I would like to share about my childhood to relationship with my wonderful mother.
I, Sabrina (unreal name) was born deaf adorable girl baby in New England. I had beautiful brown and blonde curly hair and was chubby. My parents did not know that I was deaf until about two weeks later. My parents accepted me as I was. My wonderful hearing mother and Deaf father raised my hearing younger sister, brother, and me. In my life, the two biggest factors that define me are my disability of deafness and the love and support I have received from my mother. My mother has taught me about being strong and standing up for myself. Communication is the key in sign language.
My mother has taught me never to feel sorry for myself. My hearing, normal mother had a deaf baby when I was born in 1950’s. The hearing people said, ”Oh your baby is so cute.” They tried to talk to me but I stared at their wide mouths with big teeth. Naturally, I cried, too scared of their strange facial expressions. The hearing people said, ”Oh Bernice, I am so sorry that your baby is deaf.” Their facial expressions showed them feeling sorry for the deafness. My mother was very furious at their pity for me because I was deaf. My mother always cherished me and fed me healthy food, and gave plenty of love and attention to me. She always put me in a beautiful dress with black shiny shoes with a bow in my hair. My mother is proud to have me, a deaf daughter in good health and with a brilliant mind. There is no necessity to pity deaf people. We are humans just like hearing people.
In addition to never pitying me, my mother has shown me the importance of fighting for my rights. My mother cried because the School for the Deaf Principal wanted me to stay at the dormitory during weekdays. My mother fought with the State and they passed that I could commute from School to home every morning and afternoon since I was three years old. I was on the bus during darker morning. I was scared to see the bus driver staring at me. I saw out of the window my mother crying and waving to me. I started to cry because I thought I would never see my mother again. I arrived at School for the Deaf to see all those deaf children signing. I stared at them.
My younger years of learning how to communicate were difficult. The audiologist put a big heavy metal on my chest and big plastic ear molds in my two ears. She spoke “ Hello Sabrina.” My ears were loud and sore inside. I cried and grabbed those hearing aids off my ears and chest. I looked like an alien with a big hearing aid. She put the hearing aids back on my ears. She put a lollipop on my tongue and pushed down saying a. The sweet from the lollipop drool dripped all over my pretty dress. The teachers raised their voices and did other things that do not help at all. The hearing aids didn’t work anymore, and it scared me a lot. The teachers never seemed satisfied. I blew feathers over and over to get my breathing right for f and p sounds. I came home from school on the bus. My mother was so upset to see my dress all sticky from the dripping lollipop. My old speech therapist teacher was abusive to me when I was about six years old at School for the Deaf because I was not speaking very well. She put soap in my mouth and banged my head against the wall. I was crying and screaming. These experiences have taught me to be strong.
One experience I had taught me the importance of speaking up. It also showed me that my mother would always help me when I was in trouble. For a long time, I was very passive. I was so afraid to tell my parents about how the teacher was verbally and physically abusive to me. I closed my bedroom door. My mother became suspicious of what was wrong at school or the bus. I cried on my pillow. My mother begged me to tell her what was wrong so she could comfort me. I was not able to communicate to my mother. I showed my Raggedy Ann doll. I was trying to copy what they did to that lady to show my mother. My mother was so furious and upset. She said,” Sabrina, I am glad that you told me.” They would never hurt anyone in this family. My mother called the State of Department of Education to explain to the Director all about what happened to other deaf children and me. The deaf children were so shocked at how courageous I was communicate with my hearing mother. My mother would NEVER let me down. She ALWAYS was there for me.
I graduated from School for the Deaf in 1977 with my High School diploma. I was so proud because I earned two High Honor Rolls during junior and senior year. My mother always encouraged me to do my education better. I was accepted for enrollment at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC but I decided to go to Northwestern Connecticut Community College. My major was psychology. About two years later, I withdrew from NCCC. In 1980, I traveled to Europe, Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea, and Alaska for six months with a friend. I had tremendous experiences in Chinese culture with deaf people. I developed more courage and became very aggressive to meet new people in different countries. My mother supported me go to many countries. My perspective was that Chinese deaf people were very passive and tolerant because the hearing Chinese people oppressed the deaf Chinese people. They worked to clean the toilet, floor, and stairs. They made very low salaries. No one provided interpreters for the deaf Chinese people. I realized how I am very lucky to live in America. I flew back to America and saw my mother who was all excited to see me. She was amazed at how I was so courageous to travel half way around the World! She was glad that I was safely home from other countries.
My hearing children’s first language was sign language. Their speech was behind for their ages at about 5 and 6 year old. The Day Care lady called the Massachusetts Department of Social Services to report neglect 51A due to the face that my children’s speech was beside in their sentence structure. The Social Worker attempted to remove my two beautiful children from my home to put them into Foster homes. I had a nightmare about that. My mother drove all the way down from her home to this State of Massachusetts Court to approach the Judge. My mother told the Judge that the Social Worker should go to sign language class to learn about deaf culture. The Judge agreed with my mother and dropped the charge against me. My children’s speech problems had nothing to do with deafness. The deaf parents can’t criticize their hearing children’s speaking ability or their grammar sentence structure.
My mother struggled for her life for three and a half years. She told me a day before she passed away that she was going to die. She asked me if it was okay for me to wash her hair. I said, “sure.” It was my turn to take good care of her. We sat on the chairs in the Living Room. She held my arm to lay down her head toward my arm. She wrote a personal check for $250 dollars to put down a deposit for the cemetery in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. I felt a lot of grief. I tried not to be emotional or cry in front of my mother. She begged me to take my Deaf father to meet with a director at the cemetery to put the money down to buy the land to be next to my mother’s father’s grave. My father and I went to see the director to give the money to him. We chose a nice land nearby a beautiful lake with geese. My father was hysterically crying all the way from the cemetery to my parent’s house. Oh gosh, I was trying so hard to be under control for my parents. I told my Dad, please do not cry anymore in front of my mother. We had to accept this face of our lives. My mother’s last words were that she would always be there for her two grandsons and me.
When she died, her character grew inside me. I have become more courageous and cherish my two children. I always stand up for my two boys to confront their teachers, bus driver, and Principal. My mother passed away a day before Mother’s Day. I feel a big difference in my personality. My mother always is there for me. We were as close as best friends my entire life!
One night, I had a beautiful dream of my lovely Mom. I approached her when she was sitting on wooden bench. The baby breath flowers were around on her head with white grown. Her face was smiling and proud to point her finger at baby girl picture. I asked her, “who is that baby girl?” She said, “I am so proud of him (my brother) !” I was perplexed. The phone rang with light flasher at two o’clock in the morning. I answer on TTY, it was my sister. She said, “ Congrats, you became Aunt.” We have a new niece, Lauren. She was born in 1991. I was stunned that my Mom tried to tell me in my dream how much she was proud of her new granddaughter was born. I never forgot this every moment.
My Mom was advocated me while James lived with us for few months. She purchased the clothes for him. He was not his biological grandson but she was very kind grandmother to any children. I assume, God choices her in the heaven where many children are.
My mom always in my heart as forever! She is so special Mom entire in my life ! I miss my dearly Mom since 1990 but she always in my thoughts.
My Deaf Dad had been work two jobs to support three of us silings for 40 years. He was supervisor at the carpenter which is very impressive us ! He is such wonderful Dad. I love my Mom and Dad very much. We are very closer each other.
~ Sabrina
I, Sabrina (unreal name) was born deaf adorable girl baby in New England. I had beautiful brown and blonde curly hair and was chubby. My parents did not know that I was deaf until about two weeks later. My parents accepted me as I was. My wonderful hearing mother and Deaf father raised my hearing younger sister, brother, and me. In my life, the two biggest factors that define me are my disability of deafness and the love and support I have received from my mother. My mother has taught me about being strong and standing up for myself. Communication is the key in sign language.
My mother has taught me never to feel sorry for myself. My hearing, normal mother had a deaf baby when I was born in 1950’s. The hearing people said, ”Oh your baby is so cute.” They tried to talk to me but I stared at their wide mouths with big teeth. Naturally, I cried, too scared of their strange facial expressions. The hearing people said, ”Oh Bernice, I am so sorry that your baby is deaf.” Their facial expressions showed them feeling sorry for the deafness. My mother was very furious at their pity for me because I was deaf. My mother always cherished me and fed me healthy food, and gave plenty of love and attention to me. She always put me in a beautiful dress with black shiny shoes with a bow in my hair. My mother is proud to have me, a deaf daughter in good health and with a brilliant mind. There is no necessity to pity deaf people. We are humans just like hearing people.
In addition to never pitying me, my mother has shown me the importance of fighting for my rights. My mother cried because the School for the Deaf Principal wanted me to stay at the dormitory during weekdays. My mother fought with the State and they passed that I could commute from School to home every morning and afternoon since I was three years old. I was on the bus during darker morning. I was scared to see the bus driver staring at me. I saw out of the window my mother crying and waving to me. I started to cry because I thought I would never see my mother again. I arrived at School for the Deaf to see all those deaf children signing. I stared at them.
My younger years of learning how to communicate were difficult. The audiologist put a big heavy metal on my chest and big plastic ear molds in my two ears. She spoke “ Hello Sabrina.” My ears were loud and sore inside. I cried and grabbed those hearing aids off my ears and chest. I looked like an alien with a big hearing aid. She put the hearing aids back on my ears. She put a lollipop on my tongue and pushed down saying a. The sweet from the lollipop drool dripped all over my pretty dress. The teachers raised their voices and did other things that do not help at all. The hearing aids didn’t work anymore, and it scared me a lot. The teachers never seemed satisfied. I blew feathers over and over to get my breathing right for f and p sounds. I came home from school on the bus. My mother was so upset to see my dress all sticky from the dripping lollipop. My old speech therapist teacher was abusive to me when I was about six years old at School for the Deaf because I was not speaking very well. She put soap in my mouth and banged my head against the wall. I was crying and screaming. These experiences have taught me to be strong.
One experience I had taught me the importance of speaking up. It also showed me that my mother would always help me when I was in trouble. For a long time, I was very passive. I was so afraid to tell my parents about how the teacher was verbally and physically abusive to me. I closed my bedroom door. My mother became suspicious of what was wrong at school or the bus. I cried on my pillow. My mother begged me to tell her what was wrong so she could comfort me. I was not able to communicate to my mother. I showed my Raggedy Ann doll. I was trying to copy what they did to that lady to show my mother. My mother was so furious and upset. She said,” Sabrina, I am glad that you told me.” They would never hurt anyone in this family. My mother called the State of Department of Education to explain to the Director all about what happened to other deaf children and me. The deaf children were so shocked at how courageous I was communicate with my hearing mother. My mother would NEVER let me down. She ALWAYS was there for me.
I graduated from School for the Deaf in 1977 with my High School diploma. I was so proud because I earned two High Honor Rolls during junior and senior year. My mother always encouraged me to do my education better. I was accepted for enrollment at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC but I decided to go to Northwestern Connecticut Community College. My major was psychology. About two years later, I withdrew from NCCC. In 1980, I traveled to Europe, Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea, and Alaska for six months with a friend. I had tremendous experiences in Chinese culture with deaf people. I developed more courage and became very aggressive to meet new people in different countries. My mother supported me go to many countries. My perspective was that Chinese deaf people were very passive and tolerant because the hearing Chinese people oppressed the deaf Chinese people. They worked to clean the toilet, floor, and stairs. They made very low salaries. No one provided interpreters for the deaf Chinese people. I realized how I am very lucky to live in America. I flew back to America and saw my mother who was all excited to see me. She was amazed at how I was so courageous to travel half way around the World! She was glad that I was safely home from other countries.
My hearing children’s first language was sign language. Their speech was behind for their ages at about 5 and 6 year old. The Day Care lady called the Massachusetts Department of Social Services to report neglect 51A due to the face that my children’s speech was beside in their sentence structure. The Social Worker attempted to remove my two beautiful children from my home to put them into Foster homes. I had a nightmare about that. My mother drove all the way down from her home to this State of Massachusetts Court to approach the Judge. My mother told the Judge that the Social Worker should go to sign language class to learn about deaf culture. The Judge agreed with my mother and dropped the charge against me. My children’s speech problems had nothing to do with deafness. The deaf parents can’t criticize their hearing children’s speaking ability or their grammar sentence structure.
My mother struggled for her life for three and a half years. She told me a day before she passed away that she was going to die. She asked me if it was okay for me to wash her hair. I said, “sure.” It was my turn to take good care of her. We sat on the chairs in the Living Room. She held my arm to lay down her head toward my arm. She wrote a personal check for $250 dollars to put down a deposit for the cemetery in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. I felt a lot of grief. I tried not to be emotional or cry in front of my mother. She begged me to take my Deaf father to meet with a director at the cemetery to put the money down to buy the land to be next to my mother’s father’s grave. My father and I went to see the director to give the money to him. We chose a nice land nearby a beautiful lake with geese. My father was hysterically crying all the way from the cemetery to my parent’s house. Oh gosh, I was trying so hard to be under control for my parents. I told my Dad, please do not cry anymore in front of my mother. We had to accept this face of our lives. My mother’s last words were that she would always be there for her two grandsons and me.
When she died, her character grew inside me. I have become more courageous and cherish my two children. I always stand up for my two boys to confront their teachers, bus driver, and Principal. My mother passed away a day before Mother’s Day. I feel a big difference in my personality. My mother always is there for me. We were as close as best friends my entire life!
One night, I had a beautiful dream of my lovely Mom. I approached her when she was sitting on wooden bench. The baby breath flowers were around on her head with white grown. Her face was smiling and proud to point her finger at baby girl picture. I asked her, “who is that baby girl?” She said, “I am so proud of him (my brother) !” I was perplexed. The phone rang with light flasher at two o’clock in the morning. I answer on TTY, it was my sister. She said, “ Congrats, you became Aunt.” We have a new niece, Lauren. She was born in 1991. I was stunned that my Mom tried to tell me in my dream how much she was proud of her new granddaughter was born. I never forgot this every moment.
My Mom was advocated me while James lived with us for few months. She purchased the clothes for him. He was not his biological grandson but she was very kind grandmother to any children. I assume, God choices her in the heaven where many children are.
My mom always in my heart as forever! She is so special Mom entire in my life ! I miss my dearly Mom since 1990 but she always in my thoughts.
My Deaf Dad had been work two jobs to support three of us silings for 40 years. He was supervisor at the carpenter which is very impressive us ! He is such wonderful Dad. I love my Mom and Dad very much. We are very closer each other.
~ Sabrina
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That was beautiful Sabrina! Your mother definitely put a special place in your heart and she'll always be forever in your heart. That is a wonderful picture of your parents and love their smile! Like Wendy said you sure look a lot like your father and a heart like your mother. 
dang!! Glad you had a good family relationship! 
no wonder she needs to be sent into a metal home
