My oldest daughter was born with Goddess-like locks...thick, blonde and full of body. With a short cut (or high humidity), her hair tends to curl up. So bangs have never worked on her -- they just frizz up and look silly. With Kelly we stick to long layers which means haircuts are only required a couple of times a year (which is good because combing the curls/snarls out of her hair is painful for everyone involved).

But, my youngest daughter has fine, straight hair. It lies (mostly) flat and looks best with the classic little girl haircut -- a shoulder-length bob with bangs. The problem with bangs is you have to keep them cut regularly. I try to save a trip to the hairdresser by giving her bangs a trim between haircuts.

I noticed last week that she was taking on an Old English sheepdog look so I sat her down on the kitchen table after her bath, grabbed the kitchen shears and started cutting.

I can never do it right. I always cut them too short; I always miss several stray locks; and I can't cut a straight line to save my life -- let alone cutting a straight line on a wiggling kid.

The next night, we went over to the in-laws. There were 20+ friends and relatives sitting around the table when Lauren came bounding into the room.

My sister-in-law said, "Um...did Lauren cut her own bangs?"

I didn't miss a beat. "Oh, yeah....that's it...yes, yes, she did."

Lauren piped up, "NO, I didn't. YOU cut them, Mommy!"

Someone said, "Looks like you cut them with your paper trimmer or something...all hacked off."

Someone else said, "We're you drinking?"

So, lesson learned. I am a beauty school drop out. From now on, I'll just find the time and fork over the money to spare myself -- and Lauren -- the humiliation of bangs gone bad (really bad).