Last Diwali, my daughter Aavya decided to have haircut like her sibling Iyana. Until then, she had long hair, below shoulder and she would put two plaits for school. And on non-school days, she would leave her hair open or make some stylish plaits with the help of her dear grandmother. And to me, she always looked very pretty with her stylish plaits.
In Diwali vacations, we went for haircut. The haircut decided was – bangs with bob. It means hair length till ears and the forehead covered with bangs. The moment she was done, there were feelings – I didn’t like it one bit; whereas Aavya was very joyful to get her new look! As we came home, again there was a mix review from everyone. My husband, Amit Asked Aavya, “Did you like your new haircut?’ A visibly excited Aavya, with glee in her eyes happily said, “YES!”
Two days later, she went to school, and many of her classmates began to laugh, seeing her new haircut. Everyone was used to seeing her in two plaits. As the class ritual, all the kids sat for circle time before they start their day in school. Aavya felt bad, little hurt, crying within, and was sad. Immediately she told herself, “Mere bal hai, maine kataye hai, maine doosro ke liye nahi kataye, maine apne liye kate hain.” (These are my hair. I have cut them. I have not cut them for others, but for myself)
Ahh, now she was confident to face her class. All the kids went to their class and one kid was still laughing at her. She went to him and said the same thing what she was thinking. To add on it, she said, “Tere bal ko kuch nahi kiya hai. Mere bal ko kata hai!” (I have not done anything to your hair, but I have cut my own) Her authoritative statements were clear to her classmates and later everyone appreciated her new haircut. The same classmates who were laughing at her said, “Aavya you look very pretty in the new hairstyle!” She narrated the entire incident after she went through this, handled it and commanded appreciation! I was a proud mom! I swelled in pride!
This 8.5-year-old clever girl taught me a big lesson of the life. It made me realize – Bloom, even if you are alone!
In life, there will be times, people will mock at you, insult you, disrespect you, break your trust, leave you, not believe in you, not support you, fool you, badmouth about you, etc. From Aavya I learnt that – I will continue to bloom whether or not someone supports me. BLOOM, I WILL!
