sj gets a trim...no social story needed

SJ got his hair cut today.  This is something that most moms may think is a mostly fuss-free event.  Until just 4 years ago, this was anything but fuss-free for us.  SJ used to flip out when we took him to get his haircut.  He has had to sit on my lap or his TSS's lap.  He has screamed and squirmed.  He didn't like the clippers (for the noise) and he didn't like the scissors (for the sensation of his hair being cut).  We used to have to promise him the world to get his hair cut.  We would leave with a ragged, crooked haircut.  The poor hairdresser would be so apologetic, but it was never her fault.  He couldn't sit still.  Eventually, I created a social story that showed him step-by-step what would happen at the hair salon.  The salon staff was so kind to let me come in and take pictures.  I used these pictures to make up his social story.  We would read him the story right before getting his haircut.  Now, years later he sits like any other kid.  We walked in and he told the stylist his name.  He even gave her these instructions, "Take a couple chops off the back, make it straight in the front and clean it up around the ears."  I had to laugh a little when she smiled and looked at me.  I said, "Just give him a clean boy's haircut with scissors."  As I was sitting there waiting, I watched him squirm a little.  She kept reminding him to sit up and he did.  I didn't have to explain to her that he has PDD.  He has gotten to the point where I don't have to tell every stranger that comes into contact with him what his diagnosis is.  Sometimes when you have a child on the spectrum, they struggle with the simplest of things.  When you are in the weeds, you never think it is going to get easier.  Here I am 6 years into SJ's diagnosis and I am thrilled that not everything is so difficult anymore.  Even if it is just a haircut, that is monumental progress for SJ.