Friday 3 May 2013

Everyday Bravery


Join me in the Five Minute Friday Challenge hosted by Lisa-Jo Baker. Participants write for 5 minutes with no editing, no over thinking, and no backtracking. This week’s word is: Brave.

Five Minute Friday


(Go)

I throw the idea out there in casual conversation. He panics and looks worried. We leave it for a day or two to give him time to process the thought.

But ultimately the time comes whether he wants it to or not. I remind him to be brave. Remind him that brave does not mean the absence of fear, but rather the ability to do what must be done, regardless. Tears are okay.

We try everything that we can think of to ease his discomfort. This time he has a go at massaging his own scalp. It’s kind of funny and we giggle a bit. We spray on water and comb it through. A drop or two of oil for the blades.

It’s going to pull. His hair is so thick – we have done all we can. He grimaces as the switch is flicked on. The clippers have not made contact yet.

He does his best to look straight ahead at the magnet with the kittens. Squeezes Dad’s hand when it pulls a bit. Or if the buzzing gets too much. Little brother stands to the side and offers to sing a soothing song, breaking out in his best rendition of ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.’ I work quickly and remind him what a great job he is doing.

It may be just a haircut to you and me. But for my boy it is an achievement. He has been so brave.

(Stop)

Now, your turn…

14 comments:

  1. very sweet. and i understand these milestones, these moments of bravery. they are BIG.
    encouraging your heart in spirit--keep on keeping on!
    Steph

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Steph! We have fought haircuts all his life. Only relatively recently we have learned how the ASD plays its part. He has been braver than we realised.

      Delete
  2. Wonderful post in that it his home...we have a son who hates hair cuts too. We all have fears, and some seem funny! I love hair cuts, but to a child...they can be scary...worrying about being cut. You see I cut our son's ear once during a hair cut...now he fears the same again. Defer to dad...he's the barber now. :) Hopping over from Lisa Jo's link up. Life blesses with us such challenges as we parent...we grow as they grow.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So true about the growing! As we learn more about our boy and the challenges he faces the more we can help him through. Thanks for stopping by...blessings :)

      Delete
  3. Dear Lizzie
    It was not just any haircut, dear one; it was a Mount Everest one. I have long hair and every time I go to have the ends clipped, I am soooooo scared! I love my long hair and know the hairdressers love cutting off long hair!!
    Blessings from FMF
    Mia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Every haircut with this child is a Mt Everest of some variety. But God gives grace and we are learning. I have to smile at your hair fears. I used to have long hair (that i loved) but I always wondered what a 'pixie' cut would look like on me. I finally got brave and gave it a go. I have never received more compliments in my life. Big blessings :)

      Delete
  4. This was delightful and took me back to sweet memories of my own brave children...thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lizzy, you know I heart you already. The turn your writing took for this prompt - so. get. this. When those haircut times come and all of the modeling and practicing and prepping is done - and the time comes for the actual thing, that's when we need all The Brave God can throw at us! Loved this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. All the Brave God can throw at us - love it! May or may not use that in prayer sometime ;o) Bless you heaps!

      Delete
  6. Aww..cutest thing ever to the little brother singing Twinkle twinkle to help big brother :). Those things make an everyday moment more sweet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is adorable - especially when he mixes up the words. I do it for him when we wash his hair, so I guess he figures it might help. Hair cuts really are a family affair here...blessings :o)

      Delete

Thanks for commenting - I love to hear what you're thinking!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...