Hair and dignity

I stink at taking care of me... I'm working on simple self care but I stink at more elaborate things... like getting my hair cut lol...

This is two fold...

1. I can justify very easily why money should not be spent on me and is better spent on something else. I look at the cost of things and see all the places we could impact with that money... the things we could do for the kids... the school materials we could buy... the organizations we could support... the family things we could do together... like I can justify why I should keep using a tooth brush that should be thrown out because there is something that the money could be better used for. I know socially its seen as good to be wanting to give to others... I can take it past a good point though...

2. I also see my time as something that can be spent doing so many different things that doing things for me don't often come to the top of my list...


but is also energy...

sometimes it feels like I only have the energy to do the things I have to do... I spent hours working on medical stuff today and didn't even get to something on my medical to do list...

some days it is just easier time wise... and mentally to just throw my hair in a bun, throw on jeans and a t shirt and run out the door.

But sometimes I hit a point where I just feel the deep down need to take care of me...

once to twice a year I get my nails painted... and once to twice a year I take the time to get my hair cut...

but I tried to get my hair cut around Christmas time...

well not just try, I went to a place that does walk ins and got my hair cut, however it did not turn out how I wanted it. I asked for it above my shoulder and it was about an inch and a half below my shoulder! The person cutting it insisted that my hair was going to bounce up that amount (my hair was dry so I am not sure where the bounce was coming from) and it had no shape.

I was bummed...

partially because it didn't come out how I wanted...

But even more because I took the time to invest in me and it fell flat and I left more disappointed then I would have been if I had just left my hair in the mom bun...

But I talked to an amazing friend who is an amazing prayer worrier for my girls... she also is an amazing hair stylist!

So this afternoon the girls and I went to see her.

My hair is naturally as thin and straight has possible... so I have been perming it since high school to give it some body... but the last two times I had my hair permed I ended up with the skin on my face burned so I was really nervous about getting a perm again eventhough that is what I really wanted.

My friend had never done my hair before but was willing to give perming it a try and had some ideas about what to do to protect my skin.

I have a super cute new hair style that will be easy to maintain while we are at NIH. I am so excited...

I most of all I am super happy that I took time for me. I know most people wouldn't consider it being me time when your kids are with you at the hair salon and your two yr old sits on your lap for the first half (thanks mom for coming for the second half to help entertain the kids) but in my world that totally counts!

I'm proud of me for doing something for me, even if that is not the socially acceptable thing to say lol

Thank you so much Elsa!

I also wrote a post earlier today about what God has been teaching me. You can CLICK HERE to read it :)