Kids’ Reaction

Keith and I enjoyed our Christmas weekend with the grandkids last weekend. More about that later on Facebook, etc. (We did the Texas version of the Polar Express!)

Monday, I returned to Karen and Aaron’s house so that I could take my Mom to doctors’ appointments Tuesday and Wednesday. I arrived after the grandkids’ bedtimes. This was just after I was shaved bald. I was on the phone with my sister while sitting at the kitchen table when I spotted the 3-year-old on the stairs. I said to Sis on the phone “Oh, there is Calvin!” She said “Do I need to let you go?” I said “No, he is supposed to be in bed. I am going to pretend I did not see him.” Later, it occurred to me that his wide-eyed expression was not “I just got caught out of bed” but rather “I just saw what Gra’ma looks like after dark (bald)!” Later, Karen said, “Well, it serves him right. He was supposed to be in bed, so he should not have seen what adults look like in their natural forms.”

The next evening, I arrived at their home after a long day with my Mom at the doctor’s office. The minute I walked in, the 6-year-old observed “Gra’ma, your hair looks different!” She was correct. I was wearing my new wig. The kids were in the middle of eating dinner, so I waited. Later, I gathered them to me. I said “Lauren, do you remember when you asked me why my face was so red last Saturday, and I told you that I was taking a medicine for a disease and that medicine was making my skin red? Well, that same medicine has made my hair fall out.” The kids were audibly surprised. I explained that the “different” hair that I was wearing was not my hair, but a wig. I explained what a wig was, and that I did not have any hair left of my own. One of the kids (Calvin, I think) asked “Can we see it?” and I said yes, are you ready?

I pulled the wig off, and the kids were surprised and delighted. Karen snapped the attached photo just before Keaton laughed and said “You look silly!” “Yes,” I laughed, “I DO look pretty silly!” So, then I told them that I would have this bald hair for the rest of the winter and spring, and that later my hair would grow back. Karen then took the opportunity to tell them about people who have extra long hair who donate their ponytails to create the hair needed for wigs like these. A wonderful moment with the kids!