About a month ago, or more, I was watching a YouTube video that someone had shared on Facebook. The video was called “Emily’s Haircut” and documented a little three year old girl named Emily who had heard about children with cancer losing their hair. It must have been explained to her that since her hair was so long, if she cut it, it could be sent to make wigs for children with no hair.
London overheard me watching the video and asked if she could see it. Of course I let her watch it. At the end she told me she wanted to cut her hair like Emily. A few weeks ago I told London it was about time that she needed a haircut and I was going to make an appointment with Aunt Sarah. (YES I make appointments because my sister is booked people.) I told London to think about how she wanted to cut her hair. Mind you, London has had her haircut close to twenty times in her life but always just a trim. I reminded London a few days ago that her hair appointment was coming up and she responded “Mamma, remember that video of Emily? Can I watch it?” So she did, and again she told me that she wanted to cut her hair short, just like Emily & her friend Avery from her old school. I explained to her that it would not grow back very fast and that is could take a while. I told her once it was cut it could not be put back on. In a way, I selfishly gave her all the scenarios to think of in hopes that she would settle on just another trim. I was nervous that she could not fully understand how it would feel to dramatically cut the long hair you have known for your entire 4 years of life! London had watched a Charlie Brown episode about a girl name Janice with Leukemia and knew exactly what kind of sick children would be getting wigs from her hair.
Today came, and Aunt Sarah came over to drop off Vita before work. We both talked to London about her hair cut, measured out the 10 inches required for donation, and showed her how the cut would look. She smiled and brushed us off like we were annoying her with details she was already aware of. I continued to pester London with questions about cutting her hair and how she would feel and what if and how about and so on and so on.
We walked over to the salon. And then…
I get it. It is just hair. It does not define a single thing of who she is. She was able to show me just how little the things on the outside really matter. I often get caught up in who is wearing what and how I should look but none of that has ever mattered to London. She absolutely gorgeous and what goes on the outside has always been of little significance to her. She doesn’t know the price of clothes. She doesn’t know the trend of hair. She doesn’t care what anyone else is wearing.
When it was over she bounced down from the chair and ran around the salon pumping up all the stylist chairs. It had taken every ounce of her to sit still long enough to get a *mostly* straight little cut.
There are no words to describe how proud I am of what she did today. Even though I just had a while blog of words written and it vanished. London gave something very big without asking for a single thing in return. The hair she has known for her entire 4 years of life is now being sent off in the mail. Despite her moods, angry fits, foul behavior, and less than pleasant demeanor at times, she truly has the biggest heart. She loves to love and she never fails to show that.
London was completely cool and calm the entire time. Even after the leopard bag of her detached hair was handed over, all she could talk about was how excited she was to show her hair to Vita. We walked home and I asked London if she wanted to stop for a treat and get ice cream since she was so brave. She just smiled and said “Nah, let’s go home.”
