Post-Upsherin Post

This past Sunday was DS1’s upsherin! We really lucked out with the weather and had a great time. DS1 was ok with the haircutting we did, but soon after, it was time for a trip to the barber. DH was the lucky one to take him and from what I heard, the experience wasn’t too bad. DS1 looks awfully cute with his new ‘do’ and he even looks 2 years older.

Now that he looks so much older with a grown haircut, he looks ‘incomplete’ without a yarmulka. We’re trying to encourage him to wear one all the time, but what’s making it really hard is that he doesn’t go to a Jewish daycare. He would be the only boy there wearing one and I don’t want him to feel different (especially now since he doesn’t look disheveled anymore!). I made sure to buy him some cute caps to wear, but it’s gonna take time for him to get used to always wearing something on his head.

Yesterday, when he didn’t want to wear a yarmulka or a cap, I let him go to school without any head covering. Throughout the day I regretted not trying to encourage him to at least wear a cap. I don’t want to give into the environment he’s in. He’s Jewish and he should look the part. If he were in a Jewish school there’s no way I would’ve sent him to school without anything.

Working in a non-Jewish place I understand wanting to fit in, but I still feel that DS1 is only 3 and is still too young to realize what everyone else is doing in terms of dress. I want to encourage him to dress properly from the start so he’ll feel proud of what he’s doing.

Today we did much better and he was excited to wear his cap to school, especially because his friend wears one too, or so he told me. That was definitely a step in the right direction and I hope we can keep it up. Now we have to start focusing more on the potty-training, but I suppose that it a story for another day. One thing at a time… one thing at a time.

Until next time,
Shaindy