Comment by Emily Horsley on February 18, 2011 at 8:05am

OMG you are fantastic and your mother, like your friends, should accept you for who you are. When I stopped wearing my wig my mum was fantastic and suppportive as were all my family, friends, neighbours, I was expecting negetive comments, staring, my children getting teased but in reality the oppisite was the case - I would NEVER EVER go back to wearing a wig, do what's best for you!

Comment by Lili Añel (aka Eulalia) on February 18, 2011 at 12:02pm

Thank you for this brilliant blog. I am in transition with my spots that I used to cover with the hair left on my head, so large, I can no longer cover (go to my profile, I've posted a photo). In the past 20 years as I've dealt with my alopecia getting worse, whenever I saw a woman or young girl with a bald head, I always gave them support, saying something like "beautiful head". I knew I would sooner than later be bald just like them. Their eyes would always light and subsequently smile saying "thank you". My biggest challenge I think will be when my son sees me with a bald head. When he was younger and noticed my spots he used to hold me tightly and cry. I used to ensure to him that I was not "sick" and that I was alright with this. I will do the same week after next when what's left of my hair is taken down. You're right, we have to be ourselves, accept ourselves and teach the world. I thank you from the bottom of my soul for your blog.

Comment by Bald and Fabulous AKA Terri on February 18, 2011 at 12:03pm

Inspiring story. I agree we need to stop hiding our alopecia and be comfortable in our own skins. Whether that is wigs, scarfs, hats or nothing at all. The first thing I told my mom when she bought my first wig (It was a gift on her part, kinda to make up for the one she bought me when I was much younger) was she going to be ok if one day I choose not to wear it anymore. As it turns out I havent put a wig on in months, and currently it is winter here in Canada. I much more enjoy scarfs, and come summer who knows.
I always said I wanted to help other little girls or boys from going thru what I did when I was growing up. Now it has altered from wanting to stop alopecia to acceptance.
Well done Georgia and keep up the wonderful work.

Comment by Norm on February 18, 2011 at 3:48pm

Aha.... someone who "gets" it.... brilliant! Congrats, Georgia.... 5 gold stars, pass "Go", collect £200, etc.

It's really important to be happy and comfortable, whether that's wearing wigs, scarves, hats or nothing - but when realisation hits that hey, this is who I am, and IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE - I'm still the same person - that's a top moment. And to recognise that people won't - in fact, can't - accept you as a bald person, and that "bald" is an OK way to be, until they see you bald..... ace.

Carry on being yourself, G - and maybe Ma will come round eventually.... hey, maybe you could try telling her how you've never really liked that outfit she likes to wear so much? Or maybe she doesn't do "irony"....:)

Comment by kastababy on February 18, 2011 at 8:03pm

Brilliant blog Georgia...my mom is finally coming to terms with my refusal to wear a wig (though I own several) and my occasional choice to wear scarves (merely due to the cold winter weather here and not because I feel the need to cover my head up.) She still tries to push the issue, but when she does, the phone goes silent or I hang up. It's that simple. After my split from my ex and the way he treated me, and after the fantastic experience I had at the NAAF Conference in Indianapolis last June, I have awakened to the reality that I am seriously allergic to other people's bullshit and hangups about my hair (or lack thereof.) Now when I see pictures of myself with a wig on, I look at how mad and angry and upset I look because I have to have that thing on my head. Go to that party however you choose to - and if your mom gets upset, then just tell her that she can always stay home, but YOU'RE going to have a ball! :)

Comment by Angie P on February 19, 2011 at 2:50pm

Wonderfully stated! Just beautiful.

Comment by Georgia Gardner on February 20, 2011 at 4:26am

Thank you so much everyone for your wonderful comments. I truly do feel awesome right now :D
I did go to the party without my hair (I'll have some pics up soon) and I looked fantastic. Everyone was complaining how hot it was and how they wished they could put their hair up, but I was lovely and cool. :P
While I can't say I loved the party - a little too fancy for my taste :P - I had a fantastic time catching up with my sister and just chilling.
One of the thing I love about Sydney - because I live in a reasonably small town, people care a lot more. They do more of that staring thing. No one does in Sydney because around the corner theres a person walking around dressed up as a tree, somebody in anime costume or a bunch of people not wearing shirts. Blad girl? Who cares?
I love it :) that feeling of fitting.

I do love that I'm comfortable to go out without my wig, and I'm working on going without a scarf - If my head was lovely and shiny like some of yours I probably would already, but my patches make my head look like a globe. Having said that, I should be getting a new wig soon that I'm really jazzed about. I just want to not be obligated to wear it, or not. However the day is, too hot, too cold, bad hair day or bad head day - be able to choose in that moment what I want to do without worrying about other people.

And you just gotta love that. :D

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