Our usual family stylist is on summer vacation until August. I thought Sonya’s haircut could wait, even though she’d been asking for a haircut these past two weeks. Then on Friday, Sonya just looked at me while we were on a walk back home from the grocery store and said flatly, “Mommy, the wind is blowing the hair in my face. I don’t want a ponytail. I don’t want clips. I want it CUT.”

I was really startled by how articulate she was. I began calling nearby salons. Since I had to work around an afternoon nap schedule and an evening dinner soirée, I settled on Coupe Bizarre— which was the only place in a one-kilometer radius that could do a same-day, basically walk-in, appointment. The salon’s name kind of clues you into the specialty— unconventional, innovative, funky styles. Mohawks, half-shaves, asymmetrical cuts. If you’re an aspiring punk rocker in Montreal, this is where you’d go.

This is not the place you’d typically take a kid. But they happen to be just around the corner, so I called and asked if they’d do a three-year-old on short notice… like sort of, well, immediately… and the stylist said sure.

Sonya LOVED it. I think she was so happy to finally be getting her haircut! Leena and I also had a fun time watching.The stylist was fantastic. She interacted directly with Sonya. She asked Sonya how she’d like her hair cut. Sonya said, “Short.”

As the stylist conservatively snipped Sonya’s bangs and softly trimmed her sweet bob, Sonya said, “No, shorter! I want it short! It gets in my face!”

The stylist glanced over at me. I shrugged. She snipped off more hair.

“Even shorter!” Sonya said, grinning impishly at herself in the mirror. By now, her smiling, giggling, and general adorableness had pulled in a few other stylists and the salon receptionist. She had a small audience.

In the end, Sonya was VERY pleased with her hairstyle. It was so different— so bizarre— that I didn’t quite know what to think, except that I loved it because she loved it. I think the haircut really showcases Sonya’s spunky personality.

Sonya has received a number of compliments from people she knows. What’s really gauging though, is a few complete strangers have stopped and commented on the awesomeness of Sonya’s hair. This has just reinforced her confidence. And that’s really cool. She has IDEAS. And she’s able to EXPRESS them! And SHARE them with the world!