June 17th, 2007
Father’s Day… through deaf eyes
First off, I know most people use Father’s Day to take a moment and thank their own father for a job well done.
I’m no different. My father has always given me the love and support that helped me grow into who I am today and for that, no words can adequately express my gratitude.
But today, I want to talk about being a deaf father of two fine hearing boys. My sons (ages 5 and 3) are the apple of my eye. I still get teary-eyed when I look at old pictures and videos, I grimace when I see one of them fall of his bike, and I beam with pride when he gets back on without complaining.
I often wonder if being a deaf father is any different than being a hearing father.
Then I realize that fatherhood (and motherhood) is probably one of the few experiences that can cross the deaf/hearing divide. Hearing fathers can talk with deaf fathers and find they have very similar experiences and responses to the same situations. Deaf mothers and hearing mothers will laugh at the things their daughters do and the fathers will talk about what kind of car the kid will get when they’re older (my kids will get my current Saturn SUV if it lives that long..)
I also realize that parenthood is also a great uniter across internal divides in the deaf community. Hard of hearing parents have the same “are they crying/screaming or laughing there?” when the two kids are wrestling on the floor. We’ll all get the same “huh” when the kid talks about something new and no one can lipread him or understand the sign they just made up for that particular word.
In any case, I’m writing this after checking on the boys after they fell asleep tonight and I’m compelled to simply say “Sons, thanks for picking me to be your dad”.
June 18th, 2007 at 1:17 am
Lovely little boys! So healthy looking. Happy Fathers Day!
Lantana
June 18th, 2007 at 7:29 am
Thanks but anyone who’s ever met me in person can attest that I can’t take any credit for their looks. They get their good looks, intelligence, and charm from my wife.
June 18th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
From and Hearing Dad,
I have live in and out of the Deaf world, my wife works daily with deaf and hard of hearing kids,her parents are both deaf and my Father was a school teacher at MSD (Michigan School for the Deaf). Now living in Washington state we both work and live in the deaf world. From one dad of two to an other you could not be more right. There is no better sight in the word then a smile from child to a dad. Love has no volume, thank you and happy Fathers Day
July 12th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
Greetings,
There are over 2.5 million paramedics, firefighters, and police officers in the United States who routinely answer our calls for help without question or hesitation. Whether large scale disasters or everyday emergencies, first responders serve and protect the communities we live in. Yet there is no national day to honor their commitment to public service.
The First Response Coalition (FRC) is working to right this wrong and has launched a campaign to make September 25th National First Responder Appreciation Day. The Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Red Cross, Salvation Army and National Civic League have joined this campaign. To date, over 5,000 people have signed the FRC’s on-line petition, and hundreds have written to their elected officials in support of this worthwhile cause.
Last month, the Senate passed an FRC-conceived resolution to make September 25th National First Responder Appreciation Day. The bipartisan resolution was cosponsored by 33 senators, including Homeland Security Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, and presidential hopefuls John McCain and Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The FRC is now working to replicate our success in the House and I ask you today for your help. Our goal is to attain 25,000 signatures by September 1, 2007, and I hope that you will consider helping us raise the profile of this worthwhile cause by encouraging your readers to sign the FRC’s online petition at http://www.FirstResponseCoalition.org.
Our first responders embody the very best of the American spirit. With your help, we can give our first responders a national day that recognizes these men and women for their contributions, sacrifices, and dedication to public service.
Thank you,
Steven
Steven Jones, Executive Director
First Response Coalition
919 18th Street N.W., Suite 950
Washington, D.C. 20006
(P) 202.263.2904
(F) 202.263.2960
http://www.firstresponsecoalition.org
July 17th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
Allow me to introduce my self my name is Billy and i am a volunteer firefighter in Chesapeake MD . Been doing it for over 6 months now . I am trying to get information on how to complete fire fighter 1 in md i was withdrawn because there was no reasonable accommodation. Going crazy i know the technology is out there . i am also a cochlear reciepiant.
September 18th, 2007 at 9:26 am
I realise this is a back entry, but I found your site when searching on google about a deaf man who was shot here in Detroit many years ago…
Love has always closed gaps of hatred/misunderstanding in history. (Ie Romeo and Juliet?)
I just wanted to say I think you make a lot of excellent points, and your boys are adoreable. As a hearing aunt, I don’t always understand what my little neices say LOL sometimes they will talk and talk and it all goes right past me, and the parents.
-L-
January 17th, 2008 at 9:13 am
What really lovely boys! Aww they are so cute I had to post! Great blog and learning what I can from you. I will be doing a Deaf Awareness Training session for our local firefighters.
Thanks!