Ds2 has big issues with haircuts but we had been making progress - He only cried right at the end last time.
Today, we got there at 3pm, saw there was just one customer there already having his cut, waited half an hour, by which time other children were coming in after school. Ds2 kept trying to calm himself down, saying that mummy would ask the barber to put the hairdryer on the shelf and the barber would say "ok".
It got to our turn. I asked the barber if I could move the hairdryer as DS2 is terrified of them.
He said, no, that he didn't have time for messing around, next please. I was obviously taken about and said all I wanted was for him to move the hairdryer. He said no, get out. I asked if I had done or said anything offensive and if there was any reason why he couldn't have told us sooner if he was going to refuse to serve us and got the immortal line: "I don't like you and I don't like your wingeing kid".
So we left.
Another mother with a reception-aged child was waiting and very kindly walked out with us and gave me a hug and a pick-me-up chat which of course I appreciated and which equally of course made me dissolve into tears on the street.
longer term, it's annoying because I think with any anxiety-based problem like this you don't want to back away once you're committed - I can just see Ds2 next time at (another) barbers saying "no mummy the barber's too busy".
am tempted to compose letter to local newspaper: "to the lady who comforted me after the Barber at xxxx barbers shouted at my disabled child because he was frightened of the hairdriers and told me to get out "because I don't like your winging kid". Thank you. It was a humiliating experience but you made me feel better".
dare I?
Also it makes you realise how having receptive language delay, sensory issues and ASD traits is not something that you can explain in a succinct riposte to a man like that.
Am still crying (but cry easily LOL)