My new red hair gives my violinist a boost of bravery

My middle child has been taking violin for about two months. As a very new student, she was nervous about playing in her winter recital. On Wednsday, among ignoring all the Christmas things on my list to make, to do, to bake, to wrap, to get ready for entertaining family …. the list goes on and on. I decided to throw all those things to wind and go get my hair done. And wow, did I ever get it done! It’s all red, 100 percent red!

Now I’m sure some would ask, well how natural is that? And my answer is, having fun hair is my one splurge of I’m just-not-going-to-be-that-organic-and-old-fashioned when it comes to coloring my hair. It’s fun. I’ve been doing it since (gasp) the seventh grade when my my mom took me to get highlights one fall after a long summer of sunny pool days and white blonde hair followed by dark winter roots.

This is the first time I’ve done the full-on red thing in about 10 years. So I wondered how the kids would react. They loved it! And much to my surprise, my example to take a little risk brought my little budding violinist just the boost of bravery she needed to take the stage.

On the way to the recital Thursday night she asked, “Mom are you going to show everyone your red hair?” After I answered yes she said, “Wow, you are really brave. I’m going to be really brave too.”

Then off she went, up onto the stage, all by herself, proud as could be and playing one he_ _ of a Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. She rocked it. I was so proud of her. And she was so proud of herself.