The First Haircut

Paulo is wearing T-Rex Touchdown from Letop's 2010 Fall/Winter Collection

I didn’t want to do it, but I had to do it. I wanted to keep my baby boy’s hair untouched by a pair of scissors because I am thinking that this is the only way for me to hold on to his “baby-ness.” Does anyone know what I’m talking about? Unfortunately, Paulo’s hair kept getting in his eyes and he was constantly rubbing his hands trying to move his long bangs out of his face. So the time has come for… Paulo’s First Haircut!

With my daughter, her first haircut was just at a nearby cheap-o haircutting salon. No frills. She was excited to do it because she has seen me do it before. She sat still through the entire session! Maybe it’s a girl thing. I don’t know. I took her before and after pictures, and saved a lock of her hair for her baby book. With Paulo, I knew this guy wasn’t going to be that easy. I’ve heard of these special children’s hair salons where they had horses, motorcycles and cars that kids can sit in. While they were watching a DVD of “Sesame Street” or “Dora the Explorer,” the hairstylist was chopping away as fast as he/she could while the child was distracted. So, I already knew that this is where I needed to go. They had him in-and-out in 15 minutes! Yeah, it was a bit more expensive but it was definitely worth it! Included with the price was a “My First Haircut” certificate, a photo and a little bag of his hair.

So now he looks older (especially in the convertible sports car) but he’s still my handsome little devil.

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Potty Training…Is there a magic word?

Okay – it is true confessions time!  I am at a loss, and hate to admit that my almost 3 year old daughter seems to have managed to best me on potty training.  I was impressed that Jamee seemed to have had a pretty easy time – but it certainly has not worked that way for me.  Lilah is very capable of going without diapers – and has proved this during weekend shopping outings.  She seemed to easily manage – communicating when it was time to visit the restroom.

Lilah wearing her pull-up as a hat

At age 18 months I ‘introduced’ Lilah to the concept – and purchased a small seat that sits on the toilet, with a stool used for accessibility.  I had heard that it was important not to push too early, so we waited until she was 27 months before we started really trying to ‘train’ – not wanting to make her feel uncomfortable and losing her cooperation in the process.

When Lilah is at home she does not wear a diaper, and uses the potty when needed.  She follows all the ‘rules’ – and always remembers to wipe and flush.  We praise her for her actions, hoping this will be the positive reinforcement needed.  When she is at daycare she ALWAYS chooses to wear diapers!  Perhaps she does not want to be bothered with interrupting her play?  I give her a choice of wearing her new Dora and Sesame Street underwear or putting on a diaper – and the choice is consistently to wear her Elmo diapers.  Is it a problem that I am giving her a choice?

Lilah’s daycare has other children her age, and they all seem to be wearing diapers.  The children are regularly taken to the potty – and receive stickers and praise when they successfully use the potty.  Perhaps when one switches the others will fall in line?  Of course I would love for Lilah to be a leader in this arena!  She will be moving to preschool late next year and will be required to be potty trained by that time.  I really want this to happen sooner than later – since it is obvious she is capable, but chooses not to ‘participate’ fully.  The le•top staff has contributed suggestions – including ‘you’re getting to be a big girl’ and the pretty panties angle.  Nothing has worked so far. Is there a ‘magic word’ I should know?  Let’s share!

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What is the Deal with Kids and Band-Aids?

Reading Dawn’s post about her school field trip mishap made me think about my teaching days. When I used to be an elementary school teacher, I went through boxes of Band-Aids. And I do mean BOXES! Not because my students were injured all the time, but because they felt that for every little “boo-boo,” a Band-Aid somehow made it all better. Now by “boo-boo” I’m talking about:

• a little scratch
• an insect bite
• an old bump
• a bruise
• a scar
• sometimes, a student would even go as far as picking an old scab just to get it bleeding for a Band-Aid!

Now that my oldest is school-aged, a fascination for Band-Aids has developed. And I was never one to pass out Band-Aids at home so I’m quite intrigued where this Band-Aid interest came from. Could it be because of these bandages now look like fancy stickers? There is quite a range of different characters to choose from—Sesame Street, Dora the Explorer, Spider Man, Scooby-Doo. Who wouldn’t want to sport one these cool bandages? Because nothing says, “I’m injured but still stylin'” like a Barbie-wrapped finger!

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