As I've written in the recent past, our two-dad home is dealing with maintaining our daughter's hair care. Grady has been wearing her hair in braids for as long as I can remember, but as of late, we have had to let her wear it more natural, as our former nanny is not always available to braid her hair.
Anyway, this week, with her hair out and free, I created an assortment of ponytails, pigtails, and puffs. Not all of these were intentional, but I did my best to create magic with Grady's hair. For the last couple of days, we have gone back to an old-time, pre-nanny hairstyle....the afro. Afro with headband, afro and barrettes and my fave, afro with giant bow hair clip. My fave was not necessarily Grady's fave, in fact, she pleaded with me to give her a ponytail, but sometimes it was just not possible. Does anyone understand how difficult a ponytail can be for a man who has no hair?
After three days of her 'fro, I told Grady that she was going to get her hair braided, to which she replied, "No Dad, I just want to wear it like this. I like this." I was shocked and suprised that she said that, especially as she was anti-fro hours earlier. The next day, while dropping her off to school, I started to hear the other kids and parents say "I like your hair Grady, Grady you look nice, etc" when I realized that while I see something so beautiful in her afro, she had not always seen the same. At that moment, she looked me square in the eye and without saying a word told me that she loves herself and that her hair is special, regardless of the style. It made me feel so happy that she has embraced all of her self and stood so proud and tall for being who she is.
