Hey y'all. Some of you might have met me around the boards already, I am a hearing mother of 1 very special deaf girl, and 3 other equally amazing girls. I like to come here and get tips, insight, and perspective to better understand and help my daughter learn. We are an ASL speaking family who are always trying to improve. I've been signing with Lizzie since she was diagnosed at 11 months old, and my fiancee and his children have been signing since they met us in 2009.
But anyway, enough of that. I was working on an art project about deafness and the relationships between deaf children and hearing parents. My hope is that with the project I will be able to spread awareness a little bit better to how important it is for hearing parents to learn ASL, not only to communicate with their children but also show them the support and love they deserve. I've seen the effects of not signing firsthand, as my daughters biological father didn't start learning until she was 7 years old...and I've gotta say, the girl doesn't have a lot of love or respect for that man. And in all honesty, that's kind of what these parents need to see and realize. I want to know, in all honesty, if you had no fear of hurting your parents (and provided your a deaf individual who had hearing parents) what would you say to them? Did they learn sign for you?
I'm sorry if this brings up any hurt feelings, I've known several individuals whom this was a very sensitive subject for and others who regarded it as something casual and unavoidable. However it makes you feel, I appreciate your sharing, and it could help make a difference in the future of another deaf child for you to share those feelings; Good, bad, and ugly.
So tell me, what would you say to your hearing parent, if you could say anything?
But anyway, enough of that. I was working on an art project about deafness and the relationships between deaf children and hearing parents. My hope is that with the project I will be able to spread awareness a little bit better to how important it is for hearing parents to learn ASL, not only to communicate with their children but also show them the support and love they deserve. I've seen the effects of not signing firsthand, as my daughters biological father didn't start learning until she was 7 years old...and I've gotta say, the girl doesn't have a lot of love or respect for that man. And in all honesty, that's kind of what these parents need to see and realize. I want to know, in all honesty, if you had no fear of hurting your parents (and provided your a deaf individual who had hearing parents) what would you say to them? Did they learn sign for you?
I'm sorry if this brings up any hurt feelings, I've known several individuals whom this was a very sensitive subject for and others who regarded it as something casual and unavoidable. However it makes you feel, I appreciate your sharing, and it could help make a difference in the future of another deaf child for you to share those feelings; Good, bad, and ugly.
So tell me, what would you say to your hearing parent, if you could say anything?