Hello Kitty patchThank you for all of your comments about Maia's patch and your thoughtful advice, it's day five now and she's blown my socks off with how stoic she can be. We've had a play-date with friends be-patched, and today we ventured into town for a movie, lunch and a spot of shopping and she's not put up a fuss at all. She has even answered questions from other kids today about why she was wearing it: 'It's for my eye to get stronger'. Subject closed and everyone moved on. She's a star.
Coordinates Hello Kitty from head to toe- seriously!I probably should have said the other day that deciding to make her cloth eye patches over using the adhesive ones wasn't a whim on my part; I think some people were worried that making her patches was tantamount to refusing a cast for a broken leg and crafting a Popsicle stick splint instead. When we were at the optometrist, all of the options for patching were discussed and we were given a cloth patch to try on in the office (which I of course studied and then researched later), but the NHS doesn't give those out for free. I told the doctor that I'm a seamstress and we discussed what the requisite properties of an eye patch were: in short, to block the good eye from seeing at all. One of the advantages of a cloth patch over an adhesive patch (other than the irritation of an adhesive), is that a cloth patch allows the eye to be open where the adhesive ones tape the lid shut. If you can see from the closer-up pictures, the patch is darted at top and bottom so it forms a dome around the eye socket. This allows the eye to be open and blinking along with the other other eye, but unable to see anything at all due to the wrap-around onto the leg of the glasses and the coverage up onto the forehead and down to the cheek.
Red and pink hearts for red and pink ensembleThe greatest treat for Maia (beyond the comfort), is that every night she has picked a new fabric from my stash for another patch to match the next day's outfit. Perhaps not viable in the long term, but a small inconvenience for me to reward her for her bravery. I couldn't be more proud of her.
I wish I'd known you when Muzz was being patched. He hated it and he hated the eye pavillion. Was such a relief when we were told we'd never have to go back
ReplyDeleteSo sweet! And I love her choices!!
ReplyDeleteMaia is a rockstar and so are you! I love that she gets a new matching one each day. That is such an amazing way to make this fun.
ReplyDeleteShe is a star. It is worth all the hard work on your part and hers
ReplyDeleteI think all little girls will be wearing those eye patches soon given how cool they are! Well done Maia and well done you for being the coolest mum ever. Love that Maia was wearing head to toe Hello Kitty. We've just come out of that phase!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome for both of you!
ReplyDeleteAwww, she is such an amazing kid. The eye patches you've made are fabulous.
ReplyDeleteLike, like, like, like, like. What a brave little sweetheart she is. I love how they can just roll with it.
ReplyDeleteBig thumbs up! I love how kids just get on with things - and how you're helping her do that in style :)
ReplyDeleteThis post actually brought a few tears; what a star! Little children are pretty amazing with what they just take in their stride. Thumbs up for Maia, and for you for being an awesome Mum. :)
ReplyDeleteShe is doing so well! Such a brave kid. And great idea to let her choose the fabrics for tomorrow's eye patch.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant - what a good idea. I've seen kids at school wearing the adhesive ones, and I'm quite sure other kids would pester their parents for some like Maia's!
ReplyDeleteOh I didn't want to say anything about kids being so adaptable, but clearly both Maia is and her friends are as well. It's what we have experienced with Rocco. Generally kids are cool. There are a few f*@kers out there but that's what karma is for. I was thinking that the fabric covers you make are way better because they let the other eye kind of lay low for a while without being scrunched down. Oh, yeah, did I go to medical skool for that one? ya know I didunt.
ReplyDeletego maia! how cool that kids can be strong when we don't expect it! and well done you, as her mama you can bask in your parenting of such a strong, brave, full of spirit girl.
ReplyDeleteI've followed your blog for a little while now, because I have a sewing blog addiction and you make some really cute things. (Loved the beach cover-up.) I've never commented before, but I just had to comment on this post. How sweet and thoughtful you are to do this for your daughter, not to mention brilliant to think of this in the first place. You've taken a situation that could be awkward for her and made it so much easier.
ReplyDeleteNo one who has read your thoughtful and loving posts about your kids could think you were being casual about Maia's treatment, and those eye patches are clearly too well-constructed to fall into the Popsicle sticks and tape category! Very cute, and very cool way to find some fun for her.
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