These are just two of many reasons that I know parenting isn't a selfish act. Today's children will be adults of our future, and they will be making friends AND finding solutions. As we've heard many times, they will help to make world a better place. We shouldn't spend our days with our children worrying about bad things that could happen to them. Instead, we should help them grow and experience all good in world. We should help them to be a part of that goodness, and to show them how to create more of it for benefit of all.

Even more importantly, my children reminded me yesterday of need to go on with our daily lives. If we don't, we are giving up and giving in. There is still many inventions for us to dream up, and many friends that we just haven't met yet. It's time to move forward, and to makes things better in process.

So, our dilemma... when is she old enough to make this decision on her own? If she really insists that she dislikes her hair as it is, are we being awful parents if we stall or try to bribe her out of it? Do we have a right to just tell her no, that she can't get it cut? Or should I just take her to salon and close my eyes, hoping for best?

And what will be next? Will she come home from first grade next fall wanting to pierce an eyebrow? A tattoo in second grade? I know I'm exaggerating a bit here, but we did not expect our daughter, who loves all that's girly and pink, to want to get her hair cut off!

Realistically, I know that this is a small worry. Our children will continue to blindside us with surprises many times through years, and each one will seem like a small catastrophe at time. But looking back, many years from now, I'm sure I'll be laughing about how we made such a big deal over her first "real haircut".

I think what makes it hardest for me is real-life idea that it represents in my mind. If she cuts her hair, it won't grow back tomorrow. And just as she can't get back her long tresses, we can't get back today after we tuck our children into bed. It's just another step towards tomorrow, another milestone to cherish forever.