We recently had ds3’s first haircut! We delayed it a little bit, since his birthday was two days before my mother arrived in Israel. And then that week was so hectic that I didn’t want to do it then, because it would have been pushing too much into too short a time. So we did it a week and a half after his actual birthday.
It’s so fun seeing the anticipation of the kids building up for it, particularly the little kids.
We started off by him repeating letters of the aleph bais with dh, and dipping his finger into something sweet after each letter – this is to show a child that learning Torah is sweet. Dd17 was up late the night before baking with ds4 and ds6, making a special cake and aleph bais cookies. After he finished saying the aleph bais, ds3 gave each of the people there a cookie with a letter of the aleph bais on it.
From there we started his haircut. Each family member took a snip, starting with dh and I, thengoing in age order from the oldest to the youngest. After that my mother and her husband took a snip, then the guests in age order again. Finally at the end, I snipped off the ponytail that I had bound up in the back as a momento, then gave him a full haircut.
A haircut like this can be overwhelming for a young child since it’s a new experience and there are so many people getting involved, but ds3 was amazing – he stayed really calm and patient. It helped when ds13 brought him a mirror and held it up for him so he could watch himself getting a haircut; this was fascinating for him.
After the haircut, he cut his special cake and gave out a piece to each person. And after everyone finished eating their cake and the other refreshments, dh played the guitar with ds18 singing with him.
We were able to take advantage of the rare occasion of having everyone home at one time and having someone around to take a picture of the entire family, too!
It was a lovely event and we keep asking ourselves how ds3 can look even cuter now than he did before his haircut!
Avivah
Mazal tov! So sweet, and I like how involved ds was in handing out things to the guests. You are training him so well in hachnasat orchim.
Mazel tov! You guys look great! We miss you guys!!!!
Mazel tov, sounds like a beautiful party with a cake straight out of a magazine Many people give me surprised look when I told them that my favourite simcha was the upshering, but to me it really was.
You started wearing a tichel, Israeli style? (I don’t think I’ve ever seen you not in a sheitel :)) You guys all look so happy — may your simcha continue, and your little one should give you much nachas as he grows up 😀
I’ve been wearing a shaitel every day for 15 years, and when we moved here decided to wear a tichel during the week. Funny because here everyone assumes I’m a tichel person; in the US everyone would be surprised to see me even once like this! 🙂 I’m a little self-conscious about blog pics with this, but I don’t usually take pictures at the time that I’m wearing a shaitel and I didn’t have time to take a picture with just the kids so that I wouldn’t be in it.
Please don’t be self-conscious! I don’t wear a sheitel during the week…I just remembered you posting about wearing a sheitel when giving birth or something like that since it’s your normal daily wear 🙂
[Yes, I remember the strangest things…]
Just so you know, this made my eyes sweat. I miss all of you so much and wish I could have been there. You are all a site for sore eyes. Look how beautiful your family is….*bittersweet* ps, I was a little shocked at the scarf but you are still a STUNNER, big SIS. What I would give for a hug and an hour of chatter with you.
Mazal Tov! So sweet! We just made an opsher for our son last week, don’t they grow up all of a sudden with the haircut and yarmulke and tzizis!! Lots of nachas!
Mazal tov!!! I *love* the tichel!!!!
Mazel Tov Avivah! The family picture is so beautiful too! Gut Shabbos!
Your family is so beautiful!
Mazal tov! May your nachas and beautiful family continue to grow.
Wonderful picture of all of you! Mazal Tov!