It's in all of us, 
whether we like to admit it or not.
It is one of the traits that I personally like the least.
It breaks my heart to see it displayed.

It is even harder when I see it in my own life.

Sweet Halley wants to give her hair to 
She has been asking for months.
I keep hoping she will forget or change her mind.
All because of my selfishness.

She is five,
and has never had a haircut.
Hair does not come easy to my girls
and the thought of cutting off her 
sweet curls and baby blonde is 
really more than I can take.

But then I think back to when I worked at a salon.
Each time a client came in to donate their hair I cried.
Amazed by their loving hearts.
For the person whose life would change 
through the simple sacrifice of hair.
Hair that grows back.
For someone who has none.

In a week or so I am going to say goodbye to
my kind and sensitive hearted daughter's hair.

Then mail it off to be made into something wonderful.
Life changing.
I will probably never regret it.
Just thankful for the extraordinary 
lesson that Halley is teaching me.
Her example is changing my selfish heart.



48 Comments

  1. Sweet little Halley Jae. Takes after her parents with her kind, giving heart. I guess she isn't so little anymore though.

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  2. what beautiful hair & what a beautiful gift she is giving someone. What an amazing little girl you are raising! You must be so proud!

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  3. She must be the sweetest thing!

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  4. she touches my heart with her amazing will and kindness... wow, you are one lucky mama, she is only 5 and wants to give a gift this HUGE! when I was 5 all i knew about was barbies and my little ponies... Amazing! She is going to touch many lives in her time.

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  5. you are allowing her to learn a valuable lesson of love. My cousin is in the exact predicament with her 6 year old.
    It takes courage as a mom but it's so wonderful that she wants to.

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  6. It truly is amazing how selfish we can be over little insignificant things like that isn't it?! I could NEVER think of giving my hair away, it's my "one true beauty", Little Women :)
    But then since I am so attached to it maybe I should give it another thought....hmmmm.....nah!

    Thanks for the inspiration this morning!

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  7. Aw, this made me cry. What a sweet, kind gesture. She will look beautiful when her hair has been trimmed and what a wonderful gift she is giving to someone.

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  8. That is beautiful! I donated my own hair to Locks of Love about two years ago and learned to rock a short bob for a while. I'm growing it out again for my wedding in November and I fully intend to cut it all off again once it's long enough to donate. You should be very proud of your daughter!

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  9. How super loving of a 5 year old. Sometimes our best lessons of love come from children.

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  10. What a sweet little heart!!! and what a precious gift!...my dearest friends son is currently wearing a locks of love donation!!! Bless each and every angel that donates!!! it is a true gift!

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  11. I wanted to thank you so much for your post on "All American Tutu". I saw this blog and was in love with the results so I had to try them myself. I posted a blog today with the results and think it really paid off. Thanks again! Keep up the great ideas.

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  12. I love locks of love! I have donated my hair 3 times now, and I am almost ready to do it for a 4th time!

    It is very sweet if your litte girl!!!

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  13. My friends daughter did the same thing and it was such a selfless and amazing this (she was 4 when she wanted to do this, she saw a babysitter do and it made her want to do the same thing). Sadly, right after she donated her hair she was diagnosed with cancer, she was a tropper and her hair did fall out. But thanks to others, like your daughter, who had donated thier hair she got to pick out a wonderful wig. Even though her own hair has grown back in she still has her wig on display in her room... your dughter is amazing and you should be very, very proud you have raised her to think of others above her self! :)
    -Kari

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  14. How fantastic that she wants to do it! I can't wait to read the updates on this story! What a great little girl you have!

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  15. Very sweet! You have taught your daughter well!!!

    Karen~

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  16. We got a book from the library about this called Melissa Parkington's Beautiful, Beautiful Hair. It was SO great, I just about cried every time I read it to my kids! It's such a beautiful thing to do, what a sweet and generous girl you're raising.

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  17. Wow, what a sweetie she is!! It is beautiful hair and I can see why you wouldn't want to cut it, but it will be a blessing to someone else.
    Elise

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  18. That is so sweet. I have been trying to grow mine long enough to do this (I've already chickened out once.) Your little 5 year old is so inspiring to want to help. My cousin had cancer when she was 6 and lost all of her hair (this was before there were many options in wigs for kids). It may just be hair but I think it makes a huge difference to this kids.

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  19. I totally understand how you feel but just think of the person who will receive her beautiful hair. What a beautiful smile that person will have.

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  20. What a wonderful gesture of love and sacrifice by her, and by you as well! What a sweet girl!

    ~Keri

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  21. Awwww. My husband just donated his. He was able to donate 13 inches!!! I know its hard to give up your baby(even if it is in the form of hair). My oldest got all her hair cut off and her ears pierced in the same day :( ((HUGS))

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  22. Very touching post Julie ...
    I donated mine about 3 years ago to Locks of Love and it was such a blessing to me. I know this will be the same for you and Halley.

    Isn't God good to teach us through these little ones He's blessed us with caring for.

    Happy Day!

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  23. My daughter has hair that has always grown fairly fast and has donated several times. It's been very rewarding to know you're helping someone.

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  24. That is so awesome of your daughter to want to do that.

    Her hair is beautiful! I bet she'll like the shorter do for Summer though.

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  25. That is so sweet. I teared up just reading about it. Good for you for letting her go for it!

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  26. What a giving little girl! My daughter wanted to donate her hair to locks of love as well. So we did last summer. :) She cried when I cut her hair off, but then when she got the card in the mail thanking her for her generous and selfless donation, she was beaming from ear to ear. It made her feel good, and I teared up as well. :)

    It was hard for me as well... we cut 12 inches off! Her hair was really short, but you're right. It grows back. :)

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  27. Precious just beautiful, her hair and her heart! You will love her new short hair, just think if this it will be easier to wash and style! I know how you feel though, I didnt want to cut off my sons long hair but once I did I cant stop rubbing his head!

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  28. What a sweet little girl who wants to give such a beautiful gift! You must be soooo proud!

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  29. sweet.
    she will feel like a new woman with a cut sassy hair cut!
    you will also be giving yourself hours of extra time a week...no more brushing out tangles and such. :)

    it's a good thing julie!

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  30. oh what a sweet baby girl!
    i know you are very proud of what a kind hearted girl your daughter is!

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  31. That is so cool... I donated mine last year and one of my girls is talking about doing it this summer. Did you know that Pantene also has a program and their minimum requirement is 8 in. versus the 12 for locks of Love? Then your girl wouldn't have to go as short... They both have web pages with the requirements.

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  32. What a sweet little heart. I'm sure it's tough for you but you are obviously helping that little heart grow into loving other people. There's a part of me that (selfishly) hopes my daughter doesn't ask to do that but then other part of me desires that she have a giving heart more than vanity. Good for you for having the courage to let it go.

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  33. Wow, you must be so proud of her for wanting to do this! God bless her!

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  34. What a sweet thing to do for someone so young - I donated a few years ago and found it so rewarding - as will you I am sure. Great job!! Cheers Heather

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  35. Wow, what an amazing little girl. I'm sure she gets her kind heart from her parents :) I've been wanting to donate my hair, but I'm not sure if I'm brave enough!

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  36. It so hard! I big puffy heart my daughter's hair when it is long, too! She also convinced my selfish heart to part with HER hair...twice now and she is seven. You can do it Momma!

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  37. Wow. What a sweet, sweet girl. How incredibly touching is this? You should be proud of yourself...you are raising an amazing little one! And short hair can be SUPER cute!! Promise!! :)

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  38. What a precious little girl you have with a big, generous heart!!!

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  39. My best friend's daughter, Kayla, is also 5 years old. We asked Kayla what she wanted as a "Starting Kindergarten" present. She said "I want to give my hair to other little girls." I was confused until I heard about a program called "Wigs for Kids". It's a partner program with the Arkansas Children's Hospital. I was in tears when she was talking about it. Then, she asked if her mom, her grandmother, and I would go with her and get our hair cut as well... so for the past 4 months, I haven't cut my hair, I've only had 1 trim.

    Out of the mouths of babes, eh?

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  40. what a sweet gift and sweet little girl.
    we did it. with both of mine, at 3 and 5. took tons of pictures, it was WONDERFUL.
    i have even heard of a mom calling the local paper, they did a small article on the little girl who did it along with a picture. kind a cool. something to keepsake.
    it wonderful. and its just hair. it will grow back.
    you know that :O)

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  41. What a gorgeous little girl with a gorgeous HUGE heart!

    Thank you for sharing her selfless desire to give.

    My mom had cancer and when I was little I can remember what it was like for her to have lost all her hair.

    You daughter will be giving such a beautiful gift to another child and THAT is just too beautiful for words!

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  42. You are setting such a good eample for her... She had to learn it from somewhere. First... While it IS Halley's hair, it is just that...hair... No matter what she will be just as sweet and cute as ever. Even more so because now she can tell everyone what she did... I am so proud of both of you... First you for allowing it, and secondly Halley for her BIG generous heart. What amazing SELfLESS people you are.

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  43. May daughter did that and it was wonderful.

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  44. I really enjoy your blog! I have nominated you for the Kreativ Blogger Award! http://cupcakecuppy.blogspot.com/2009/07/kreative-blogger-award.html

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  45. That is so wonderful :) I've had several middle school students donate to locks of love. It's such a great program.

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  46. My 7y/o daughter wants to do the very same thing. Agh, it makes my stomach hurt to think about it but I know it is for a good cause and I am proud of her for wanting to donate her hair. We are waiting until the end of summer.
    Your daughter has beautiful hair and will look beautiful with it short and she will also gain such a valuable memory and lesson by donating her hair to such a good cause.

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