So my darling four-and-a-half-year old did it. She cut her own hair. About one month ago. When her best friend was over. Side bangs, anyone? That’s what she gave herself. Claims there was gum in her hair. Which is odd. Since chewing gum is expressly forbidden in my home. I think it’s disgusting. But there you have it. My kid had something in her mouth that I don’t approve of and it somehow ended up in her hair and instead of coming to her mama – her safe place – she did what any rational person under four feet tall would do. She found a pair of scissors and chopped off a hank of her hair. And then left it on the kitchen floor for me to happen upon, all innocent-like. “What is this? Pretty blond hair? From a doll? Wait, is that… gum? Oh my God! Shit! What the…?”

So, let me tell you something about my kid. She has hair down to her bum. No, we’re not talking Crystal Gayle here, but we’re getting there. So I get it. She was due for a trim. Okay, a cut. Since I’d actually given her a trim. Myself. All weepy and barely noticeable as it was. So I did what any good mom would do. I made no thing of it. It’s only hair, right? We went about our play-date. Went to our baking class. Then off to the salon. For something – anything – that would fix the whole side bang situation. And?

Nothing.

After a 30-minute consultation between myself, the stylist and the manager, two of the three of us were still at a loss as to how to fix it and unwilling to move forward with the shears. (And I was not one of the three. Myself? I was thinking Penelope Cruz, circa “Vanilla Sky.”) So I took control. Barked some orders. Called the shots. Did everything short of grab those scissors and do the deed myself.

And?

Eh…

Let’s just say that my girl did indeed finally get that couple of inches cut off. But the side bangs? Well…

We’re working the accessories angle right now.

I like accessories, as it turns out.

Some favorites: anything named after John Coltrane and made of feathers has got to be good. Right? Right.

Anything from Emerson Made.

And bobby pins – you just can’t go wrong with bobby pins when it comes to holding back errant bangs, right?

And for my girl who’s finally moved on from the world of Disney princesses to Hello Kitty, these adorable ponytail holders. Of course, they don’t actually help with the crazy side bangs, but they make my girl who gave herself her first official haircut smile. And that’s enough for me.