by Cathy
In fact, the first time I ever got a professional manicure or pedicure, I was in my late twenties. Getting a mani/pedi just wasn't as IN back then as it now. Besides, we were DIYers; my mom was a certified beautician so she cut our hair, highlighted it, colored her own and polished our nails (as well as her own). We always looked like a million bucks without spending the million bucks.
So when my daughter asked for a nail salon party for her 11th birthday, I thought 'Why not? This could be fun.' There were seven girls in total, each of who got the choice of getting either a mani or a pedi. Bella could get both since she was the birthday girl. And Ari? My five-year old? She asked for a pedicure.
I stepped back and observed while they selected their service and color. They each took on a different, more mature persona as they decided: Mani or pedi? Which color? Nail art? Should I mix TWO colors? Should I alternate colors?
Ari, for example, hemmed and hawed over her decision for quite some time; this was very unlike her usually decisive self. She was awestruck at the color options as she looked up at the massive wall shelving unit that was brimming with every shade of every color in the rainbow and then some. "Mommy, pick me up so I can see the ones on top!" she squealed every so often. I patiently lifted and suggested and oohed and ahhed, but she would have none of it. She knew what she was looking for, and after a good twenty minutes and multiple choice changes later, she settled on a reddish-pink color.
Bella came off as a complete pro. Unlike her usual indecisive self, she promptly chose her turquoise color, was shown to her seat immediately and proceeded to set the massage chair to the setting of her choice. She picked up a tabloid magazine next to her, settled in and was thoroughly enjoying her spa time. It's as if she's done this millions of times before. She didn't really have any interest in observing the steps, the process or how anything was done. She was just intent on relaxing.
Ari, on the other hand, had to sit waaaaaay up close to the edge of the large leather recliner, and was intent on watching every. single. thing. the lady was doing and how she did it. She was in awe. Her tiny feet were inserted into the humongous plastic flip flops as the woman laughed lovingly at Ari's smallness and topped off her pedicure with some daisies on her big toes. Ari was squealing with delight.
Part of the thrill of watching your kids grow up is taking in how they experience new things. It was such a joy for me to experience such a womanly rite of passage with them for the first time at the ages they are now. And although we are big advocates of DIY, we will definitely plan some mother-daughter days at the nail salon at least once a year going forward. It's now officially, the IN thing to do.
