Can we talk about that moment when a kid flinches and you nick them...

I was doing a flat top on a 7 year old in my chair last Tuesday and he jerked his head right when I was near his ear... got a tiny cut, barely a dot of blood. The mom was cool about it but I felt awful for the rest of the day. How do you guys handle kids who can't sit still mid-cut?

3 comments

3 Comments

keith16426d ago

Oh man, that's EXACTLY the kind of thing that sticks with you. I had a kid do the exact same flinch move last month, right as I was blending the side of his head. Got his lobe with the corner of the blade, just a tiny red dot but I felt like I'd run over his dog. I totally agree with @sean48, the mom being chill is the real victory here. Some parents treat a nick like you sliced their kid's arm off. I've started telling them "want to see a magic trick?" before I go near tricky spots, and it buys me two solid seconds of stillness. The talking through everything trick that michael_williams mentioned works too, I narrate like I'm a sports commentator and it honestly helps me focus too. Kids are just wiggly little creatures, you can't win every battle but at least you can learn from the close calls.

michael_williams27d ago

Jump right in with explaining what I do in that situation. I've found that talking to them constant works too, narrating each step like a game helps keep their head still. Also telling them "big breath in" right before the tricky parts gives them a split second to freeze up.

sean4826d ago

A FLAT TOP on a SEVEN year old? Man that's playing life on hard mode right there. Those little guys have zero chill and their heads are like fishing bobbers in a storm. I'd rather shave a wiggly golden retriever than attempt clipper work near a kid's ear. You've got guts and I respect that. But honestly the mom being cool about it is the real win here. Some parents would lose their minds over a pinprick.