Parenting Toddlers

The Ultimate Mom Hair

I realized something kind of disturbing today. I have Mom Hair. You know what I mean…I have a haircut that screams, “I take my kids to story hour!” and in a few years, it’ll scream, “I am a big old soccer mom!” I got my hair cut last in August, I think. I wanted it short and easy-to-do before the baby was born. Then, it sort of grew out because I haven’t had time to get a haircut, and also because the Little Guy is usually attached to me. So, I have Mom Hair by accident - or neglect.

I was thinking about this also because I have a fifteen year old sister. She’s gorgeous and fun, and we hang out a lot. When I bring her around with my kids, I wonder if people think she’s my daughter. I know we were mistaken for mother and child when she was younger. For the record, I’d have to have been thirteen when I had her - a bit young for me. Anyway, it occurred to me, though, that I looked like a mom. I don’t necessarily look like the cool older sister when we go shopping. I look more like the one who goes to make sure she doesn’t get anything too slutty or trashy. I go to make sure she gets shoes that fit not to make sure she gets the hottest ones. When she talks about college, I don’t tell her about all the awesome parties; I tell her to choose one that is reasonably priced so she isn’t loaded down with debt by the time she’s twenty.

This all sounds very mature of me, which is odd because I feel like I pretend to be a grown-up. But looking like a grown-up is something else altogether. I’m at the age where I have to start dressing my age, I think. I have to start using wrinkle cream (which, by the way, my aforementioned sister got me for my birthday). I’m growing more “adult” every day. I have refused to drive a minivan because I didn’t want to be the soccer mom - now I realize that it would be great to have a minivan so I could more easily maneuver my kids in and out of carseats and have room for another passenger or two.

Being a mom has changed my life until it is unrecognizable - and wonderful. There are so many things that are different, including my hair it seems. I think I’ll make an appointment to get my hair cut. I love being a mom, but I’m not ready for Mom Hair.