pm
good god. she is stunning.
2 Sharon (artgyrl) // Apr 25, 2008 at 10:29 pm
This is so awesome, and eerily cool.
Apart from recommending your entry about doing Ruby’s hair on my blog, I also emailed the link to my mother and sisters. I was talking to my younger sister about it, and showing her photos of Ruby and your flickr account. She actually asked why you didn’t just cornrow her hair, since that would alleviate the need to do it everyday. And I said that you probably didn’t know how (It’s definitely a skill, I can do braids and weaving, but I still can’t do cornrows). So, it’s very cool to see this entry.
That is so fascinating that Ruby was trying to be a big girl and not cry while getting her hair done. Children to tend to act differently when they’re outside of home or in a different environment. I guess it’s very similar to how some kids will act out at home, but their behavior is fine when they’re at school because they know they won’t get away with it as much.
Thanks for sharing.
3 Cheri // Apr 25, 2008 at 11:10 pm
She is all that.
4 kerryanne // Apr 26, 2008 at 1:49 am
breathtaking
5 Wendi // Apr 26, 2008 at 4:08 am
spectacular!
6 Jenn @ Juggling Life // Apr 26, 2008 at 6:58 am
She looks amazing.
And lots of girls with wispy blonde hair cry over getting the tangles out–So please don’t feel badly–we all know feminity carries a price–and for the most part we’re all willingt to pay it.
7 Kim // Apr 26, 2008 at 8:43 am
Your little girl is so beautiful. I just love looking at your photos of her.
8 Rayna // Apr 26, 2008 at 8:44 am
Oh, Aaryn, WOW! She’s a big girl! I can’t wait ’til my girls are old enough to sit for braids. I am even thinking of locking Maya’s hair since she is so tender-headed. Ruby looks great! Do you have her sleep with a scarf on?
9 kate // Apr 26, 2008 at 10:14 am
those moments when we see glimpses of them being so much older, are, indeed, gut wrenching.
10 Mrs. G. // Apr 26, 2008 at 7:10 pm
She does look like a big girl in those rockin’ braids.
11 Jennifer // Apr 26, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Gorgeous big girl…almost 3!! WOW. I have a beautiful student in my class who has her hair done and I always wonder if it hurts. Her family takes a huge amount of pride in the styles that she has had all year. I will have to ask her!
12 stupidmommy // Apr 27, 2008 at 4:15 am
The first (and to date, only) time Ezra tried to suppress his tears–the first day of kindergarten–was way tougher for me than any time he bawled freely. It was just so heartbreaking to watch him try to be a man about it.
Ruby looks absolutely gorgeous.
13 Deb // Apr 27, 2008 at 8:30 am
She is beautiful.
My daughters cry if I come hear them with any implement that remotely resembles something that will make them look halfway decent.
So don’t feel bad.
14 Martha // Apr 27, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Ciao, bella!!
15 stacy // Apr 28, 2008 at 5:56 am
those are very, very beautiful.
16 bonzize // Apr 28, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Awesome do. Awesome mom.
17 BOSSY // Apr 29, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Bossy’s daughter sat through a cornrow braiding one time, choking back big crocodile tears. Yowza! Not for the weak of scalp.
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