Let’s Go Cut-Cut-Cut
One memory which my son will retain of his grandfather, I am sure, is that of the compulsory hair cutting ritual that takes place whenever my father visits us or we visit my parents. While, I am very thankful that my father is able to handle him through the whole thing, my son is sure to have not-so-sweet memories of the nightmarish experience that is for him.
Simply put, my little guy is terrified of anything that comes near his head. So he does not wear caps, even though I have stocked up so many different varieties of them. And if someone wants to cut his hair, that is the biggest crime in my son’s world. He cries his head and heart out, shrieking and wailing, that everyone in our building start peeking out of their balconies to see what’s happening.
My husband is more terrified than my son to take him for a haircut. He cannot bear to see his junior suffer like that, and no matter how much he tries, he simply is not able to put force on that gentle body. So it falls upon my dad, the grandpa, to do the honours. The first time my dad took Sid to a salon was when he was 1.5 years old. At that time, Sid did not completely understand what is happening, and the experience was relatively simple.
However, we soon discovered that the experience only gets worse with age. If we thought that at 2, Sid’s hair-cutting will be much easier since the boy is grown up, we were greatly mistaken. With age his strength has also grown, and so has his will power. So, now he opposes any move to cut his hair with more vigour and determination.
Therefore, for the past two times, taking him to a salon has become nigh impossible. Just as we were racking our brains to trim his mane, my husband and father got a brilliant idea. Out came my husband’s electric shaver. I squatted on the floor and tagged my son, tucking his arms under mine and holding his head as firmly as I could. I still required one more person to hold him. And the other person, my dad or hubby, ran the shaver over his head. He did make a lot of fuss, but somehow we managed to get the job done. We heaved a sigh of relief. Until the next time!
Phew! Each and every time, cutting Sid’s hair is almost like a mini wrestling match, with 3 to 4 contenders. We wonder how long will it continue before Sid understands that his hair needs to be cut regularly and comply with the barber without making any fuss.
How does your kid react when you take him or her to the salon? Does he/she make a similar fuss, or do they love the soft purr of scissors or trimmer running through their hair?
Do share your thoughts; I would love to know how other parents cope with such situations.
Yamini is a software professional turned work-at-home-mom. Amidst her domestic responsibilities and a very demanding 2.5 year old son, she snatches time to write academic papers, freelance content, fiction and poetry. Her stories and poetry have been published in various online literary magazines and anthologies by Penguin Books and Cyberwit Publications. Yamini voices her thoughts now and then at http://myexpressionsandme.