"Are you different"

"Are you different?" asked my almost three year old. Shyly she said, "You look like a daddy."

I couldn't help but cry when she said that. I try not to cry in front of her but I just couldn't keep the tears back. I got down on the floor at her level and through my tears I told her, "No, I'm not different. I'm taking medicine that makes my hair fall out. I'm not different because I do not have hair." She then asked me if I was sad (because of my tears). I told her that I wasn't sad. She then leaned into me and gave me the biggest, longest hug. I couldn't help but to cry some more.

By this time, my husband came into the room and asked if everything was alright. I told him what Maelyn had asked me. We then explained to her again about the medicine, the hair loss and that I'm still the same mommy.

A common answer in our household for a lot of things is, "IT HAPPENS." If Maelyn pees on the floor I say, "It's okay, it happens." If she falls and scrapes her arm I say, "It's okay, it happens." If I drop something and it breaks I say, "It's okay, it happens." Little things happen. They might appear big and awful at first....but things happen and it's okay.

Cancer happens. Hair loss happens. It's all okay.