Tonight my grumpy, remote, surly teen let me do her hair. We tried an “up do” from youtube https://youtu.be/923YMiwJUWc
I realised it is the first time I have been permitted to touch, let alone do her hair for a good 5 if not 6 years. Perhaps more. As my grandmother used to say “So often you don’t know when youve done something for the last time”
Carried your child upstairs. Put on their glove to go out into a freezing day. Bathed them. Read them a bed time story. Combed and plaited their hair.
It has been, “Don’t touch my hair!” for so long.
I kept waiting for her to flinch, pull away and snarl But it didn’t happen. She let me do it. A good 15 mins of styling and me not being pushed away. A little tear came to my eye.
The River Files 