I went topless
I teach 4th/5th grade at a classical school on Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays, so tomorrow will be the real test. I have already warned them, and some returning students knew I had cancer. I am a little scared about tomorrow, but it is time.
I also went to my onc today topless.
Rhonda
Comments
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Rhonda WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOO
Rhonda WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOO ...GOING TOPLESS!!!!!
Im glad it was a good experience for you cuz my first time out wasnt but after that it did get much better and wow you are brave to go infront of 4th & 5th graders...cuz they can be brutial. Hopefully they mind their P's and Q's cuz we all know you never know whats going to come out of there mouth good or bad...keepin my fingers crossed for ya! Keep us posted on how it goes!!0 -
kids will surprise you
I am a Speech language pathologist. The Summer I started chemo we had just instituted a controversial new dress code in the public school district I work in. I had permission from my Principal to wear hats (against dress code) and I expected a lot of questions from students. I really had very few comments. One girl (a very fashion-conscious 3d grade girl) asked me why certain hats did not match my outfits, but not why I wore hats. I had one big surprise from a 4th grade boy. I had worked with him for 3 years, and he was always surly, making it very clear that he did not like being in my class. I expected him to make a big deal of me breaking the dress code rules. Instead, he sat very quietly in class the first 2 sessions. The third, he very carefully asked if he could ask me a question. I said sure, expecting some rude remark. He did not ask why I was wearing a hat or why I wasn't following dress code. Instead he asked me if I had cancer. I was amazed by his intuitive words and concerned tone. I asked why he thought I might have cancer and he told me his cousin died of cancer the year before. We proceeded to have a very informative discussion about cancer, chemo, and its effect on family members....The rest of the year he was a perfect gentleman in my class. I was working in High school too at the time, and I expected them to make a big deal of me beinig out of dress code. They did ask why I was wearing hats, but I just said I had cancer and was taking chemo which made my hair fall out, and Had permission from the principal to wear hats. I got mixed reactions from them. One said maybe he should do chemo so he could wear hats too...we both laughed at the joke. One had the usual questions like what was cancer like, how did I get it, what was chemo like, was it contageous...but most of them were satisfied with the first explanation. It really was not aa big deal.
I say all this to say that I think if you are frank and open with your students, they will surprise you. Be willing to be open and I think you have nothing to fear from them.
Have a great year!0 -
Big congrats Rhonda on goingjo jo said:Rhonda WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOO
Rhonda WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOO ...GOING TOPLESS!!!!!
Im glad it was a good experience for you cuz my first time out wasnt but after that it did get much better and wow you are brave to go infront of 4th & 5th graders...cuz they can be brutial. Hopefully they mind their P's and Q's cuz we all know you never know whats going to come out of there mouth good or bad...keepin my fingers crossed for ya! Keep us posted on how it goes!!
Big congrats Rhonda on going topless!
Lex♥0 -
Rhonda
I think honesty goes a long way and your students will appreciate that
you let them know. It will be interesting to hear back from you and see
how they reacted.
Coloring hair after chemo, seems to be tricky, my hair simply didn't take
it I tried henna and then permanent hair color the second time around.
Sheesh... we need a new line of hair color for all the chemo babes.
Don't you love to be topless?
Ayse0 -
Don't you just love beingaysemari said:Rhonda
I think honesty goes a long way and your students will appreciate that
you let them know. It will be interesting to hear back from you and see
how they reacted.
Coloring hair after chemo, seems to be tricky, my hair simply didn't take
it I tried henna and then permanent hair color the second time around.
Sheesh... we need a new line of hair color for all the chemo babes.
Don't you love to be topless?
Ayse
Don't you just love being topless? I went topless first at the college where I work and then gradually other places also. Alot of times before I decided to completely take off the hats and scarfs I would go out to walk or jog in the morning and would forget to put on my hat and would turn around to get it. Now it just doesnt matter. I then went to the mall, and most recently to church without any headcovering. The women in my life group were so wonderful and made such a big deal about how nice my hair looked and that the white looks so good on me. (did ask my onco why he couldnt put a different hair dye in with all the chemicals he put through my body - he just looked at me and laughed)
Congrats for going topless it is such a great feeling.0 -
Go Poodles
Going topless is definitely a time of freedom especially of you live somewhere like San Antonio
.. It can be a little weird and you get those extra looks and smiles..but for the most part people try not to look. The children are wonderful. I may have gotten a couple questions but the children are definitely better than the adults.. So 'Go Ms Lady' and I'll send you some of my special topless energy sparks. It will have that head glowing all day..lol 0 -
I'm a substitute teacher and
I'm a substitute teacher and have found that my wig only irritates those lovely chemo-induced breakouts...So...I wear hats and have found that the kids really ask very few questions and are just happy to have you there. I did have a thrid grader ask if I had cancer because his Aunt was going thru it so he knew what it meant to be bald. I found that to be pretty insightful.
Anyhow, I am finding that the longer I am bald, the less I worry about going out without a hat and have done it quite a few times lately...0 -
Freedom .. is all I can say .. When I started to sport my newmrs gadget said:I'm a substitute teacher and
I'm a substitute teacher and have found that my wig only irritates those lovely chemo-induced breakouts...So...I wear hats and have found that the kids really ask very few questions and are just happy to have you there. I did have a thrid grader ask if I had cancer because his Aunt was going thru it so he knew what it meant to be bald. I found that to be pretty insightful.
Anyhow, I am finding that the longer I am bald, the less I worry about going out without a hat and have done it quite a few times lately...
topless look .. It was my why of DARING the world to look and ask -- "I am fighting breast cancer' ask how you can help ACS .. telephone # was the motto on my pink shirt, I wore to the grocery store, target etc .. and my reply.
Down side, I did have many of folks stop and talk about someone they knew or related to that suffered, fought and died. Occasional, a survival story! So I stopped wearing my Warrior - Sisters in PINK shirt and went along with my business.
We are fighting a serious health WAR - Bald is our badge of HONOR, HOPE is our weapon of choice and Life is our ultimate GOAL.
No go out and take on the DAY!
Strength and Courage:
Vicki Sam0 -
Thank youVickiSam said:Freedom .. is all I can say .. When I started to sport my new
topless look .. It was my why of DARING the world to look and ask -- "I am fighting breast cancer' ask how you can help ACS .. telephone # was the motto on my pink shirt, I wore to the grocery store, target etc .. and my reply.
Down side, I did have many of folks stop and talk about someone they knew or related to that suffered, fought and died. Occasional, a survival story! So I stopped wearing my Warrior - Sisters in PINK shirt and went along with my business.
We are fighting a serious health WAR - Bald is our badge of HONOR, HOPE is our weapon of choice and Life is our ultimate GOAL.
No go out and take on the DAY!
Strength and Courage:
Vicki Sam
Thank you for your words. I went to school on Tuesday and the kids were great. One little boy said I had the second shortest hair in the class and should be proud. Another little girl said you are pretty with or without hair. Everyone was great and it is so freeing being without any head covering. Thanks for the head sparks!
Much Love,
Rhonda0 -
Good for you Rhonda! I went
Good for you Rhonda! I went topless today too - but it really doesn't count because it was at my chemo treatment, although I was the only woman in there without something covering her head. I was just feeling like crap & hot & my bandana was itchy, so i took it off to be more comfortable. And I was
*hugs*
Heather0 -
I had rather be comfortableHeatherbelle said:Good for you Rhonda! I went
Good for you Rhonda! I went topless today too - but it really doesn't count because it was at my chemo treatment, although I was the only woman in there without something covering her head. I was just feeling like crap & hot & my bandana was itchy, so i took it off to be more comfortable. And I was
*hugs*
Heather
I had rather be comfortable during chemo, so it does count. I love your mohawk! I hope your treatment went well, it doesn't last forever. We are expecting cooler weather the first of next week, here in Georgia. Just lay around and rest if you can.
Rhonda0 -
I had my second haircutGiant Poodles said:I had rather be comfortable
I had rather be comfortable during chemo, so it does count. I love your mohawk! I hope your treatment went well, it doesn't last forever. We are expecting cooler weather the first of next week, here in Georgia. Just lay around and rest if you can.
Rhonda
I had my second haircut yesterday, or rather trim and shaping, also got blonde highlights which I so badly wanted. I was blondish and had straight hair, now it is curly and dark. While I dont like myself in short hair, it looks ok, You guys will get there probably quicker than I did as I have pretty slow growing hair. Be proud of yourself, its not easy to be topless but you did it.0 -
Funny
My best friend (and now a nearly 20 year survivor) had breast cancer in 1991. She taught at the pre-school where my oldest son attended during that time. One day on our way home from school, I asked him what he had learned. He told me he learned about the letter B. He then preceded to tell me all of the things that started with the letter "B"...ball, bat, butterfly and....drumroll....BALD! I looked at him and said "Bald?" and he replied, "Miss Donna told us that Bald started with the letter "B" and showed us her head." Donna and I still laugh about this today! But the beautiful thing is that my son, now 23 years old, stood next to me when my hair was falling out in the bathroom sink and said "Bald starts with the letter "B" and so does "Beautiful".
I just love that boy!
Merle0 -
WTG Rhonda! I bet youGiant Poodles said:Thank you
Thank you for your words. I went to school on Tuesday and the kids were great. One little boy said I had the second shortest hair in the class and should be proud. Another little girl said you are pretty with or without hair. Everyone was great and it is so freeing being without any head covering. Thanks for the head sparks!
Much Love,
Rhonda
WTG Rhonda! I bet you looked beautiful!
Hugs, Jan0 -
I have to add my WOO HOO forbeetle25 said:Don't you just love being
Don't you just love being topless? I went topless first at the college where I work and then gradually other places also. Alot of times before I decided to completely take off the hats and scarfs I would go out to walk or jog in the morning and would forget to put on my hat and would turn around to get it. Now it just doesnt matter. I then went to the mall, and most recently to church without any headcovering. The women in my life group were so wonderful and made such a big deal about how nice my hair looked and that the white looks so good on me. (did ask my onco why he couldnt put a different hair dye in with all the chemicals he put through my body - he just looked at me and laughed)
Congrats for going topless it is such a great feeling.
I have to add my WOO HOO for being topless! Congrats sister in pink!
Hugs, Megan0 -
merle he is a keeper! what aMerleBee said:Funny
My best friend (and now a nearly 20 year survivor) had breast cancer in 1991. She taught at the pre-school where my oldest son attended during that time. One day on our way home from school, I asked him what he had learned. He told me he learned about the letter B. He then preceded to tell me all of the things that started with the letter "B"...ball, bat, butterfly and....drumroll....BALD! I looked at him and said "Bald?" and he replied, "Miss Donna told us that Bald started with the letter "B" and showed us her head." Donna and I still laugh about this today! But the beautiful thing is that my son, now 23 years old, stood next to me when my hair was falling out in the bathroom sink and said "Bald starts with the letter "B" and so does "Beautiful".
I just love that boy!
Merle
merle he is a keeper! what a love!!!0
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