NO Pigtails In Public! (If You're In Your 40's)

Last Sunday, I was cleaning the house.

Not a fun time on the best of days, but doing so in the summer heat is even worse!

Because I have long hair, I tend to pull it back into a ponytail on days like these.

ESPECIALLY when cleaning the house.

However, THIS day, I thought I'd try something different.

I grabbed a couple of elastics and threw it into braids.  Something I hadn't done in a long time.

Hair out of the way.

Off to clean the house.

A little while later, Alec came up from his room.

He stopped in his tracks when he saw me, and let out a 'WHOA! ... Nice hair.'


I replied with a, 'What?  Not a fan of the braids?'

'No no,' he said, 'I like them, I just don't remember ever seeing your hair like that before.'


Gee ... guess it had been longer than I thought, if the kid with the memory of an elephant didn't remember me sporting pigtails.


A couple hours later, I picked up Adam and his friend.

First thing he said when he saw me was, 'MOM!  You look like you're four!!!'


He did NOT approve, and let me know it.


Unfortunately, for him, it's MY hair and I'll do it any way I please!

And let HIM know it ;-)


But it was my first indication that day, that apparently there seems to be the perception that a hairstyle like that is fine around the house, but ...

NO pigtails in public! (If you're in your 40's).


Unfortunately for the public, after I dropped the boys off, I went to the grocery store.

Yes, STILL sporting the braids.


I got the few items I needed, and while on my way to the cash, I passed a woman, I'd say in her 60's, who gave me 'the look', as I went by.

You ladies know 'the look'.

The once over that other women will give you, mentally assessing you from head to toe.  Your wardrobe, shoes, hair and makeup, all in a glance.

THAT look.


When I got to the cash, who shows up behind me but 'the looker'.

Looking at the braids.

And this time, there was no mistaking it.  She wasn't pleased with what she saw.

I even got the semi-nose-scrunch!!!!

The, NO pigtails in public! (If you're in your 40's), semi-nose-scrunch.


Now, we all know I'm not one to hold my tongue in many situations.

But I'm also not one to take down little old ladies in the check-out line either.


So I simply stared right back, waited until our eyes met, gave her my OWN look ... yes, my friends and co-workers know which one I'm talking about! ... held her gaze for a few extra seconds, and turned around to the cashier.


I didn't look back when I left.

Have no idea if she was still semi-scrunching or not, but to be honest, I really don't care.

If the fact I'm a 40yr old woman sporting a couple of braids bothers you, too bad.


But I DO have a solution .....

Look away.

Simple.  Isn't it.


K.