Following Through

 Jeremy and I have tried very hard to make sure when we warn Samantha with a consequence we are prepared to follow through with it.  This stinks, sometimes, as it means canceling plans with friends issuing a consequence that I really didn't want to do.  For example, the other night Samantha snapped at me for the millionth time while I was combing out her hair because of a tangle.  She's been obsessed with Rapunzel and Elsa and Ohna's looooooong hair.  Considering it took four years for her to finally have a ponytail, I was right there with her, encouraging her to grow it out. 

 

Back to following through, I sternly told Samantha, "If you snap at me again, we are going to have to cut your hair."

"Fine.  I want to cut my hair."

 

Crap.  That's not the response I was expecting.

 

"You won't be able to have long braids anymore."

 

"That's fine, my tangles will be gone.  I want it this short (pointing to her ears)."

 

"Um, no, not that short."

 

Such went the conversation for a few days.  I finally realized that it was something she really wanted and that she was, in fact, tired of the long hair (I've been there before, so I totally understand).

 

So, with a heavy heart, I took her to the salon.

What it looked like most of the time.  That baby hair was really hard to comb out.

This is still the face I expect to see when she comes walking around the corner or wakes up in the morning.

But then I'm greeted with this.

She loves the tangle-free-ness. 

 I'll admit, I choked up a bit when she got down from the chair and pranced around the salon.  It's nice, though, not to fight over the hair and she does look adorable.