All About the Boy!

A Year's Difference

Logan's first haircut was roughly a year ago. Each one after that became increasingly more traumatic than the one before peaking with the one he had a few months ago. That time out he started to cry and protest the moment we pulled into the parking lot of the large strip mall the hair cut place is in. He sat on my lap the entire cut and screamed his head off begging to be freed. That last torture session resulted in such a short haircut that we could afford to delay its follow-up. . .until today.

This morning I called Grandma because it has become a tradition for the three of us to suffer through the trim together. Afterwards we treat ourselves to a run through Toys R Us (next to the hair place) and lunch at Friendlys or just ice cream at Rich's. I decided to give a morning cut a try this time instead of the post-nap trim we've done in the past. And just like each time before it, we talked up the haircut this time - I reminded Logan that if he sat still for the lady it would go faster and she wouldn't scratch him accidentally as he whipped his neck around. I reminded him that he had his pick of cool chairs to sit in - a motorcycle or a car. I reminded him that he was a big, brave boy who could have ice cream when we were done.

He told Grandma where we were headed as soon as she got in the car and he told us both he'd sit in the big car for his cut. We pulled into the parking lot and he shed not a tear. Instead he said "Almost there. We get my hair cut." When we walked into the Kuts 4 Kids place he headed right for the pile of toys. When the lady called his name he told us no he was playing. When we tried to put him in the seat he cried and locked his knees - but then he saw we had put Thomas on the TV and he allowed himself to be settled in.

He cried and begged to get out until Melissa (our new favorite haircutter) turned the razor on and started to trim. Then he quieted and sat absolutely still - his eyes wandering from me, Gram and the TV. He'd call out "Mommy, get down." or just "Mommmy" a few times but still no tears. No hysteria. He clung to two toys he had picked up from the play area. When the louder buzzer got near his ear he whimpered a little but settled right down again as we reminded him that it was quick and everything was ok. He did not appreciate the spray water bottle misting his head - that produced a bit of protest. He wasn't so sure he was happy about the comb and scissors running through his hair but still, no tears, no fits. He sat still and let Melissa do her work. He saw her put the scissors down and get the big powdered brush out to whisk away the cut hair and announced "All done! Down now." He even smiled at the women working there and waved goodbye. And he left without sneaking out when of their toys in our rush to move the hysterical child from the offending premise.

He then informed us that we were headed to Toys R Us. He marched us right back to the Thomas and Friends display where he helped himself to a few of the cars out on the set-up table. He had no interest in anything other than that train table - not even picking out a train to take home. . .until we were leaving. Then he was ready to pick out a train to buy. And he tried to pick out several. After talking him down to just one train, he selected Toby the Tram Engine. He marched it to the register and placed it down on the counter to pay. Once outside the store he asked to have the package open and then announced that we'd have our lunch at Friendlys. He ordered there on his own and he told the waitress all about his new train and his haircut.

In fact, little outspoken man even yelled at the waitress when she passed by us without his post-meal ice cream. "Hey! Where my ice cream? I want my ice cream!" Of course, once he got his ice cream he decided that he really didn't like the crumbled oreos on it after all. Lessons learned. . .

posted by Sandy at 1:00 PM