3 Years to Freedom...

I've been getting LOTS of questions about my recent makeover with my brother, Seth.  I thought I'd just answer them all here.

Our journey to growing hair started almost as a joke about 3 years ago.  Seth tried to save some money and skipped a hair cut.  Our Mom did not let him forget.  From their it seemed a battle of wills began and Seth (aka Samson) stopped getting his hair cut.  He does have beautiful, thick, curly hair so after it grew to be about 4 inches long I suggested he just keep growing it and donate it. I did tease him that around Easter churches were going to start recruiting him to play Jesus in their Easter plays. :) Fulfilling my sisterly duties...anyway, from there we decided it was something we would do together.  My hair was in a short bob cut at the time.

Here is a quick look at us before our cut:

This past weekend I drove down to Cincinnati so the two of us, after 3 years of growing, would cut our hair. 

This was not the normal salon I go to so I was nervous about having someone I don't know cut my hair.  Kenji was super high energy and I was a leetle bit close to saying he is not touching my hair but Seth told me how much energy he has.  Literally, he didn't just walk over to the wash station...he ran.  He ran to the front counter and then he would run back.  I'm certain he could tell I was nervous because he started doing impersonations to make me laugh.

I remember when Kenji cut my ponytails off and the sound of the scissors seemed incredibly loud, he asked if I knew what that sound was....Then he said, "That is FREEDOM!"  I think he meant it was freedom for me.  I can say I've cut my hair prep time from 30 minutes to 7 minutes.  But, now, reflecting back I think that sound also means freedom for a child that doesn't have any hair.  Sure, a wig doesn't heal them or make their body feel any better, but, at least in a world of sickness and disappointment it provides some sense of normalcy.  It's easy for everyone to say, "it's just hair" and I caught myself saying that multiple times over but to a child that doesn't have any, it isn't "just hair."

We decided to donate our hair to Children with Medical Hair Loss.  They provide free wigs for children, free hats and free fittings until they are 18.

During this process I couldn't help but think of Rory.  Being a mother sheds an entirely new perspective on life and kids.  I would shave my head a million times over for my son.  My heart breaks for kids that are sick and in need of help.  If 12 inches of my hair can make a difference than it was worth every snip, cut, ponytail and ounce of freedom.