La Petite Belle yelled from the bathroom last night, “Mommy, come here. Mommy, I need you to see something.”
When these words are uttered from the bathroom, it’s never a good thing.
I told her to wait a minute like most mothers do, and then headed over to the bathroom.
When I arrived, she had both legs flung over the outside of the tub.
“Yes?” I say.
“Mommy, I shaved my leg and I didn’t cut it one bit.” She said.
“What?” (I felt a freak-out moment coming on.) “No! No! No! La Petite Belle (but used real name), I can’t believe you shaved your leg.”
She starts to tear up. (She’s pretty much become an emotional basket case since she’s gone back to school. This was only about the seventh time she cried that day.)
“Why?” She asked. “I didn’t know.” (which she did)
“Yes, you knew. You’re too young to shave your legs (she’s 8). Your sister just started to and she’s 12. Shaving legs is for older girls in junior high or high school. You know you are always to ask permission before you do something like this.” I said.
She continued to say she didn’t know she wasn’t supposed to do it and didn’t understand why K Belle could and she couldn’t. Let’s just say that K Belle probably wouldn’t have to shave for another few years because she really still doesn’t have any hair on her legs. But, she, of course, would be mortified if she couldn’t shave because all the girls in her class started shaving last year. Whatever.
La Petite Belle, on the other hand, could have started shaving at 2. She’s definitely of French descent. That baby could have used a good wax job when she was an infant … eyebrows, legs, not to mention, back.
She did come to me about 15 minutes after the incident and apologized for shaving, but then told me I should feel how smooth her leg was.
Here’s the “mean” part: She’s going to school tomorrow with one shaved leg and one unshaved leg.
I thought about it awhile. That’s a pretty good natural consequence for her actions.
I did second-guess myself and thought about sending her back to shave the other leg, but didn’t. She should remember this one for a while and hopefully she will get the whole asking-permission thing I’ve been trying to teach her for almost 9 years.
I'm sensing a counseling session in about ten years with a young woman having issues that stem from a moment of humiliation in her childhood.
That is so funny! K Belle reminds me of myself when I was younger. I think you are an amazing mom and the consequence of her action is not so bad. I could think of worse punishments.
I can remember like it was yesterday, being in my paw paw's bathroom, trying to shave my face, and luckily, I cut the mess out of myself, because if I would have succeeded shaving my face, I would now have a beard!
I am glad you did what she did.. I will get on a soapbox here…. too many people think little girls should look like little women… not ladies but WOMEN..by the way they dress and act and talk…..They are little girls for pitty's sake… let them be little girls!!
Ok off my box..
Too funny…you have made me very thankful for baby boys this week. No gardasil or leg shaving 🙂
I have to say though… with practice at such a young age hopefully she'll be better at shaving than I am–I miss a gigantic spot every.time. Makes me so angry!
Good job mom!! I would have probably caved and let her shave the other one too (cause I melt when I think of my kids being humiliated!)
Way to hold her accountable for her actions. Not many parents do that anymore!
Good decision. May seem harsh but our kids need to learn they have to deal with the consequences, right? As for the waxing at birth-that's timeless ;o)
LM*O, sorry no other way to describe the memories of this very thing happening to me…my mother's mean streak was to "allow" me to only shave to the knee, at 12, boy can you say counseling sessions during bathing suit season? trust me…she will be just fine!
LM*O, sorry no other way to describe the memories of this very thing happening to me…my mother's mean streak was to "allow" me to only shave to the knee, at 12, boy can you say counseling sessions during bathing suit season? trust me…she will be just fine!
I did the same thing when I was 10. I shaved. (both legs) Went and showed off to my mom. She freaked and made me grow them back out until I was 12.
I lived. She will to….
Memories! 🙂
I did the same thing when I was 10. I shaved. (both legs) Went and showed off to my mom. She freaked and made me grow them back out until I was 12.
I lived. She will to….
Memories! 🙂
Too funny! My daughter is incredibly hairy. I feel bad for her. She's 7 and I could braid her leg hair…I don't even want to start talking about her back!
-FringeGirl
I did the same thing as La Petite Belle and my mom did the same thing as you. 🙂
Poor thiiiiiiinnnnnnnggggg…..
This is one of those things that she we bring up at Thanksgiving when she's an adult. Remember when…..,
Too funny!
I had a similar experience when I was her age — you're a good mom 🙂
Just wait until you have the Great Makeup Debate…or maybe you already have…
Oh my gosh, that is too funny!! Poor La Petite Belle!! LOL!!!
omw, I did the same thing when I was young. Only I took all the skin off my shin!!!! That alone made me not want to shave for a while!!!
I was just talking to a young mom the other day telling her that some times natural consequences are the best teacher!
I feel for her.. I did the same when I was 7 yrs, using my papa's razor & lava bar soap. The cuts were insane! When my mom saw what I did, she thought the cuts were punishment enough. My daughter is 5.5 yrs & has the some furry lil legs, golden fur. Sadly she likes it & compares it to ours orange tabby cats fur.Though I'm sure she will feel different in a yr. or so!!
Way to go! I think you are a great mom. I rememeber shaving just below my sock line when I was a kid. My legs were not hairy but I wanted to shave like my friends and my mom said no. She'll learn her lesson.
I LOVE this.
Seriously, I'm printing these pages out so I can go back for references when my girls are older.
Oh noooo… Poor La Petite Belle! Precious memories 😉
I think it's better for her to learn at 8 to toss the "it's easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission" mentality than for her to learn it later on something harder. Good for you mom.
This story reminds me of my Pastor from Texas…he said that he would never keep his dress shirts tucked in when he was a kid, so his mother sewed lace ruffles on the bottoms of all his shirts!! See? It COULD be worse!
Man I love mean moms! Way to go! 🙂
Good for you for sticking to your guns. 😉 It's hard, though, huh? A good lesson on asking for permission….something we're trying to work on around here too.
Reading your post and these comments makes me feel a little better about my baby girl – she has the hairiest legs and eyebrows – totally needs a wax job. I guess it's more common than I thought!
I feel sorry for her, yet I think it's a lesson she'll never forget. Sometimes we all just have to learn the hard way! Good for you for doing what's right, even though I know it's probably harder for you than for her! Sometimes it's not so fun being a mom, is it?
I think your consequence for her was incredibly appropriate! She'll learn a lesson from it.
Makes me remember how I had to beg my dad (I was raised by him, no mom around) to let me shave my legs in 6th grade b/c I took dancing and my hair actually stuck out of my dance stockings. Talk about EMBARRASING!!!!!
That is too funny! I do have to say you have given me an idea. If any of my kids do anything like this I will send them to school with one shaved anything!…lol…great idea! Your not a mean mom, your a smart mom!