Luke's First Shave

Full disclosure--Luke has needed this shave basically since he was born. The kid has always had a fair amount of upper lip hair for reasons beyond my understanding. But lately, it has definitely become more pronounced, and—more unsettling to me— has started migrating down around the sides of his lips. It started reminding me a little too much of unsavory young men from rural NH who I hung around with when I was young. So, finally tonight after Sunday dinner he shaved for the first time. Here is how the scene was set when my son had his first shave:

Gio was cleaning the kitchen after the big family dinner for eight we had just eaten. One of his brothers, Leo, was in the shower upstairs. Tina, Janine, his three other brothers and I all crowded into the very small downstairs bathroom to observe, provide commentary, and/or poke him while his hands were busy. Tina googled "How to shave your face" and read tips. I provided a variety of razors (he chose hot pink), a hot facecloth, and a small container of olive oil (in lieu of shave cream). Luke then did the honors, with much gesticulating and modeling of strange hair-removal-related facial expressions from two moms, while Tina video-taped. I had to run out and get my reading glasses so I could see the part he missed and then, as number one Type-A mom, I cleaned it up a little. Then Tina snapped some pictures to commemorate the event. A formerly fuzzy upper lip is now smooth and bare. Just one of the almost daily occurring signs that Luke is leaving sugar mountain for good.