Hair sin

When we began the adoption process

and decided on Ethiopia,

it suddenly occurred to me that

not only had I never before

had a child with hair other than similar to mine,

I also had never touched, played with,

or helped "do" a black child's hair.

Yikes.

Shortly after this realization

and my subsequent delve into the

world of trans-ethnic hair care

I learned a couple of stereotypical things on this topic:

(Warning: Non-Politically Correct usage of terms "black" and "white" to follow)

• Black people in the general public are (stereotypically anyway) harsh when it comes to the hair of other black people. While white people may not necessarily notice another white person's hair (unless there's a mullet or some super strange, unnatural color... supposedly, black people ALWAYS notice other black people's hair. 
• Many black people think there is no way that a white person could possibly take care of a black child's hair.
• White people hair and black people hair are direct polar opposites on the spectrum of hair care.
• NEVER, EVER, EVER CUT a black child's hair.

Now, how CORRECT these assumptions/facts happen to be is debatable.

What I have found to be true in OUR HOUSEHOLD is...

• My four girls have three totally different types of hair. We have the white-girl hair, a more loose curl pattern and a tightly coiled curl pattern. 
• Satin sleep caps can only do so much.
• De-tangling is my least favorite part of doing my kids hair - brown or white skin, no matter.
• Having a bar stool that spins and some good kid-shows on the TV are my two best tips for cooperative kids.
• Black people out in public DO look at my kids hair and many of them look disapprovingly, depending on the day.
• Magical oils and potions can only do so much also... and they need to be applied frequently.

That having been said...

my baby boy's hair has been a quandary

for months now.

Check out the cutest face EVER!

His hair has a tight curl pattern underneath, with some long straight hairs

growing out from underneath.

What this produces is a mixed hair pattern that doesn't want to cooperate with twists or locks or any other typical little boy styles. He is like a blend of both of his older sisters' hair textures.

Here is #6...

SUPER tight curls, but getting longer and 

we can get some tiny braids in there now!

And then #5...

Not the best pic showing her length or hair texture..

but its quite long and much more loosely coiled.

And here's another example of what I am talking about:

See the little coils I hand-twisted? 

They stayed pretty well, but then the fuzzy 

long straight hairs began to take over.

And it's not like I don't know how to take care of hair. 

I understand moisturizers, butters, blends, and potions.

Nothing is working!

Which brings me to ...

the hair cut.

Oh, yes I did.

I HAD to, people!

He HATED to have it detangled, 

crying big, huge tears no matter how gently

or slowly  I worked...

and he hated to have it coiled or pretty much

ANYTHING!

So...

I had no real choice.

And yes, I feel bad.

But...

I think it's super cute!

I think he likes it, too!

(and he clearly forgives me!)