Saturday, August 16, 2008

"Moral-of-the-Story" Contest

My sister posted one of her experiences on her blog and sort of challenged me to come up with a moral to the story.

Instead of me doing that, I'm passing it along to you. The person who comes up with the best "moral" will win the Apples and Bees apron featured on Friday's blog post. Now we all know and understand that "best" is subjective and will be determined by my sister and me. We are not responsible for hurt feelings if you don't win; actually we will not be responsible for anything other than deciding who wins and getting the prize in the mail. In order to enter, leave your "moral" in the comment section on this post. Sometime next weekend we'll make the choice, so be watching for the winner to be posted. The winner will need to email me at the address in my profile. Only one comment per person. Comments will be taken until midnight, Friday, August 22. Have fun!

Here's the story:

This story may have been left untold, but someone has requested it three times! (You know who you are=)
It's not a beautiful story. It's a "what if" story, and "what ifs" are so grating.Our neighbor's 13 year old son had longish hair. It begged to be cut, you know? I had offered a couple of times to cut it if he ever wanted me to. One night, he and his 16 year old sister were over. I don't remember how the haircut idea came up, but I offered again to cut it. Well, he got brave enough (with some serious prodding from his sister) to give in. Sister assured me that Dad doesn't like it in his eyes and hounds Mom about it, thus Mom would be thrilled to get Dad off her back. I cut his hair. Not too short. He didn't want drastic (though I would have loved to cut it much shorter.)After I got done they went to show their mom. She was NOT happy. It started a big deal in their household, for which I felt awful! John urged me to go apologize and offered to go with me. We went, and I gave my very sincere, teary apology. She accepted but said that they had been wanting to see how long it would get and now they wouldn't get to see. She was also worried that her husband would be mad at her for letting it happen - and she'd had no say in the matter. Also, she didn't like the cut - too poofy on the sides. (My thought exactly, but he didn't want it shorter.)A little later he came back over sporting a "buzz," given by his mother. It looked great - just what I would've chosen for him. He looked so much older, cleaner, just better. But that didn't really matter. I cut someone else's child's hair without seeking their approval. That was a huge lack of judgment!! I would have been unhappy too - even if I liked the result. To be overridden as a parent is not cool!
So, to my Requester, that is the story. Maybe you can post the moral of the story=)

6 comments:

Mom to Anyone said...

Drum roll...

Happymom4 aka Hope Anne said...

Moral of the story? Ask before you cut--just like you'd want them to do to you.

Christine said...

I have three:

1. Cuttetth not what thou would not want to have cutteth.

2. Shear Not!

3. Forget that old phrase "It is easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission."

My favorite is #2.

Anonymous said...

Never swallow a horse....wait--wrong story.

Assumptions often lead to misunderstandings.

Anonymous said...

Moral of the story-


Don't touch his hair.

Mom said...

Good intentions don't count.