OK, the haircut happened in June so I am late on that. But his first professional haircut was such a surprising success! Tom hates the sound of running water and any repetitive sound like that is hard for him. I never thought he would be able to handle getting his hair buzzed without a complete meltdown. Turns out all it takes is a light touch and a very patient hairdresser.
Tom went to Nina's Place to get his haircut and Nina gave Tom the royal treatment. She got to know him and made him relaxed. She let him feel the buzzer and hold it in his hand. The first cuts were made with her holding him in her lap. She did the back of his hair first and then I held him on my lap when she did the rest of the cut.
The only rough part was trimming up the bangs but it was super quick. It was such a relief to have this go smoothly and I am so glad that it was a good experience for him. He has had enough rough stuff to deal with. By taking some extra time to let him experience the sounds and feelings involved in getting a haircut he was able to handle it easily. Since he can't receive all the information we get visually it's important to provide him with that information in other ways. Here it was a total success!
More recently, Thomas went to his first parade! I knew we were taking a chance by taking Tom to see his first fireman's parade. But it was only up the block from my parents house so I knew we could make a quick escape if he couldn't handle the noise.
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| Tom, waiving to the trucks |
I was really glad that he got to experience a parade. We even went back to the fair they had afterwards and waited in line for funnel cake. He was a very patient guy that day and very trusting to put up with those noises.
What an awesome hairdresser to have! And he did so well! I cut Hanna's hair at home because I'm nervous to bring her anywhere else.
ReplyDeleteAnd the parade...well I'll tell you that Hanna hated parades until last year. Now she's so into the lights and sounds, she loves it more than any of the other kids!
Awww. The pictures of him getting his haircut are so adorable! What a patient hairdresser. I can see the caring. Awesome.
ReplyDeleteHey Thom you were our shining star , i have many children that come in the salon and buddy you just made my day..... happy to have made our little man so handsome and what a great time we all had , i dont know who had a better time Tom with his hip hip hurray , or was it gram or me or aunt deb ...my happiness is just how good he was and willing to be patient with me and hear my voice and all the different noises in my salon that was the test, and having a special needs child in my salon is no difference you adjust to them and there noises that really is the one thing that changes a good hair cut is a stylist needs to listen to what is needed to make this experience a success plus i have a soft spot for tom ......see ya soon love to all hip hip hurray !!!!!!
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