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.
(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…
very sweet. and i understand these milestones, these moments of bravery. they are BIG.
ReplyDeleteencouraging your heart in spirit--keep on keeping on!
Steph
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.
DeleteWonderful 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.
ReplyDeleteSo 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 :)
DeleteDear Lizzie
ReplyDeleteIt 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
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 :)
DeleteThis was delightful and took me back to sweet memories of my own brave children...thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Bless you heaps :)
DeleteSuch a sweet post.
ReplyDeleteblessings :)
DeleteLizzy, 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.
ReplyDeleteAll the Brave God can throw at us - love it! May or may not use that in prayer sometime ;o) Bless you heaps!
DeleteAww..cutest thing ever to the little brother singing Twinkle twinkle to help big brother :). Those things make an everyday moment more sweet.
ReplyDeleteIt 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