Waiting and Knowing and Dreading

By 7 am this morning I knew Miss M was going to have a melt down.
The question was just when.
Where.
How.
And how long.

First a little background -
When Miss M first arrived she wore her hair one way
The way the lady at the former house told her she HAD to wear and
It was required to be worn that way each day.

Her hair was cut awhile back this spring when there was a lice issue at her other school
She wants to grow it out.
Badly.
Especially her bangs.
So...
Me, being the expert of growing out hair,
And bangs,
I taught her the joy and ease of headbands.
They look really sweet on her.
We've even dolled them up with bows and clips.

Then one day,
After she saw me wearing a pony tail,
She got in her head that she needed two pig tails.
We worked that out and accomplished that.

And for the past month,
We've been happy with those two hair style choices.


Tomorrow is picture day.
We've had her outfit picked out since last last week.
This morning,
As she was brushing her teeth,
She got the brain storm that I should curl her hair
And do it up fancy for pictures.

And that's all she talked about the entire way to school.
I stated and restated about 20 times
In different ways and different forms
That:
a) I don't do curls
b) I don't know how to do curls

c) We didn't have time to practice how to do curls
d) I don't own anything to make curls

And she didn't like that answer
And kept coming up with alternative ways for me to be able to accomplish curls.
And as I said goodbye at school
I knew the matter was not solved.

Then I spent the day,
In the back of my mind
Waiting for the confrontation
Knowing it would be coming.
Dreading it.
Prepping for it.

Oy.

She didn't mention anything on the entire way home.
(Lots of other stuff to celebrate.)
She didn't mention anything during dinner.
(Too hungry.)
She didn't mention anything during play/tv time.
(Too engrossed.)

I didn't mention anything either.
Avoidance.

I guess there is something about brushing her teeth
(The long staring in the mirror at herself, I guess)
That brings up the picture-day hair style.

Curls,
Curls,
Curls.

I repeated it all from this morning.
She kept at it.

I finally said, "Stop."
"Look at me and listen, Miss M."
She held still.
"I am going to tell you something.
You are not going to whine, mope, or argue.
You are going to listen and then we'll be reading.
Are you ready?"

She shook her head.

"We will not be putting curls in your hair.
I don't know how to do it.
I don't have things to do it.
I will help you make it look cute
And special.
Got it."

The lip came out
The whine started
And I just shook my head.

"I've been telling you this since this morning
And it is the way it is.
Now, go lay out your outfit for tomorrow and then we will read."

Sigh.

There was some stomping
A bit of slamming and one
"Miss M...." warning
That came from me.

And then she came out ready to read.

And that was that.

And,
Fingers crossed,
Tomorrow will bring a
Tear-free
Drama-free
Curl-free
Picture day.

PS - I did promise we would play with curls over the next month and maybe work on getting them in her hair for her 1950's outfit.

Praise Reports:
*Miss M had a great day today at school participating in the 3rd grade Greek Olympics. She was quite proud of her gold medal she wore around her neck when I picked her up.  I love being on the other side of seeing teachers do amazing things and kids coming home and sharing about them.

Prayer Requests:
-I still haven't heard back from Miss M's caseworker about calling her mom or about the respite care.  Keep praying on those two matters, please.