Monday, July 27, 2009

Question of the Week - I've Never...

My daughter has beautiful hair. It's this wild curly hair in the same shade of brown as mine. In fact, I had just about the same curly brown hair when I was her age. My mom always kept my hair relatively short, about shoulder length. I know it was because it was easier for her to deal with it, but I always wanted really long hair. When I became a teen and was completely in charge of my own hair, I was allowed to grow it long. It's been long ever since.

For a few years now, I have been contemplating getting enough cut off to donate it to Locks of Love. Now that the Pumpkin isn't using it as an aid to fall asleep or for comfort and it's pretty full and vibrate from the pregnancy hormones, I feel that I'm ready to get the 10 or more inches cut off to donate. Going back to work after having my second child is a good time for a drastic change in appearance, right? Maybe it's all the What Not To Wear I've been watching while on maternity leave...

But this would be nothing new to me. Having a hair cut, returning to close to shoulder length hair. Been there, done that. I can grow it again.

But the Pumpkin... She has never had her hair cut.

Seriously, never. I just couldn't bare the thought of having her sweet, precious hair cut at all when she was younger. She was just so young and her hair so short. I'm sure it's part of my baggage because I'd always wanted long hair and my mom wouldn't let me grow it out.

Now the Pumpkin's hair is getting pretty long. It's so curly and wild and incredibly beautiful! She gets so many compliments are her lovely locks. It's completely uneven, but you can't tell because of the curls. It's long enough for ponytails and pig tails and barrettes, but not quite long enough to braid.

I would get it cut now. It probably should be evened out some. But I just haven't. Or maybe it's that I can't bring myself to do it. Londo used to ask when we were going to get it cut because he wanted a lock of it to keep. He stopped asking a long time ago, and now I've even heard him tell others with a chuckle that she's never had her hair cut. It's become an interesting fact about her.

Which is why this week's Question of the Week is:

What has your child never done/had done or what have you never done/had done?

As for me, I never learned to ride a bike. There was one time when I was about 13 or 14 when I got on a friend's bike and rode it around the cul de sac just to see if I could do it. I did it. But when I tried a couple years later, I was not stressful. So I really just don't know how to ride a bike. I think I could if I tried, but I have no need or interest at this point.

In case you wanted to know, there is a reason I never learned. The reason is called I'm-more-stubborn-than-my-dad. You see, I had a cute little Strawberry Shortcake bike with training wheels and I took a pretty bad spill on it. My dad said it was because I had the training wheels on and that I needed to learn how to ride without them. I said I wasn't ready (keep in mind this was right after my big fall and scraped knee). We argued. He said the next time I got on that bike it wouldn't have training wheels. So... I never got back on. In retrospect, I see how he was right about needing to learn to balance and not depend on the training wheels. However, he did not approach the issue and solution in a way I could listen to and agree with. It was a lose/lose. But he did an excellent job of teaching me how to drive years later, and that's way cooler.

How about your kids or yourself? What has your child never done that most kids do? What have you missed out on that makes everyone turn and say "You haven't?" Don't be embarrassed--it's just an interesting fact!

15 comments:

Cloud said...

My Pumpkin hasn't had her hair cut, either. She has curls and they are so cute. I keep thinking I should get it cut to even it out, but then I don't do it.

I've never smoked a cigarette. Not even one puff. I didn't think this was a big deal until I said so in front of some friends recently and they looked at me like I was some sort of freak. I can't say I'm in any rush to change this.

Slacmc said...

Me too!

LG has not had a haircut (she is 2 yrs 8mos). She has the adorable curls and I have a feeling that if we cut them, then they are gone forever.

I have also never smoked a cigarette (of any type). Never even tried. I credit my mom for this - at a very young age she started impressing upon us how gross and horrible smoking is for you and those around you. Guess it stuck!

I have a lot of other I Nevers in comparison to my friends. I know this because during a game of I Never I always end with a full glass. :)

Ruta said...

I can't tie my shoes using the one-loop method... I have to make two loops and tie them together. My mom is left-handed and I'm right-handed, and she could never show me in a way that I could grasp. The two-loop method (taught to me by Miss Mabel, my aunt's mother) has always sufficed, so I've never learned the other way. My husband ties his shoes like a normal person - I wonder which way my daughter will pick up?

I'm Not Skippy said...

Too many things to mention.

Anonymous said...

Another person who has never tried smoking. My reason was slightly different than Mama (Stacy), my mother smoked and I remember gasping for breath (especially in the car) and thinking that it must be even worse directly smoking.

My son has reached an age where the milestone charts say that he should be able to put on one item of clothing. I have to admit, while I try to keep our mornings relaxed, I do just dress him without considering letting him try himself. We let him be independent so many ways, just not getting dressed.

So, not the worst thing in the world, but it has made me think.


Kate

Katie said...

14 months seems a little young for "nevers" yet, so don't have any for the Infanta.

But my big never (I'm also on the never smoked team, but it doesn't seem so huge where I'm from) is that I've never been to any Disneyland- type-place, and I've never been interested.

Dr. Confused said...

My daughter has yet to have her hair cut as well. But she is only 19 months, and there are many, many things she has not done.

I never learned to drive. Neither did my husband. People find that strange about me (and stranger still when they find out I have a private pilot's license). Also, never learned to walk in high heels. I'm sure there are others along that line (performing femininity).

paola said...

Neither of my kids has:

ever used a straw (In fact I'm thinking it's about time they try)

ever eaten at McDonalds ( well, I haven't set foott in one for at least 10 years)

ever used a bottle or dummy (paci)


Me? Well, I think I've done most things at least once.

KG said...

Hmm ... my kid has never been to get his hair cut, either. I trim it at home when it starts to look mullety. The best part is, it's so curly that if I do a crappy job, nobody can tell.

Becoming Mommy said...

I also have never smoked. Probably a good thing since I, like my son, am prone to respiratory issues.

My son has never...actually, I can't think of anything he's never done that's normal for a 2 year old to do. We even do some things with him parents typically DON'T do with a toddler (fine dining? check. Long distance traveling? check. etc.).

MommyEm said...

Dorothy (2.5 years) hasn't dressed herself and only half-heartedly has tried pulling up her pants by herself. She just doesn't haven't any interest. I keep reading that she should be able to do this for potty training, but I guess we will just have to work around it.

I am also on the never-had-a-cigarette team and am perfectly fine with this. My mother kept an old stale cigarette for us to try if we ever wanted to, but the whole thing looked really gross and in my school, only the kids who skipped class and hung out in seedy places smoked, so it wasn't the cool thing to do. I also have never scuba dived and never will...the whole idea just freaks me out.

Anonymous said...

Driven a stick. Now that DH has an automatic car, i probably never will but this was a serious hot point before. I still think sometimes I should call one of those driving schools and have them bring someone out to teach me but I feel like an idiot.

meggiemoo said...

I've never smoked or done any drugs. At some point in my 30s, I thought it might be fun to actually try pot for once, but by then, it seemed too late to start! Like, a bit pathetic to try pot that late in life. So, I never have.

I've never scuba dived or skydived. Or bungee-jumped. I don't care so much about those, but I would like to learn how to surf. My DH is going to teach me soon.

sheSaidC2 said...

I have never been completely drunk or had a real hang over. I get tipsy and just a pinch beyond but never over line. Pretty much I am scared to loose control so anything wild and crazy loosing control I have never done.

What has babySaid never done? Slept alone! that's about it :)

Shellie said...

I have never ever skydived. Or drank alcohol or smoked or done drugs, but I don't feel like I missed out by not doing any of those things. I'm racking my brains but I can't think of much else. I got the twins a bike, but we're still fixing it up. We'll see if they learn.:)

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