Before we started, Jakey saw Brian carrying the clippers' case and immediately started protesting a haircut that we had no intention of giving him. Brian set down the clippers and carried Jakey to the garage where his computer and toys are. Jakey came back up to the kitchen, our makeshift barbershop, and tearfully babbled about a haircut. Unusual.
Why? Few have witnessed Jake's terror of haircuts but those who have will never forget the screams, the writhing, the flying hands, and the petechial hemorrhaging. Yep, when we cut Jake's hair he usually cries so hard that the blood vessels under his eyes burst and cause red dots the cover his upper cheeks. Brian has to hold Jakey's arms to his sides so that his fingers don't get in the way of the clippers. The experience is so horrifying that we only cut his hair twice a year. Even mentioning the word "haircut" in his presence will induce tears and protests. For a child with sensory issues, haircuts are scary -- no control, no line of sight, loud noise by the eyes, hair being tugged. And, Jake has never liked people even touching his head.
The previous paragraph still does not fully explain how awful haircuts are for Jake and us. May you never experience putting your child (who doesn't understand you fully) through something so terrifying to them.
Back to the story ... through his tears, Jakey insisted on having his haircut. Brian held him tight on around the midsection. I held out the clippers so that Jakey could turn them on and touch the base. Then, I started cutting. Jakey sat still, no writhing, his hands at his side. He cried and babbled but allowed me to continue. About halfway through, Jake's hysteria started rising, and we asked him if he wanted to take a break. He turned off the clippers and calmed himself a bit.
Before starting up again, I asked if he wanted to finish. Choking on his tears, Jake said, "Finish."
I held out the clippers towards him and let him turn them on again. Surprisingly, he put his hand on the clippers to bring them up to his head for me to finish.
He never once stopped crying, never stopped being afraid. He still doesn't understand that the clippers won't hurt him and why Mommy and Papa put him through this torture. Yet, he endured, encouraged us to continue. That's courage. Our Jakey is the most courageous boy, and we are so proud of him. And, humbled by what a little, disabled boy can do.
Posts
