Saturday, April 14, 2018

Hair loss, Hats and headscarves

I'm losing my hair due to Chemotherapy. I decided to just buzz it all off so that it's easier to clean up later.

Luckily I made lots of hats for myself during the last few years:



There are more hats that I didn't blog about. This is all good for the colder weather. But when the weather gets warmer, I think I will more likely be wearing head scarves. No problem there either! I have lots of summery fabrics in my fabric stash that I can just cut and serge the edges to make headscarves.

My daughter seems most concerned about my hair loss. She was worried that I wouldn't "be beautiful anymore". I am teaching her that a person's beauty does not only come from her hair. A person is beautiful because she is kind, compassionate, wise, sure of her own qualities and doesn't wait for others to validate her. A person's positivity can shine through an otherwise ordinary physical appearance which makes the person extremely attractive. I'll keep teaching this to her every day.

I'm also teaching my kids that just because I have cancer, I'm not shying away from society. I'm going about my daily life like everyone else, perhaps a bit slower. We went to a restaurant last night for the first time since I was diagnosed with cancer. I had my headscarf on and that invited some looks from the restaurant patrons at first, especially the children. But after a while, people got used to it and I enjoyed having my family restaurant meal as usual. I want my children to understand that just because someone has a serious illness, she doesn't have to hide from society. Unfortunately this is the same lesson I have teach to my mother. She would like me to hide from society until I have completely recovered with a full head of hair, as if I was never sick before.

6 comments:

  1. I've enjoyed reading your blog for the last few years and missed you when you weren't posting. It's good to see you back. I admire your attitude and courage. You're in my thoughts and prayers.

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    1. Thanks Beverly! It's good to hear from you too!

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  2. Glad you are getting on with your life. You have some cute hats there. What hemming method are you planning for your head scarves? I want to try using the nice hemming options on the overlocker!

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    1. I have a serger so I'm just going to roll-hem serge the edges of the fabric square and call it a scarf! ;-) You can always do a roll-hem with a sewing machine too with a specialty foot (which I don't have).

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  3. It's so good that you sew; I imagine those scarves are pricey if they are ready-made. It's also a good small project to give you some sewing satisfaction!

    It's also SO GOOD that you are taking this chance to mold your daughter's values around beauty. It's such an important lesson. I'm sorry your mom didn't learn that, and is unable at this time to support you in being a full member of society. Maybe she will learn bit by bit, by your example. It's harder to change someone if they've believed something for a long time, but it can happen. Being out and about with your family as usual is a beautiful thing when you've been deprived of it. I'm glad you had your family outing.

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    1. Thanks Jenny! My mom is from an different generation and she herself is very insecure about her looks. I'm not surprised that she feels this way. But I think this is all new for her and she will get used to it at some point, as will my daughter.

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