Not by the hair on my chinny chin chin.

My mom has told me for many years Beth, if you ever need to put me in a home, just do it! Don't feel bad about it, just do it. I don't ever want to be a burden on you. And don't feel guilty about it.

I have always thought this was a selfless thing for her to say but there was always one caveat with her selfless request. Just make sure you pluck my chin hairs. I don't want to be one of those old ladies with lots of wild chin hairs.

This last request always used to make me chuckle.

Chin hairs? She's nuts!

Several years ago, I discovered what she was talking about. I looked in the mirror and to my horror; I noticed something growing from my chin. It was a tiny hair. I quickly grabbed my tweezers and got rid of it.

There, I thought. It's gone. No one saw it. I don't need to worry about that anymore.

Wrong.

Plucking that one stray chin hair 10 years ago seemed to be the catalyst for all the others that were going to make their march across my chin. What I thought was a one time plucking inconvenience has now become part of my daily grooming ritual.

And is there anything more embarrassing than having your husband walk into the bathroom when you are plucking your chin hairs? Ah, the romance.

Every time I pass a mirror in a sunny room, I cock my head at a certain angle so I can see if there are any wild chin hairs growing.

I am constantly rubbing my chin to see if I can feel any stubble because when you pluck a chin hair, one thing is certain, it will grow back. And never content to grow alone, it always seems to bring a friend to the party.

I have often thought about waxing my chin. I have never had anything waxed before and I'm not even sure if they do chins, but I have seriously thought about it

Now that I am older though, my mother's words are ringing in my ears.

Just make sure you pluck my chin hairs.

I guess that means Sarah is going to be the one responsible for my chin hair maintenance after she puts me in the home.

Perhaps I better think twice before sending her to her room, denying her a new dress or not letting her have a second helping of ice cream. I don't want her to hold these things against me when she is the one wielding the tweezers.

So mothers, be good to your daughters.

Or perhaps, consider electrolysis.