Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Practice Makes Perfect

I just cannot stomach the thought of continuing to pay $48 every time the boys need a haircut. Often, Sean does the job but lately he has been so busy that he does not have the time to cut their hair. I decided to bless my family and our finances by learning to cut the boys' hair. Ian was first, poor little guy. He was excited to be "bald" I am glad because he is pretty close to it. I just cannot figure out why they all refused to get shaved when my father was in chemo but now it is cool?

Aaron was next, and I chose a longer guard it is better but don't look too close. I was really disappointed to cut off all of their sun bleached hair. People pay big money for the color they got naturally from the sun!

Erik was not at all happy that it was time to cut his hair and I experimented with the ear guard so he has a nice little bald spot right above his ear (oops). He was at Grandma's house last time the boys got a cut so his hair was really long (secretly, I kinda liked it but I know it was overdue).
I really do not like the learning curve but, I guess with time and practice I might be able to do a haircut that looks good.

Today was our first official day of homeschooling! I have been working on a schedule for the children and I for a while now. I have done it with much resistance but knowing that our days would go better if we all knew what to expect instead of the way I have schooled in the past. I posted our schedule on the wall with neat little colored squares for each person. I left some open so I could change and adjust as needed. We did fairly well today, I know what I will be changing for tomorrow. It is REALLY difficult for me to start my day at 6am but it went much better so here's to discipline on my part.
Last night when I was reading I came across this quote from Dave Pelzer, "In the final analysis, it's up to you. At the end of the day it is you and you alone who has to make things happen. The cold hard truth is outside influences can only help you so far. The drive has to come from within you. You have to apply what you have learned on a daily basis."
I know I need to have a schedule and stick to it, I know I need to be disciplined in all areas of my life and I need to choose to do that on a daily basis.
I am excited about our new schedule and our subjects we are learning this year! Now, I am off to take a short nap (which is not in the schedule but needed to make it through the rest of the day)!

7 comments:

Anissa said...

I have one word for the haircuts: FLOWBEE! Seriously! Then all the boys could give THEMSELVES haircuts AND clean up after themselves all at once since it attatches to the vacuum!! I'm serious!!

Renee from A Baker's Dozen said...

I guess that's the advantage to starting hair cutting w/ your first son. Judah lived through many mistakes as a toddler/preschooler but was too young to care. If you look at many of Enoch and Judah's preschool pics, they are shaved too short due to mistakes on my part. Hezekiah and Tucker have never had bad hair cuts!

Unknown said...

Ahh Renee, you give me hope, I really just did not want to learn but Alas, I must.
Anissa, are you really serious??? What is a FLOWBEE?? Really, they should have come up with a better name? I don't want just buzz cuts I want the cute boy cut.

Rebecca M said...

Carolynn,
Way to go with the steps toward cutting your boys' hair! It feels so good to save that money! I have one son with hair that sticks straight up and I may never do anything with it but the standard buzz with our clippers but I'd love to learn to give my other son a "cute boy cut". His hair lies down a little more.

I like your system for hanging your schedules up on the wall with the yard stick!

And thanks for your sweet comment on my blog the other day and for your prayers for this new member of our family. I'm thinking we may meet him or her next week!

Stacy said...

You can do it, Carolynn!

Mark wanted me to cut his hair when we were dating (his mom or sister had always cut his hair) and I was overly confident: How hard could it be? I asked myself.

That was about an hour before the haircut. An hour before I was in tears, begging him never to ask me to do it again, and MAKING him call up his sister and make IMMEDIATE plans to get to her house for a quick recovery haircut. I think I also made him promise that he wouldn't tell a SOUL who had done that to his head.

He laughed and thought I was totally overreacting (who, me?) and said he didn't care what it looked like and thanked me very much. (But he did go to his sisters' out of regard for me and my pride.)

It took me a couple of years to work up the courage to try again but I did (!) and just keep on doing it. It *really* helps that he truly doesn't care what it looks like.

I started right off the bat with my boys, too- and hopefully they will be as easy-going as their daddy is. :)

Blessings to you and yours for a wonderful homeschooling year, schedule or no schedule. :)

Unknown said...

I enjoy how Stacy replies to the comments on her blog,so I am going to try it too=)
Stacy, Sean says he does not care what his hair looks like either and 2 of my boys don't give a hoot, but I REALLY care. I guess appearance is important to me.
Rebecca, we are excited for your new arrival and can't wait to hear the name!!I always get a bit anxious when labor is impending but try to remember all the verses about God not giving us more than we can bear, and His peace. He promises to be there with you!!

Stacy said...

Yay! I like comments back in the comments-section, too! :)

Fun to see you and your cute family yesterday!