Alan
I felt relieved when it was finally our turn. Rach had started to nervously turn her head because of the various sounds, and make faces at the smells.
A kindly red headed woman about Donnie's age greeted us. I had requested someone with experience. It's never good to use a rookie when it comes to a young child. Hannah, who had her own hair in a short, trendy style, smiled at Rach, and used a very reassuring tone. This was a woman who knew how to deal with kids.
"Hello Rachael! My name is Hannah. I'm going to cut your hair today." She bent her knees.
"Where is your hair, sweetie?" Natalie asked, and Rach put her right hand on it.
"It's so pretty!" Hannah said cheerfully.
I told her "We just want a little trim"
"I won't use the razor then" Hannah nodded.
"Could my daughter feel your tools?" I asked. Bob had suggested this, when I called him this morning to ask how to make things as comfortable as possible for Rach. I remembered all too well what I went through when Don and Charlie got their first haircut.
"She..." Natalie paused painfully. "Doesn't see ...very well"
Hannah gave me her scissors, water spray, and comb. Gently, I had my daughter touch the spray bottle, and even sprayed some water into her hand. Rach flinched in surprise.
"It's just water honey.." Natalie softly dried Rach's hand.
Carefully, I had her feel the scissors, but avoided the sharp areas.
"This is to cut your hair. Hannah's just taking a little bit" I explained.
"Jeeala?" she replied, trying to take it from me. Thankfully, I held them handle forward.
"Rach no!" I pulled them away. "It's not nice to grab things, especially from grownups"
"EEEEEEE!" she protested.
"Don't grab things from your father!" Natalie backed me up.
Ignoring Rach's protests, I picked her up, and put her where Hanna told me to. The chair had a booster just for small kids. Hannah put the cover on Rach, who while surprised, didn't protest, as she was used to being dressed.
"Now we're going to start." Hannah began. "I put the cover on you so that you won't get your clothes all dirty and icky! Now, I'm going to spray your hair, just like your dad sprayed your little hand." The woman did this, causing Rach to balk and move her head instinctively.
"It's like when I wash your hair, baby..." Natalie stroked Rach's face. "I put water on it. Hannah has to do that too so that she can cut it better."
"Want me to save the hair?" Hannah asked.
"We'd love that!" Natalie replied. I still have Don and Charlie's hair from their first trims, truth be told. It'll be wonderful to add Rach's .
"How old are you Rachael?" Hannah asked.
"Almost fourteen months" Natalie replied.
"Such a big girl!" the woman continued to spray Rach's hair.
"gip!" Rach just said, still bewildered by the spray, which, of course would feel different then a shower.
"I bet your parents had quite a party for you..." the hair cutter remarkd with a smile and cheerful voice. Noticing Rach's confusion, Hannah added. "I'm almost done with the spraying. I didn't mean to startle you."
Soon, Hannah started to comb and then trim Rach's hair. My daughter moved, and protested in baby talk, but it was par the course for her. Nat and I tried to minimize it, but after a while, she heard some other kid's toy, and said "Aaaaaa!."
in a demanding voice. Hannah wisely stopped her work.
" no!" I scolded her. "That's not your toy"
She whined again "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiieeeeeeee!"
"Da already told you no!" Natalie said firmly.
"Aaaaaaaeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaiiiiiiiii"
"No!" I repeated, and that's when the tantrum started.
TBC
