How Many Hair Ties Does One Family Need?
How Many Hair Ties Does One Family Need?: “Pretties” as they are known in this house, but an accurate question to ask. I have touched on how I am bald in the past, and to my girls, that makes me a hair expert. However, they enjoy reminding me that I am bald. I can honestly say I have purchased thousands of “pretties” and will purchase thousands more. And even after buying all of these pretties, they never have one when needed at cheer or tumbling practice. Never. I probably owe the gym hundreds because they always take one from them to have me put their hair up.
Putting their hair up is always entertaining. I am in no way of the imagination good at it, and it shows. You would think after having four girls, I would develop some sort of knack for it. Sometimes, bangs need to be out; sometimes, it has to be a high pony, sometimes low. And every time, I am wrong. In the current culture, the wanting of a messy bun, one would think that I could be a master. But because I have four girls, my mess is not good. The “mess” has to be just right, and it is just wrong every time I attempt. This does not affect whether or not I get asked to put their hair in a messy bun. They will ask. They will tell me it is wrong. And they will do it over themselves. And to the untrained dad’s eye, it looks the same. And always will.
The biggest challenge to date with hair has come this cheer season. Picture day. This would be no big deal for me because Mom will be home, of course, and take care of all hair and makeup needs. Wrong. Mom has been busting her ass with work and building her empire and was not going to be home this particular evening. So, with a call-up from the minor leagues, I attempt my first-ever hair and makeup session. Mind you, on competition days, Mom takes at least forty-five minutes for both girls to get their hair and makeup just right, but I only had thirty minutes to get both of my cheerleaders done. I had to complete what takes ninety minutes from an expert in a half hour. The most thankful part of this process is that for pictures, they do not need the high pony with a bow look. They can have their hair down, and as I mentioned another time, I am an “expert” with straightening hair. With that small victory, I began the makeup. And with the stamp of approval from Mom.
Back to the original question that started this post, there is no exact number that will satisfy the amount of “pretties” that are needed in a house full of girls. What I do know and can say for certain is that I have purchased three 40-packs of these within the past week. And will need more before next weekend’s competition.