Leigh
07-16-2007, 09:41 AM
Iain has only had his hair cut twice in his life and yesterday marked haircut number three. The OT we are working with had hopes that the Wilbarger we are doing would help Iain with the experience of a haircut and I have to report it was utter :censored: at the barber shop.
We went to the spot where I had his hair cut last year and waited to check out which barber would be a good choice. He began to flirt a bit with one of the women and I thought *maybe* so I arranged to wait for her. When it came time, he of course would not sit alone, so I sat down and plunked him on me. He absolutely freaked when she tried to put the cape on, so I told her to let it be. He was a Tasmanian spinning devil when she sprayed his hair and I had to wonder why on earth I did not think to wet his unruly mass before we arrived. The shrieking was beyond belief. Everyone was on edge in this busy shop and a toddler Iain's age was getting a trim 2 chairs over and just sat dumbfounded. As per usual, I heard comments about my lack of ability or parenting skills to control my now ballistic son. I pulled out all the stops and had brought his beloved cars to clutch, a package of fruity chews and broke down and shoved a bottle in his mouth, but to no avail. It was rather surprising to see that he could scream even louder with a bottle hanging from his mouth. :hairpull: He was just spinning and the barber was very good at dodging the arms and legs as they spun about and although I frequently ended up with scissors close to my eyeballs, neck and ears, she was able to keep Iain safe and took her time to ensure his safety. By the end of it, both of us were drenched in sweat and he was ready to pass out and I was not too far behind him. The barber simply said that toddlers as young as he eventually learn how to sit still and not to worry. Uh, huh.
When we got to the cash, Iain limp and soggy but still sobbing in my arms I heard one woman exclaim that she would never, ever let her son behave like that in public and that there should be courses for first time Moms. She was talking to a barber and shooting me daggers. I normally would let things go but for some reason I just could not let this one go. I turned around, looked right at her and said "perhaps if you had an autistic child you would not make such judgements about things you could not possibly hope to understand." My barber said she did not see Iain as autistic and she thought he was a lovely, if spirited little boy. I actually laughed and thanked her again as she did her job and hardly flinched during what was an ordeal of epic proportion for her and handed her a huge tip. As I was leaving, I heard someone chiding the woman for being so loud and she was being told to keep her opinions to herself in the future. Doubtful she will. :angry7:
I felt bad for mentioning it as I do not want to use his PDD NOS as an excuse, but in reality, IT IS the reason he is the way he is.
At the end of the day, no harm was done and Iain no longer resembles a red-headed bushman. I can now start mentally preparing for next year's haircut. :smt036
I will have to see if I can get a pic of him sporting his new *do*. I have no idea how she managed to get it as even as she did and I was thrilled to see the curls are still there, even though his hair is much shorter. It feels so coarse now, I may have to start referring to him as Mr. Brillo.
We went to the spot where I had his hair cut last year and waited to check out which barber would be a good choice. He began to flirt a bit with one of the women and I thought *maybe* so I arranged to wait for her. When it came time, he of course would not sit alone, so I sat down and plunked him on me. He absolutely freaked when she tried to put the cape on, so I told her to let it be. He was a Tasmanian spinning devil when she sprayed his hair and I had to wonder why on earth I did not think to wet his unruly mass before we arrived. The shrieking was beyond belief. Everyone was on edge in this busy shop and a toddler Iain's age was getting a trim 2 chairs over and just sat dumbfounded. As per usual, I heard comments about my lack of ability or parenting skills to control my now ballistic son. I pulled out all the stops and had brought his beloved cars to clutch, a package of fruity chews and broke down and shoved a bottle in his mouth, but to no avail. It was rather surprising to see that he could scream even louder with a bottle hanging from his mouth. :hairpull: He was just spinning and the barber was very good at dodging the arms and legs as they spun about and although I frequently ended up with scissors close to my eyeballs, neck and ears, she was able to keep Iain safe and took her time to ensure his safety. By the end of it, both of us were drenched in sweat and he was ready to pass out and I was not too far behind him. The barber simply said that toddlers as young as he eventually learn how to sit still and not to worry. Uh, huh.
When we got to the cash, Iain limp and soggy but still sobbing in my arms I heard one woman exclaim that she would never, ever let her son behave like that in public and that there should be courses for first time Moms. She was talking to a barber and shooting me daggers. I normally would let things go but for some reason I just could not let this one go. I turned around, looked right at her and said "perhaps if you had an autistic child you would not make such judgements about things you could not possibly hope to understand." My barber said she did not see Iain as autistic and she thought he was a lovely, if spirited little boy. I actually laughed and thanked her again as she did her job and hardly flinched during what was an ordeal of epic proportion for her and handed her a huge tip. As I was leaving, I heard someone chiding the woman for being so loud and she was being told to keep her opinions to herself in the future. Doubtful she will. :angry7:
I felt bad for mentioning it as I do not want to use his PDD NOS as an excuse, but in reality, IT IS the reason he is the way he is.
At the end of the day, no harm was done and Iain no longer resembles a red-headed bushman. I can now start mentally preparing for next year's haircut. :smt036
I will have to see if I can get a pic of him sporting his new *do*. I have no idea how she managed to get it as even as she did and I was thrilled to see the curls are still there, even though his hair is much shorter. It feels so coarse now, I may have to start referring to him as Mr. Brillo.