My Autism Journey day 11-Getting haircuts was something that was very difficult for a long time! We started out with going to little places like Fantastic Sam’s. I hated when it was time for a haircut because it was hard to do and the other people in the salon gave me too much sympathy. I can’t deal with that! Paige would sit on my lap I kept her in the chair. It was horrible. Eventually, I found a stylist who had a daughter with disabilities. She agreed to cut Paige’s hair. She was really kind and patient! I mentioned to the teachers at Paige’s school how hard haircuts were for us. They instructed me on taking photos of everything at the salon so they could make a photo album with a social narrative. I would be able to read this with Paige before taking her to the salon. We gave them the pictures and soon after we were given the completed photo album. Before our next appointment, I read the story and showed Paige the pictures. We got to the salon and our stylist had made a drastic change in her hair color. All of the pictures show her with jet black hair, but she was a platinum blonde on this day. Now what?!!! I just breezed past the hair color change and pointed out things in the photo album as they were going to happen. Paige payed attention and did a pretty good job!! She wasn’t able to let them shampoo her hair but began tolerating the cape and the sound of scissors near her ears. Later on Paige had a teaching assistant who did hair. We went to her for a while, but then my cousin began doing hair. She would come to our house and cut Paige’s hair. She is still cutting Paige’s hair now, but we go to the salon. Paige has accepted the shampoo bowl hair washing, hairdryer, and waiting while I get a haircut and highlights. This was one lesson I began to see in a variety of areas…put in the hard work at the beginning and you will reap the benefits later. This could be the mantra for our whole journey!!!