Nice Buns

Any of y'all good with hair? Me--not so much. I couldn't do big hair when big hair was in and I can't french braid and I can't blow dry my hair straight. But I'm okay with that. After years of painstaking research, I have found a couple styling methods that work for me and I'm sticking with those.

Tomorrow, though, is Ava's ballet concert and this particular dance school is very serious about hair. In fact, that's their motto, "We take hair seriously. And dancing. That too."* For every class, Ava has to have her hair done in a bun, and the teacher checks it each week. So that means that most weeks, Ava gets into the car after a class and heaves an exasperated sigh. "Mom, you need to use more bobby pins." Or "I'm not supposed to have any bits hanging down, Mom." I am apparently a failure and a disappointment in a myriad of ways.

So this week the dance teacher sent an email to all of the parents with info on the concert. At the end it says, "Please see attached for information on the perfect bun. If you would like assistance on learning how to do a bun, please bring all hair requirements to class and we will assist." Y'all, they have attached a bun tutorial. Apparently there are exciting advances in bun technology that now allow for a perfect bun. I am so thankful to now have this information at my disposal.

Last week for the dress rehearsal, I tried my Very Best. Here's what Ava looked like.

Now, I know it doesn't look so bad there. But that's cause the photographer had her stand sideways so you couldn't see how lopsided her bun is. And it was totally lopsided. Which Ava was prompt to point out to me. "Mom, why aren't you very good at this?"

Oh! And I have to show you this--this is Jason's attempt at a bun a few months ago when I was away and he had to get Ava ready. Actually, I think it's a good job for a dude. He was very proud of himself. And he can french braid!

Look at all those pins! Good on ya, babe.

So. Now I have 24 hours to work on the perfect bun. I have enough angst in my life, y'all! I don't need bun-angst. (Boy, that'll get me some interesting google hits, I bet!) I even had a dream last night that my sister cut Ava's hair into a cute bob shape, and in the dream I was all, "Now I'll never get it into a bun!" Maybe I should just tell Ava's teachers, Miss Cindy and Miss Patty to take a giant, bun-shaped chill pill. Maybe I should take one.

Wish me luck. Or come over and do Ava's hair for me. That'd be even better.


*That's not really their motto. But I think it should be.