Pigtails and Toenails

by Jeff Bogle | More from this Blogger

12 Jun 2007 08:21 AM

It all started innocently enough. Last year, by the pool, my then seven-year old cousin took to prettying-up the adults' toenails with non-toxic water paints as we relaxed around my parent's backyard, by the in-ground pool, working on our collective sunburn. She took care of everyone, boys too. My dad sported a pale yellow, I was granted a lovely purple and my brother (her dad) a pleasant pink. My gal, then two, was the recipient of an orange and green combo. Over a year later, the novelty of having a vibrant color (or two) stare up at her has still not worn off. She asked for and received a kiddie pedicure, with real polish, from grandma while vacation in Florida this past March and she still loves using those same two colors - green and orange.

Needless to say, my girl found these poolside antics hilariously funny. Since then we have enjoyed painting each other's toenails while hanging out around the house. While it is certainly not as relaxing as a spa pedicure, a treatment I would get weekly if I could afford it, a kiddie pedicure is pure family fun.

We also enjoy acting as silly as humanly possible in the pool and within our home (and sometimes in public) by putting our hair into pigtails, ponytails or other odd designs with scrunchies, berets, hair-ties, etc. I am a big fan of the fountain-look, where I gather up all my hair into one pile right on the top, letting it spill down all fountain-like. This past weekend, my gal sported the most intricate and inventive hairstyle mommy had ever tried on her. She actually kept all these pigtails in place for over 8 hours in and out of her grandparent's pool. Her cousins told her she looked funny and weird and one of her uncles took to calling her Coolio (not that she gets the reference) but my girl didn't flinch nor did she want to remove her hair ties in the face of that childlike criticism - that's my girl!

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Learn more about Jeff Bogle

Jeff is married to a lovely redhead and is fortunate to have in his life an amazing young lady, age three.

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