Festive Red

My niece recently decided she wanted a manicure.  Not sure where the idea came from or why  she needed it done before school let out for the holidays … but there we were … She asked if I could book an appointment at the place I go when I get my nails done.  We had to negotiate and discuss expectations about what she wanted and what was doable based on the services they offer … hurdle one. 

Once we established some boundaries and baselines … She still wanted the appointment.  By some miracle we were able to get an appointment for the Thursday of that week.  Hurdle two.  

Side note: this conversation happened on a Monday evening.  Every year, her present is a night out … we hit up holiday markets, see holiday lights, have dinner, swim … she loves the one on one time and especially loves missing a day of school.  Since we already had her out of school on Thursday …. Adding a manicure into the mix that day worked out perfectly!

This was the first manicure she had ever had … she was very excited!

Sarah, the woman who worked on my niece’s nails … so amazing.  She was patient, attentive, professional … exactly what you hope for.

My niece took her time choosing her colours … she had a sense of what she wanted, either red and green or red and silver … but took her time choosing between the colours put in front of her.  When she was asked about the shape of her nails, she asked for three to be corrected and she articulated how.  As her nails were being painted, she spotted things she wanted corrected and she asked for those corrections.  In the end, she opted for alternating red and green nails with embellishments on the green nails.  She verbalized what embellishments and the placements of them. 

As I watched and listened to the exchange a few things struck me:

1. She is particular.  No arguing.  But I don't see that as a bad thing.  She was polite, confident and firm with her requests.  Her asks, questions and her taking a minute to think … did not chew up more time than she was scheduled for.  

2. She’s 11.  Yet she advocated for her needs and wants with confidence and respect.  That matters.  That skill is necessary and relevant.  I was proud of her.  

3. She wasn’t afraid to go all out with her holiday nails … bold colours, sparkle … she was so happy with her colour choices, with the embellishments.  She loved everything about the experience.  When she left, she took a card and informed them she was telling all her friends and would be back!  

While I was merely an observer, she was an active participant in her experience.  Sarah, she was as well … and she was gracious and open and friendly … the choices she made throughout the exchange fed the experience.  For that … I’m grateful - so grateful!

I want my nieces and nephews to have a voice, to know when and how to use it.  To be confident in their asks, unapologetic when asking to have their needs met while also being respectful in the exchange.  I want them to know who they are and have the confidence to wear the things that bring them joy … whether that’s two toned nails with embellishments, baseball caps, long hair, short hair, bold colours, muted colours … whatever it is … I want them to own it, take risks, and be brave!

I hope when they do, they meet the Sarah's, the Sofia's, the Mya’s … the people who allow them to advocate for themselves, meet their courage with kindness, allow them to be brave, and show up with mutual respect.  

This weekend, I had my nail appointment … just a coincidence in timing … instead of doing a neutral nail, I opted to be brave, do something festive, a little (read a lot) out of my comfort zone … I opted for a deep red … I can honestly say - I have never, in all my life, painted my nails red.  Not a colour I choose, it’s one I can wear and well, I do a red lip when I’m feeling particularly cheekie … I wasn’t sure about choosing a red polish.  It took a minute to get used to the colour.  

It’s growing on me … I might even do it again.  

Don’t get me wrong, my day to day will be my neutral, I like a neutral.  I just might mix it up more frequently … with colour … maybe even with sparkle!

We’re never too old to learn, to evolve … the little’s in our lives, never too young to teach us, remind us - to take risks, use our voices, be bold.  

I love moments like that one, watching my niece through that experience.  How lucky am I to have witnessed that … to choose to do business with an establishment, with people that helped shape that experience by doing nothing more than by being themselves?  

I hope you have moments like this over the next few weeks, that remind you to find your voice, your joy, your sparkle! Me?  I’m going to enjoy my festive red …