As I’ve shared before, Lizzie is just a tad stubborn.  But what she doesn’t quite realize yet…Momma is also very stubborn!  There have already been a few battles of the wills in our household and I’m sure the future holds many more.  I have to share one battle which I’ve recently won – it only took me about a year (see, it’s all about patience!)

Around 18 months, Lizzie decided that she did not want me (or anyone else) to put her hair up – no barrettes, no pigtails, no half up half down nonsense – NOTHING!  Of course, this directly coincided with her hair getting longer and more curly.  I tried to talk to Lizzie about the many benefits of wearing her hair up, for example having her hair up meant that she wouldn’t have to worry about hair falling down over her eyes, she’d be able see better and others would be able to see her beautiful eyes too.  Not to mention how much cooler it is to have your hair up on a hot summer day in Florida!  Reason did not prevail in these conversations.  Try as I may to put her hair up, Lizzie would pull it down the minute I was finished (and sometimes during).  Even talk of princesses with stylish ‘dos did not do the trick.

So, what is a Momma to do?

I relented…or so it seemed. 😉  Little by little, I continued to hail the virtues of styling our hair.  I’d casually mention how cute her classmates looked with their hair up, we’d give her dolls’ new hairstyles at home, and I always made sure to point out whenever I was sporting a ponytail or bun.

All the while, I continued my attempts, trying every week or so to put her hair up.  These “trys” mostly ended with cries of indignation, “Hair down, Mommy!”  But one day, my relentless pursuit paid off.  I attempted a side ponytail and, miraculously, Lizzie left it untouched.  Hoooooooooooooooooooooooooray for victory (I cheered silently of course – I couldn’t let her know how much this small victory meant to me lest she decide to pull out the pony on principle)!

The next day, I grew even bolder and attempted two side ponytails – and to my astonishment, Lizzie again left them untouched!  Could it be?  Had my patience paid off?

My final test – pigtails!  Would she leave them in?  The next day, I held my breath as I attempted my most daring style yet.  The pigtails held!  WOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

I’m not sure what finally clicked, but I’m here to say that you must never give up with a toddler.  You just never know, one day they might actually listen to you (even if it’s a year later).  😉

Next up…potty training.  Stay tuned!