Hiester Family Antics: Well, That's One Way To Learn!

The Hiester Family in a nutshell - a big one, like a coconut or something

We are a family of a whole bunch of random people, thrown together in one small house, who all happen to look alike. Each member of our family was hand-picked by God... that's the only explanation for the saga that is our family. Here's the story from the beginning... My husband, Todd, was married before me. His wife's name was Carrie, and together they had 3 kids: Tyler, Kurstin & Elissa. Todd's parents were divorced and his mother remarried. Her new husband, Don, had 2 small children: Ally & Wesley. Their natural mother was killed in a car accident when they were 8 & 11. One year later, they lost their dad and Todd and Carrie took them into their home. 6 months after Ally & Wesley were added to the household, Carrie died of cancer at age 26. Her own children were 3, 6 & 9 and Ally & Wesley were 10 & 13. And Todd was alone with them. Think Lord of the Flies. So when I fell in love with Todd, I got these 5 kids as a bonus. We married about a year and a half into our relationship, with the kids as our wedding party. We made it all official with an adoption lawyer and lots of money, ensuring that we are LEGALLY their parents. They even had to take oaths saying they would perform the duties of sons and daughters, which I think means I have someone to change my diapers when the time comes! After 2 years of marriage we added Robben Carey to the mix. And now we've welcomed Livi Claire...the seventh, and final, Hiester kid (unless, of course, God has other plans). Todd and I are 37 and 35, respectively, and our kids range in age from 1 to 21. It's great because we're cool and always the youngest in a crowd of high school parents.

Friday, April 3, 2009

Well, That's One Way To Learn!

Wednesday night at dinner, Wesley requested a haircut. Todd declined due to the fact that he had far too much on his plate for the evening as it was (and not his dinner plate). Wesley stated a desire to learn to do it himself anyway, since he won't be able to depend on Todd forever (Wesley's reasoning). As with most things, Wesley's idea of "learning" to do something, is not asking for direction and then listening carefully, perhaps even taking notes. No. Wesley learns from mistakes. A fact that brings much worry to his parents. Whatever task Wesley takes on, he just goes for it... helter-skelter and with arms akimbo (first use of that word, Tara! Go me!) Personal haircutting was no exception. He came charging hysterically into the living room with a towel over his head exclaming, "I HAVE TO FIX THIS!!!" After much coaxing, the towel came down to reveal a patchwork of bald spots, scattered randomly about his somewhat oversized melon. Laughter ensued. There was yelling, begging, crying, laughing and general covorting over Wesley's new do... and this was only Wesley's reaction. Needless to say, Todd did stop what he was doing to "fix" Wesley's hair. All he could really do was shave it off. He gave it the closest shave possible without going "bic"... and there are still some patches of hair shorter, where Wesley had hacked into it!

I asked him after school what type of reaction his hair got, and he said "I got mixed results." He said some people said it looked good, others offered him hats. He wore a borrowed beanie (how do you spell that?) all day until track practice, where he sported a bare head in an effort to tan his scalp. When I picked him up he was wearing a tattered old straw hat that Coach Campbell gave him, supposedly for PRing in two of his events. Mmm-Hmmm. She just didn't want to see the glare off his head, I bet.

So all I have left is a question and a lesson:

The Question: Why, oh why, would you take a razor willy-nilly to your own hair, when -in your own words - "I didn't know how the clippers worked!" 3 months before you graduate???!!!

The Lesson: If your dad says "no", screw it up yourself so he has to fix it.