Comment by pauline vargas on November 8, 2011 at 1:26pm

I'm proud of you I hope I can have the courage to do the same

Comment by Susan Innes on November 8, 2011 at 1:50pm

OY....now I'll always associate the phrase "bottom line" with that pun.( But, very funny, as always, Norm:).)

Tallgirl, I've volunteered at a lot of schools and it's hard to imagine a VP being that crass. I happened to read a newspaper article about a woman who gathered friends to make fleece hats for lower-income neighborhood schools. I joined this group which later began sewing hats to give to children at the annual NAAF conferences (drafty air-conditioned hotels), Therefore, all the women knew of my disease which would often become part of the discussions while at the schools, with the VPs visiting the "sewing room" where the children were selecting their assorted colored fabrics. Not one VP has ever "even asked" me to do anything! Most are very aware that differences in appearances can cause bullying and other negative consequences and therefore require special circumstances and preparation for all parties involved. It's a good idea to educate young children to respect people with differences but this was totally unacceptable. Thanks, we all learned from your experience, but very sorry that it happened to you. Hugs, Susan

Comment by Tallgirl on November 8, 2011 at 1:58pm

You should have been there on the day the VP finally came to the class to put everyone on lock-down until someone confessed to being the person who was throwing the little blue, oil-based clay balls into my lovely long Tango wig when I turned to write on the board. In true courtroom style, finally one tattling boy pointed and yelled, dramatically, "SHEEEEEEE did it!" at a girl across the room. Audible gasps. Girl got suspended, class had to shape up for the rest of the year. When the school didn't honor my hire for the next year, I got them all back by removing my hat at a staff meeting and making the teachers and unsupportive staff have to look at my bald head for an hour. I didn't care anymore.

Comment by Tallgirl on November 8, 2011 at 2:04pm

Norm: I am starting younger with my grandson. I told him, while babysitting, that my wig was off because it was too hot. The next week, I noticed he got a buzz cut for youth football, and didn't seem to mind that it was a total change from his Beatle-style do.

Comment by Rodeli on November 9, 2011 at 10:00pm

Tallgirl--I can totally relate! When I was a kid I had several extremely disturbing and upsetting incidents with other kids (bullies). When I was in about 1st grade, I was walking to school with some kids in my neighborhood when a small group of boys began picking up stones and small rocks and throwing them at my head to try to knock my wig off and making fun of me. I actually got hit by a few of them before the kids I was with made a circle around me to try to protect me and started yelling at the other kids. Then another time when I was just a little older my grandmother and I were walking past an elevated playground where some boys who knew me from school saw me walking by and they picked up some cans and started throwing them down at me and making fun of me. As if having this happen in front of my grandmother wasn't bad enough, the worst part was that they hit my grandmother with one of the cans in her head and that got me really upset. So not all kids take seeing a bald kid or woman or one wearing a wig too well. Not that I have had that problem much as an adult, but as a kid, I was the object of a few kids making sport out of my baldness and wearing a wig. I guess that is why I am sensitive to my son's sensitivities about being made fun of.

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