Charlotte Had A Hair Cut

The first thing people usually notice of Charlotte is her long silky hair and her resemblance to me. And for that, I take pride in her cuteness and her beautiful long hair. After all, I made her ok 😤

One fine day in February, as we're on our way home after I picked her up from school, she was rather quiet in the car. Then, I heard her gingerly said, "Mummy... mummy, I want to cut my hair. Can you cut my hair for me please?"

Shocked and a little upset, I asked her, "Why? What happened?"

"I want to cut my hair. Can you cut my hair for me please?"

"Can you tell me why?"

"I want to cut my hair. I want to cut my hair short. Like Yi Wen."

"Who is Yi Wen?"

"Yi Wen is my friend-lah!"

"Why do you want to cut your hair like Yi Wen?"

"I want!"

"Why?"

"Because I want to cut my hair short like Yi Wen!"

"Was it something she said? Or was it something your teacher said? Did your teacher ask you to cut your hair short like Yi Wen?"

"No."

"Then why do you want to cut your hair short?"

"Because I want!"

Obviously I wasn't getting any satisfying answer from her.

"No!", I replied out frustration.

"Why?"

"Why do you want to cut your hair? You have such beautiful long hair! And you're learning ballet, that's why you have to keep your hair long."

"I don't want (to go to) ballet class. I want to cut my hair short."

Oh Lord help me 😭😭😭

I was very bothered, honestly. But for dayssss and weekssss, she kept pestering me to get her hair cut. Every. Single. Day!

I was in denial but deep down I know, she's becoming herself and has a mind of her own. After all, she's turning 4.

Finally, when March came, with much hesitation, I called to make an appointment for her at the salon. She let out a loud "YAAAAAAAAAYYY!!!" when I told her that we're getting her hair cut that weekend.

Here's my last photo of her with her long hair.

Look at how excited she was omg!

Still have to hold hands though hahaha.

Oh my heart 💔

Before - After

The Very Very Happy Girl 💓

She wanted to cut it even shorter. Like ear length short. Like her friend, Yi Wen. No matter how the stylist and I tried to talk her out, she just kept asking for it. Until I mentioned, "Wow, your hair is short like Yi Wen now."

She calmed down and felt contented.

Whatever happened that made her wanna cut her hair, let this serves as a lesson to myself. To respect my child's decision over her own body. It is hard on me, I was taken by surprised of how upset I got because of this incident. But somehow, I will need to learn to respect her decision, be it her hair or her choice of clothing,  so that she can have the self-confident she needs.

I love you, Charlotte.