Here is an awesome article from the New York Times for Love Thursday...

It is called "I Have Taken on My Daughter's Hair and Won", and is written by Randal C. Archibald, a black man and father who discusses his attempts and success with doing his daughter's hair, and the reactions he gets from his wife and other people in his life.

He talks about how black women give him oodles of praise and attention for being a black man that can "do hair". Here is a fun quote...

As Lyla and I depart, the receptionist at the counter coos.

“Who did your hair, sweetie,” she asks, knowing the answer.

“Daddy,” Lyla says matter-of-factly.

“Nice job, Dad,” says the receptionist. In another context, the look she gives me might land us in trouble with my wife.

The gushing, I have noticed, is particularly heavy from black women like the Y receptionist, as well as from family and friends, who no doubt appreciate the challenge of combing, brushing and braiding hair like Lyla’s. Hers is a glorious mix of kinks, knots, semicurls and straight strands.

I can’t imagine my wife garnering these compliments, and when I boast to her of my female fans, she confirms the suspicion. Nobody compliments her braiding when she takes Lyla into the girls’ or women’s locker room.

And I LOVE this quote that is along the same lines...

My wife watches me do Lyla’s hair, still looking like the master observing the pupil. She listens to my occasional boasts, amused and a little annoyed. Add it to the list of things women do with little fuss that practically earn men a medal.

How true is that one?? :)

In the article, Archibald also discusses the politics of "black hair", and all that that involves.

But Lyla’s locks have given me a closer glimpse into the angst, not to mention politics, that is black women’s hair. Sure, I have ridden the highs and lows of my wife’s hair-care odyssey. Go natural? Braids? Relaxer? A weave? Cut it all off? She has tried almost everything and been stressed about it all along the way. Does having a relaxer to straighten natural kinks bow to white society’s notion of good hair? Do free-form ’fros and braids with fake hair extensions look “professional” enough?

While this article is taking a bit of a fun look at the issue of black hair care in children, it is a serious issue and one that transracial aodptive families also have to deal with. How we care for our children's hair (or don't) says a lot to the world around us...not merely about our braiding skills, but of our commitment to our children's culture and our dedication to learning how to best care for our kids' hair, and to help our kids feel good about themselves and their hair and build healthy self esteems.

As much as I often refer to Josh as the greatest Dad ever, his attempts at doing hair have been limited to combing through our Asian daughters' hair and attempting to get straight parts in each of them when I have been gone.

When I was gone for two weeks when Marcus was hospitalized and Josh was home alone with the rest of the kids, someone asked Mercy if Josh had done her hair...her reply was something like this...

"Heck no."

and then... "Mom did our hair before she left. If Dad had to do my hair we'd ALL be in trouble." :)

Give it a read. Enjoy! (And Brian... I was thinking of you when I read this!!)