It took us 8 years to get to this point.

Haircuts for my other two children were easy.

Sit in the chair, get your hair cut, and grab your favorite flavored lollipop on your way out the door.

But that’s not the case when you have a child with autism and sensory processing disorder.

When I say that our son has “sensory sensitivities” it’s not something that should be taken lightly.

Some of his sensory issues are so intense that it actually causes him physical pain.

And that’s how hair cuts have always been for our sweet Bubba.

The tears, the shaking, the anxiety.

It was emotionally and physically exhausting for him and for us.

I’m sharing this because looking at him in this picture, you would have no idea that this sweet boy struggled as badly as he did.

And I want to tell all the mamas out there with a highly sensitive sensory kiddo, that it’s going to be OK.

It will get better.

We kept things the same after all of these years to help lesson the stress on him.

We went to the same place and the same barber every single time.

Hair clippers at home, pictures, video clips, social stories – you name it, we did it.

But we never stopped trying.

We never gave up.

And here we are.

Our son is sitting calmly in a barber chair.

He’s happy and smiling.

And looking handsome with his fresh new hair cut.

Our son’s strength and bravery amazes me every single day.

And I could not be more proud of him.