My Mom Is Deaf -- What???

Up until just recently when Rebecca would introduce me to her friends or new people as her mom, she would always add, "she signed a little bit". URGGG!! It used to drive me crazy. I am working my butt off to learn sign language and I feel like I sign more than just a little bit! Anyway, recently Rebecca started saying that I am Deaf around the house. I told her that I am not Deaf, I am hearing - but that she is Deaf. She says that I am Deaf because I know a lot of sign language now. I asked her if her interpreters were Deaf too because they know a lot of sign language, she said no - they are hearing.

I thought we had moved past it until last week we were in the church bathroom. Rebecca was waiting for me outside the stall and a lady came in. Rebecca did not have her implant on so she couldn't hear her at all. The lady asked her "How are you" and she answered, "Fine. Waiting on mom, she's Deaf." That's what I thought she said anyway, so I got out and when I was washing my hands I asked the lady what Rebecca said. She said she told me that you were Deaf. REALLY????!! So, in front of the lady I explained once again to Kimberly that I am not Deaf, I am hearing. She kept insisting that since I know a lot of sign now that I am Deaf.

Since this time, I just laugh it off when I hear her say it. I don't what her to think that I am NOT wanting to be Deaf and that hearing is superior or something, so everytime I approach it carefully. I tell her that I was not special enough to be Deaf. God only picks a few to be lucky enough to be Deaf. She continues to insist that I am, so I'm just letting her say it. Maybe it makes her feel more connected if she thinks of me as Deaf also.

I am happy though, that she is not saying that I sign "a little bit" anymore. I feel like I have graduated. It only took a year!!

The other day we went to the Sports Extraganza for the blind and Visually Impaired in Irving. We had a great time & Rebecca came home with 3 gold metals! Jasmine ran with her in the first race to help side-guide her, but she did the other 2 events on her own. I am so grateful that events like this happen to allow our kids to able to participate in sports! There were a couple events that Rebecca couldn't participate in because it relied on hearing and she was disappointed that she couldn't do more events. She got over it and was happy with her 3! She hung them on her wall and goes in her room just to stare at them. She is so proud of herself and we are so proud of her.

This was our first event that we have been to that was for the blind. I wasn't sure how Rebecca was going to handle things, but she did just fine. She kept pointing out people to me who had canes or dogs and we just said "yeah - they have a hard time seeing also".

Halloween is coming up again and our ARD is on Friday. I feel much more prepared this year for both. Thanks to everyone for their support over the past year!