And children are like shadows, mirroring mannerisms and picking up healthy (and unhealthy) habits.
From wash day laughs to movie night facials, multiple generations have gathered together to practice self-care together.
We asked seven families to capture some of that bonding for us.
Ayanna Mcknight
(And yes, there are cute toddlers and canine kids ahead.)
She usually has fun, but sometimes she makes a break for it.
But luckily, moving into thenatural hairworld absolves a lot of that fear [for Kaavia].
Ayanna McKnight
It’s more relaxing.
We put some curl cream in and let her curls do what they do.
One day somebody was like, “Oh, what a cute little fella.”
Lexi Underwood
And D [husband Dwyane Wade] was like, “You’ve got to do her hair.”
And I was like, “I thought we were committed to unlearning patriarchal gender performance.”
I don’t want to saddle [Kaavia] with bullshit, and she’s just learning to talk.
Ana Ayala
My mom and I also did lots of hair nights [while staying home this past year].
One night we made a hair mask with mayo, olive oil, and apple cider vinegar.
It made our hair so soft.
Adrian Martin
I didn’t make it up.
As a kid, I was only allowed to have one.
They finally said okay, so we had a variety of fosters growing up.
Brendan Fallis
And I still do that.
She was my anchor to my reality.
I find that when I have a responsibility, I feel better about myself.
Courtesy Photo
My self-worth goes up.
And whenever I care for myself, I can care more for the people I love.
It’s a very simple kind of love.
Amanda Kloots
My daughter’s hair is very specific.
[Souza is from Mexico.]
Dory speaks Spanish, in Gianna’s mind.
I just remembered what was done to me and I did it.
But we got better.
I covered my mom’s grays too.
He’s got these really amazing cheeks right now.
The sooner you implement things like that into [children’s] lives, the more integrated they become.
So I’m really excited to give him some of those tools to use as he starts to grow.
I want him to feel empowered in his body.
I am simply trying to teach him where his curly hair came from.
I want him to be proud of hisBlack heritageand his Jewish heritage.
You are so unique and you are so special."
It’s an affirmation that we all need, even at age 50.
We talk so much about teaching self-appreciation to girls, and rightfully so.
That is how we move forward.
I always like to start off our mornings with music and movement.
Both are very healing and a positive way to start the day.
Right now, he is in that stage where he likes to copy whatever I’m doing.
And now whenever he is in the bathroom, he goes and grabs his “ba-brush.”
As told to P.S.
