Dad Cuts 13 Yr Old Daughter’s Hair On Her Birthday, Mom Takes Action

For kids, there is no day more special than their birthday. They get excited to celebrate with their family and friends, and for children with divorced parents, two celebrations might be in the mix! Kelsey Frederick is a teenager with parents who are no longer together, but her mom and dad didn’t have any issues coordinating two parties for their special girl. Something, however, came up on her big day and changed everything.

Two Parties For One Teenage Girl

Kelsey Frederick was turning a special age. Her 13th birthday was right around the corner, meaning she was almost a teenager! She was excited to have a party with her mom and another one with her dad. This was a yearly tradition that Kelsey is used to.

Thirteen Queen

Kelsey wanted her 13th birthday to be different from the rest. It was a really special birthday, and she was growing up, so she thought that her party should reflect that. So, she decided on a sleepover with some good friends.

Highlights

Kelsey was also going to get a new hairstyle in the form of highlights for the first time! Oh, and mom was taking care of the bill! In Kelsey’s school, many of the girls were getting highlights, and Kelsey thought it would be fun to try them out too!

Off To Dad’s House

After Kelsey spent some time in the salon glamming up on her special day, she headed over to her dad’s place. However, no one could have predicted how he would react to the gift her mother gave her…

She’s Not Alone

Similar to Kelsey, many other people also have two families. In Kelsey’s situation, she spends plenty of time with both of her parents who take turns every weekend. Therefore, things never really become boring for her. Kelsey’s favorite activity when she’s with her father, Schaffen, is going to local baseball games.

Mother And Daughter Duo

Many children only wish that their relationship with their mothers is similar to what Kelsey and her own mother have. Kelsey and her mom, Christin, do not only live together – they are basically best friends!

A Close-Knit Bond

Their relationship is the kind that many dream of having. For Kelsey, she can talk about everything with her mom! We’re sure this young lady is really glad to have a great mother who is always there for her.

A Different Kind Of Relationship

Kelsey and her father do get along well, but it’s just not the same. It seems that her mother enjoys listening to her stories of youth more than her father does. Kelsey also spends more time with her mother than her father.

A Family Affair

When Kelsey was younger, her parents split. It was really hard for Kelsey seeing as she was really little, but her big family made things a bit better. She was also always surrounded by siblings and cousins, which was nice. Had she not have a great support system, Kelsey may have been affected by the divorce much more.

Sports Gal

Since Kelsey could walk, she has been into sports. Doing something that she loves helps her stay grounded as she goes through big changes in her life. Kelsey’s parents made sure that her life after the divorce would be similar to how it was prior to it.

In Agreement

Kelsey is lucky because her parents remained friends and they chose to maintain a good relationship for the sake of their daughter. For the most part, they were in agreement on the way to raise their daughter. They even sat down and created a set of guidelines and rules that they both agreed to go by when raising and disciplining Kelsey.

A Little Fish

When Kelsey was a little girl, her parents took her to a nearby lake called Erie every month. She enjoyed this fun family outing a lot that her parents decided it didn’t have to stop. It may seem like a small thing, but remember that her parents split and this activity involves them being together with only their young daughter with them.

New Love

Soon after the divorce, Kelsey’s dad found love. He started dating a colleague at the fire station. Kelsey was okay with this, and she even liked her father’s new girlfriend a lot. Before long, he proposed and the two got married.

The Deal With Her Dad

Between Kelsey’s parents, Schaffen’s new wife wasn’t an issue at all. So long as his new wife or their relationship didn’t get in the way of Kelsey’s parents having to work together to raise their daughter, there was no problem. Kelsey was also perfectly fine with it. In fact, seeing her dad happy also made her happy!

Strong Women All Around Her

Kelsey was used to being surrounded by strong women. They were always around her when she was growing up. Her Aunt Kelly was around a lot, serving as a second mom to Kelsey. Kelsey’s godmother Haylee Ann also had an important part in the young lady’s life.

Endless Maternal Figures

Both women always gave Kelsey advice and new perspectives, especially when they shared their stories and experiences with her. With a lot of maternal figures in Kelsey’s life, she didn’t feel threatened by her dad’s new partner. Actually, these people would play a big part in the surprise which unfolded on the birthday of this special girl.

A Challenge

It is never easy to choose a present for a young lady, but Kelsey was actually more challenging than other girls her age. Her hobbies were not typically something girls her age enjoy, which makes it hard to choose a practical gift.

No Glitz

Kelsey had a simple request: no glitz. Since she wasn’t really a “girly-girl,” she preferred not to get a gift that was too sparkly or pink. Her mother asked for help from family and friends to pick something that Kelsey would totally love.

Not Like Other Girls

Kelsey played softball, but she already had everything that the sport required. Although she especially enjoyed fishing with her cousins, it would be difficult to give fishing gear in a party, and she owned all the required fishing gear anyway. What’s more, she was already happy. What would she like?

Something A Bit Cheaper

For several years now, Kelsey has had her eye on a Mia Hamm jersey. However, they were too expensive for both Schaffen and Christin to afford. They needed to think of something that is within their price range.

Taking Forever

Kelsey felt like it was taking an extremely long time for her birthday to come. However, this is not unusual for anyone that age. Practically all 12-year-olds count down the seconds until they’re officially a teenager. As for Kelsey, she and her school friends started searching for cool party ideas online.

An Important Milestone

13 years have passed since Christin gave birth to Kelsey and the mother could hardly believe her lovely daughter has grown up so fast. Now Christin understands when people say that “time flies”!

Her Choice

Since this birthday was such an important milestone in Kelsey’s life, Christin wanted to get her daughter a special gift. The celebrations which came before this one involved some sort of a surprise. However, Christin also wanted to give her daughter the chance to pick out what she wanted.

A Beauty Queen

Like many young girls, Kelsey also loves to put on make-up and do hair with her friends. She always got excited when their family got invited to a wedding since it meant she was going to have a glam day! Obviously, Christin knew that her daughter loved makeup. After all, Kelsey always borrowed her mother’s makeup. However, Kelsey asked for something that Christin did not expect she would.

Highlights For My Birthday

Kelsey told Christin, “Mom, I want to get highlights for my 13th birthday”. The young lady wanted to get some blonde highlights to make her brown hair look more interesting. What would be her mother’s response to her request?

Worried

The request was normal enough, but her child asking for a major makeover is not something a mother is ever prepared for. Christin felt worried that Kelsey didn’t feel confident with how she looked. The mother started to worry a bit.

Like Her Mother

Christin remembered that she herself started getting highlights long before her daughter was born. Kelsey may have just been influenced by the actions of her own mother. Christin decided she did not need to worry.

Darker

Although Christin was a bit taken aback, she told Kelsey to choose whatever she wanted. Therefore, Christin knew that she could not refuse. Over the years, Kelsey’s hair had darkened. Also, people got highlights all the time, so it was not a big deal. Though Christin was a little nervous, she luckily figured out what had to be done exactly.

A Great Big Sister

Christin didn’t just agree because it was her daughter’s birthday. She complied also because of Kelsey’s actions. Kelsey is an amazing big sister to her three younger brothers. She serves as an excellent role model for her siblings and always helps out.

Mom And Daughter Bonding Session

Christin decided that for her daughter’s birthday, she would make sure Kelsey got to experience the royal treatment. Since they did not know exactly what to expect, the duo decided to make this exciting yet nerve-wracking procedure at the salon a way to have some mother-daughter time.

Nails Too

For years, Christin has been going to the local salon to get her hair done. It’s a good thing they also offer massages, manicures, and pedicures. Kelsey was in for a big birthday treat! Christin was one of the salon’s loyal customers, so she got a nice discount.

Matching Mom And Daughter

Mom and daughter got matching pedicures and manicures. What could be better than that? Kelsey had no idea, though, that something else was going to happen. She definitely didn’t see it coming…

A Relaxing Day

The mother and daughter duo waited for Kelsey’s transformation, hoping for the best. After they spent a long but relaxing day together, it was time for Kelsey to finally see the result. Christin handed her daughter the mirror. They were both quite surprised…

Could Not Believe Her Eyes

Kelsey looked in the mirror and saw her transformation. She could not believe her eyes. The highlights changed how she looked, and even her mom could hardly recognize her own daughter. This was the first time Christin had seen Kelsey like this – so happy with a big smile on her face and looking so beautiful.

A Surprise Up Her Sleeve

Christin had one more thing she prepared for Kelsey – a surprise. She wasn’t only getting her daughter’s nails and hair done…she was getting her makeup done, as well! And, they were going to the makeup superstore, Sephora! We’re pretty sure one pre-teen freaked out when she found out.

Bliss

Christin took photos of her precious, lovely daughter after the treatments and posted one on Facebook for their family and friends to see. However, what the mother and daughter duo did not know was that a certain someone had a different reaction to it. The two were blissfully ignorant at that time.

Next Stop Is Dad’s Place

Kelsey was excited to go out with her new hairstyle and show off her new look to her friends. However, she needed to visit her dad first. As for her father, he was eager to shower his precious daughter with love and presents but knew he needed to wait for his time with her.

His Turn

Christin was happy with how things turned out and she was sending their darling daughter over to her ex-husband with a light heart. Christin drove Kelsey to Schaffen’s place since the plan was Kelsey staying at his house for the entire weekend. The adults agreed that it was fair that Kelsey split her time with her parents.

Something Smells

When Kelsey spent time with her dad, she usually stopped using her mobile phone. Christin did not expect to hear from her daughter. However, something weird happened when she saw Kelsey on her doorstep a few days later…

Who Was She?

It even took Christin some time to realize that the girl ringing her doorbell was actually Kelsey! Her daughter’s face was puffy and swollen from crying, and something else was off.

Horrible Haircut

The expensive highlights were gone as well as her daughter’s beautiful locks! Kelsey’s hair was clearly butchered away at the weekend. Needless to say, Christin was shocked. She felt like she couldn’t breathe or move.

From Extreme High To Extreme Low

Kelsey was also cupping her face with her hands, not wanting to show her face, which did not make the situation easier. However, it was clear that the young girl felt humiliated by what happened. Her mother couldn’t believe it. She had no idea what had happened or what to do next…

Self-Esteem Plummeted

In just a few moments, Kelsey went from feeling very confident and beautiful to getting her locks chopped off on her special day. Kelsey could not bear to look at herself in the mirror. Clearly, her self-esteem took a beating following what she went through. Needless to say, all of this did not sit well with Christin and she felt she needed to find out everything about what happened.

Fuming

Christin could not make her daughter talk about it, so the mother got in her car and drove over to her ex-husband’s place. Christin was fuming throughout the car ride. She was shocked that the man she loved before would treat their precious daughter this way, and on the child’s birthday no less!

How Could You

When Christin got to her ex and his fiancé’s house, she quickly went to the door and started screaming at them, asking how they could allow that to happen to her daughter. What’s more, why didn’t they contact her? Christin was really mad and she couldn’t think clearly anymore.

Punished

Apparently, her ex and his fiancé could not stand Kelsey’s new hairstyle and punished the young lady for it. They thought that the highlights were too precocious for her age. They said, “Actions have consequences.” Schaffen and his fiancé Sarah had no idea that Christin was about to make them see how true this was.

Smile No More

Her smiling, lovely daughter was smiling no more. Christin couldn’t bear to see her sweet Kelsey in such a state. Also, she couldn’t believe her ex-husband didn’t like it. They were just blonde highlights, not purple hair!

Taking Her Frustrations To Facebook

Christin was at her wit’s end. Thus, she thought of taking out her frustration by calling out her ex-husband online and shaming him. She took to social media so that he could get a taste of some humiliation.

Sensitive Person

Christin wanted her ex to feel the pain that he inflicted on a person who is young and sensitive on her birthday. When people learned of how he reacted extremely to something as insignificant as highlights, the post became viral pretty quickly.

When You Go Viral

However, Christin did not intend to make a post that would go viral. She just wanted validation from family and friends that Schaffen behaved unreasonably… it was probably her way of blowing off some steam. However, her post ended up doing much more than that…

A Little Too Much

In just a week, Christin’s post was shared 24,000 times and received 33,000 reactions. Online users did not hesitate in sharing how they felt about what happened. For Kelsey, the attention became too much, which is only understandable. After all, she is just 13 years old.

Outrage From Strangers

Christin certainly received the support that she initially wanted, though she got more than she bargained for. Many people she did not even know called what Schaffen and his fiancé did “disgusting” and “ridiculous”.

Stand For Your Kids

A stranger commented, “What a cruel thing for a parent to do to their child. So sorry that happened…beautiful no matter what!” As for Kelsey, she was not ready to have her face and butchered hair make rounds online.

Theories And Speculations Abound

People who learned of the story felt critical about what Kelsey’s father, Schaffen, did, but that was not really unexpected. Some of these strangers, however, thought that the issue was bigger than a father who was impulsive and controlling. What was the problem?

Everyone Had An Opinion

One commenter wrote, “I think the daughter was unfortunately in the middle of a get back at you between both parents fighting.” Was it true that it was Christin’s intention to upset him? Though we cannot say for sure, more speculations came…

The Highlight Problem

After hearing about what happened, people who were parents had mixed feelings about the highlights that Kelsey got. Some thought they would be upset, as well, if their daughter had a makeover without their knowledge. This did not mean, of course, that they excused how the father reacted.

Unsettling

A lot of people thought 13 was too young for dying hair. They said it was possible for Halloween but kids this age should be using wash-out hairspray and wigs. On the other hand, there are those who said that because it was temporary, it should not be a problem. However, concerns were generally raised by the chopped hair. It made people feel unsettled.

Sympathy From Strangers

It was nice to see that these internet people understood how the young girl could have felt. Christin was getting comments which said bad things about Schaffen, but some of the strangers began addressing Kelsey due to the sympathy they felt for her. Some paid her compliments, while others shared heartwarming sentiments and suggestions on how to deal with her hair. Kelsey felt comforted by their kindness, but she could not understand how strangers could understood her in a way that her own father could not.

Making Up For It

When the story received a lot of attention online, Christin realized that she could do something to make things a bit easier for the family. So many individuals have read and shared it, so she thought of launching a fundraiser which will help pay for the new hair treatment that her daughter is getting. She created a GoFundMe page to ask readers to donate money in order to help make things better for the birthday girl. They did not know at that time if it would work.

Showing Off Her Daughter

Christin was surprised that the story was getting a lot of attention, so she tried to give updates on the things that were happening in the life of her daughter. Kelsey’s emotions had been all over the place, but she was slowly beginning to do things that she enjoyed again and did not hide her face anymore. Christin enjoyed giving updates and showing everybody, regardless of their opinion on the situation, that her daughter was a good kid.

Forgetting About The Trauma

People saw the young girl going on fishing trips together with her cousins and playing softball. The whole time, Kelsey was sporting the hairstyle that she didn’t ask for nor wanted. She just lived her life and started to move on.

Strong Support

More people started to understand Kelsey more. They drew inspiration from how she handled the situation. It definitely helped that her team always had her back. However, Kelsey or Christin had no idea more drama was about to go down. Someone came by to pay them a visit and they realized that the situation had actually escalated.

Press And The Police

Some of those who heard about the story apparently thought parental abuse was involved and told the police about it! Since authorities got in the mix, Police Chief Colby Carroll was interviewed by Fox8. The way that Kelsey was punished by her dad and his new wife and got a forced haircut was broadcasted. The police officer said, “I’ve been doing this since ’92 and I’ve never had a case I would say that’s like this.”

Administrative Leave

Before long, the authorities came knocking on Schaffen’s door, and he and his new wife received suspensions from the Middletown Township fire department. The two were placed on “administrative leave.” The authorities did not want to have people like that on their team.

Consequences For Their Actions

There was also an investigation and the local judges determined that the couple had to pay a price. Some people argued that the punishment was too harsh for what the couple did. However, remember what the couple said earlier about actions and consequences! The investigation was done, but the family drama was far from over…

The Court’s Decision

Christin gained full custody of her daughter. Christin posted this on Facebook: “After 5 hours of testimony and ‘evidence’ provided by both parties, the magistrate’s decision was for Kelsey to live with mom and her siblings!”

No More Joint Custody

Christin added, “A huge weight has been lifted off of everyone’s shoulders and we cannot be any [happier]!!” Christin and Kelsey were happy and relieved about the way things turned out, but Kelsey had to make quite a big sacrifice.

Aunt Kelly Helps Kelsey Out

Kelsey had no chance to gather her belongings in Schaffen’s house and bring them with her before she had to leave the place legally. Truth be told, she did not want to go to her dad’s house to get her things because she knew she would see her dad and his wife. This meant she had to surrender a lot of things which were dear to her. Aunt Kelly thought of making up for this situation by creating a GoFundMe page to raise money that could help Kelsey live a normal life again.

Encouraging Words From Strangers

Every member of their family would agree they got the best outcome possible, but the situation was still painful for Kelsey and Christin. After all, the relationship they had with Schaffen changed for the worse. However, it helped that their followers like Tatum Mathis wrote their sympathies. Fortunately, things got much better since then.

Reaching Their Target Goals

Before long, the audience showed their support by donating their money to the young girl. Aunt Kelly’s target was only a thousand bucks, but the amount they got was nearly double that and without any problems! What happened next was totally unexpected – an anonymous donor gave $2,000 in one go, which brought the total to $3,543! The next question was what they should do with the donations from generous strangers.

Going Back To The Salon

Before anything else, they went to a salon to have Kelsey’s hair fixed. They went to the Lady Jane salon, and the staff already knew about the situation. Her godmother Haylee Ann had already dropped by before they went there to make sure that Kelsey gets a nice surprise. As soon as the teen got there, a welcome committee greeted her!

Incredible Results

At the salon, the arrival of the teen was already anticipated by the staff. They were ready to make magic happen again. Everybody knew that the young girl displayed so much strength in spite of the trauma she underwent. The staff did everything they could to make the young girl happy.

The Sky Is The Limit

The staff asked Kelsey what she wanted since everything was possible now. This and Haylee Ann’s presence and support made Kelsey more courageous to get what she wanted. Kelsey listened to their advice and agreed to a huge change.

Happy Once More

Kelsey knew that she needed to wait for her natural roots to grow back, so she decided on a wig for the time being. She liked what the salon offered and the end result made her happy. It almost made up for the things that went wrong!

Forever Grateful

Kelsey’s mom felt extremely grateful because she really hoped that her daughter would start to feel more like herself again. The mom said, “I’d like to thank the ladies…for making my baby feel more like herself!” She added, “We truly appreciate you ladies so much!” Finally, Kelsey’s smile was back!

Her Very Own Fairy Godmother

Christin knew that without Haylee Ann, she couldn’t have pulled this off. The salon would not have known exactly what to do had her friend not been there. Haylee Ann ensured the fundraiser would be successful and always showed her support for Christin and Kelsey, especially when the situation was not so good with Schaffen. All these lovely women posed for pictures on Salon Day #2. Nobody could have guessed more surprises were in store for them.

Happily Ever After

This story’s happily ever after succeeded in warming hearts. Surprisingly, more people tuned in to the story. Who would have thought a traumatic ordeal would bring out sympathy and generosity in other people?

Going Viral Again

Months later, the post received almost 5,000 likes and hundreds of shares and comments. One comment said, “You’re beautiful!” We certainly agree with that! We’re very happy a lot of strong women came together to bring Kelsey the justice that she deserved!