Photos courtesy of Ryan Prouty

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Necessity

As you can see by this picture, the boys' hair was getting quite long. They like it this way. All the cool kids wear their hair long, you see. But, Gabriel and Riley have a little problem. We have been trying to teach them the strength of their words. How they can choose to use their words for good, or for harm. They kept making the wrong choices in spite of the push ups they would have to perform for speaking in such a way. Their dad was finally fed up and threatened the very hair on their heads if they didn't shape up. Here they contemplate whether Dad is actually crazy enough to actually cut their hair:


"Nah, he won't do it", thought Riley. "But he is crazy...he usually follows through on his threats." thought Gabriel.


"He's crazy, but not that crazy. I think we're safe!"

"But what if he really does it?"




"I'm not going to be as cool as I thought I was," Riley thought to himself. "My head is going to be cold!" thought Gabriel.



"Oh my, I think I hear the clippers warming up right now..."


Maybe we need to learn to watch what we say...



Sure enough, later that day, they found out if Dad was really serious. I am sure this was what Paul was thinking: "Clippers...check, comb...check, towel...check, stool...check, crazy smile...check!"


Can you see the hair literally flying?? Can you see how thrilled Gabriel is??





Next victim! He was a shaggy one too!


With a killer stare.


Another satisfied customer!



We'll keep you posted as to whether or not this actually changes their behavior. The reverse mohawk is the next promised new look in the house if it continues.

Disclaimer: we really do love our boys and they were long overdue for haircuts. Their school does not allow hair that covers the top of the ears, collar, or eyebrows, so this was inevitable. We did hope to teach them a lesson along the way. No animals or humans were harmed in the making of this post...just lots of hairs.




7 comments:

Rikki Kreger said...

Isn't it great to be a parent? :) The "words" lesson is hard--I try to teach that all the time--and yet fail at it myself plenty, too!!

Thanks for the email you sent me! I am surviving these early days of fatigue and soreness. :)

Football and Fried Rice said...

SO funny. Seriously. They are so "uncool" now :) I love that - my boys haven't asked to have shaggy, long hair YET - though Carter HATES getting his hair cut, so he'd have long hair, only by default! But we have a crazy-clipper-wielding dad at our house too!

Cindy and company said...

Hmmmmm....I think I have an idea!

Cindy and company said...

Hmmmm....I think I have an idea!

Stephanie said...

LOVE IT! That's my philosophy...hit 'em where it hurts and they seem to come around. At my house it's giving away her toys!

The Blackley Tribe said...

I love it Travis! One of our most memorable moments in children's ministry is when we were watching a video istead of teaching a lesson (I think it was a holiday) and Holden informed us that Riley couldn't watch movies because he hadn't finished his push-ups!!! I so can't wait to use push-ups on Micah!
Keep up the good work!

Marcie Ciha said...

Oh my goodness that is the best post EVER! Too bad I can't do that to my girls. I could have used a great tool like that today. Miss you my friend!