Mom! I have gum in my hair!

This was not the first thing I wanted to hear out of Grayson's mouth this morning. Truly I all I wanted was blessed silence while I drank my first cup of coffee. I don't foresee that happening anytime in the next decade (unless I get up at 3 am) but I can dream. Of course when I asked who had been chewing gum there was a chorus of "NOT ME!"  and much finger pointing. I do not allow bubble-gum in the house. Someone broke the rule!  I suspect I will never know which kid is responsible. Maybe they had a bubble gum party and only the baby was dumb enough to get the evidence stuck in his hair.

David immediately said, "I guess you will have to take him to get his hair cut."  

Across the room Alonzo suddenly sat up straight and asked, "You have to get your hair cut when you get gum stuck in it?"  I could see the wheels turning in his head.  You see David likes long hair on little boys but at least one of the boys would prefer to have his head completely shaved. David keeps telling Alonzo no.  The last time the boys got their hair cut was when David was out of town for a couple of weeks, I took them in to the barber shop,  then broke the news by posting it on the blog. The next time they get their hair cut will probably be when Aunt Teri gets a good look at their long hair and whisks them off to the barber shop. She doesn't much care what her baby brother thinks about long hair, she cuts the boys long hair every time she gets near them!  Yay Teri!

With visions of giants sticky gobs of gum all over Alonzo's head I was quick to announce, "No we don't have to cut his hair!" 

I have gotten bubble gum stuck in my long hair a few times and have never had to cut my hair.  The secret?  PEANUT BUTTER!  The oils in peanut butter break down the sticky in bubble gum and then you can comb it out. Thanks Heloise! You can also use mayonnaise or olive oil, they work just fine.  I plopped Grayson down in a chair smeared some peanut butter all over the gianourmous  clump of gum in his hair and tried to let it sit for a bit.  If you can leave it alone for 20 minutes that works best.  20 minutes is apparently just too much to ask of a 3 year old.  I ended up having to comb it out before it had time to work completely. There was enough screaming that I think we are safe from any gum-in-the-hair hair cut schemes for a while. Grayson is now bubble gum free and a bit oily and peanut scented.  Now maybe I can have some coffee.