A Good Hair Day

On Sunday, we went to the early, 9 am church service.  He knows where he is going.
I have to sign him in first, but his little hand in mine was tugging to go forward into the nursery.  I was greeted by a woman at the computer who typed us in and printed up our nametags - one for me, one for the little guy and one for his backpack.  He was ready for full steam play.
He looked pretty sharp in his plaid buttoned shirt and tan corduroys.  His hair was even tidy today.  His hair is fine and blond, just like his mom's was at that age.  Oh, what a time of it we'd have trying to get it brushed.  Because it was so fine, it would mat in the back as she slept, which is exactly what happens to him.  The good thing is that his hair is shorter - so it is easier to comb or brush.  The bad thing is that his hair is shorter - so when he sleeps he wakes to hair sticking up at odd angles, and with lots of static.
Today, knowing I wanted to not look like a grandma that doesn't know what she's doing, I needed to get his hair looking good.  I knew from days before that merely brushing it wouldn't do anything, and he would run out of patience for it very quickly.  I also knew he liked orange juice.  So at breakfast while he was drinking his juice, I wet a paper towel down with lukewarm water (so he wouldn't notice so much) and wrung it out just enough so that it didn't drip on him.  Then I simply patted his hair down from top to bottom, getting his hair slightly wet.  He never even noticed what I was doing.
Then armed with more "knowings", I started brushing my own hair.  To a toddler learning to do everything the "big kids" do, a hairbrush is as enticing as a stick.  When I was finished I asked him if he would like to use it.  And of course he did.  Admittedly, I did have to stop him just as he was reaching for the dog to brush her hair, but the job was done.  Tamed hair on a two year old boy.  Score!
At the end of church, I came up to the half-door of the nursery and was greeted by "Nannie!" when he saw me.  He raced to the door and had to be reminded that he needed to get his coat and backpack.  His hair still looked great!  No one noticed but me.  But I'll bet they would have noticed if we hadn't gotten it tamed.
After church there was dinner, a bit of play, and a nap.  His golden locks will again get a workout as he goes romping through his dreams!  Oh, well, for a couple of hours they were tamed, and I looked like I was in full control!