So I made it almost two weeks with my "dread"ed journey. I finally got the blessing of my husband in that he understands that dreads are something I have wanted for a very long time and that it is something spiritual for me. So he relaxed his position and even started teasing me....telling me that i could no longer talk to him unless I spoke in "pirate".

I understand that this is a long progress, and honestly, I have seen some of the baby photos posted here and some are absolutely amazing....and others, yes, a little unnerving. It makes me wonder how mine will look after 18 months, and could I make it that far. The answer......no....at least...

not yet! You see, I was handling it all pretty well, but I got this control issue. I want to let them go, but I also want to prune...so-to-speak. I want to guide them, and raise them in how they should go....hahaha...but i pretty much resisted and enjoyed washing and going....no muss no fuss...but then...

i returned to the spring semester, and got the "...ewww.yo..ohhh...are you trying to trying to grow dreads? I knew i was looking rather scruffy, but I hid it well but by the end of the day it progressively deteriorated. When I got home I was already feeling a little scuzzy, but I was determined to persevere. However, as I walked to my 16 year old daughter's room (see picture post) to talk to her she said, Mom! Did you go to school like that? No offense, I know you want dreads, but honestly, it looks really bad. Your hair is too thin to grow dreads. You look like you haven't had a shower in days."I went to my bathroom and took a shower, washed my hair, took out the blowdryer and styled my hair. Perhaps that makes me the ultimate in vain, but I decided to postpone my journey for summer when I have a nearly three month break from school...with modification...

I am still going to live the "dread"ed lifestyle. I still take a shower and I kept my hair bling. A friend of mine does the the hair wrap with string and charms and so I have added a couple of those to my hair, and I will sneak in anew one from time to time. My daughter had one afew months ago and had it in for like 8 weeks or soand when we took her to the salon for an up do for prom, we had to remove it, but when we took it out, we noticed that her hair dreaded from the point at the top of the wrap to her scalp. I was so jealous, it looked so cool. Anyway, I am going to see if the same thing will happen to me.

Additionally, one habit has remained. I am still not using the comb, (I may blow my hair dry if it is really cold outside), but then I just let it be the way it is and it is surprising how much healthier my hair feels. It seems to have a natural wave to it, and if by not combing a dread forms here and there, so be it.

In the grand scheme of things, it may not be the worst thing for me to coordinate my "dread"ed journey to take in bits and pieces and then work at it during the summer and see myself through the first awkward months. Maybe by that time I will have a few friends added to mhy profile and it won't be quite so lonely on the road to "dread"ed bliss.

Peace