We Never Landed In Holland

Well of course it isn't easy...
We Never Landed In Holland So my last post was about how nice it is to start the school year in a calm fashion. No issues to confront. The school in on board with my Deaf son. Life is good. Mainstream is really working out. My son loves it and is thrilled school starts next week.So as a formality I contact the person who manages my son's IEP services to find out what his interpreting services w...
Sun, Sep 04 2011

The School Bell Rings
We Never Landed In Holland Next week my son will start his third year as a mainstream student. I can't recall ever starting a year with so much calm. Since the day he was identified there was always something to fight for. There was a service or interpreter issue. There was a teacher to educate or an administrator to address. Things that seemed clear to us were always riddled with red tape and ...
Fri, Sep 02 2011

Mommy I am So Strong
We Never Landed In Holland Me: "Stelly and Haddy want to run with me today?"Stelly:"YES!"Me:"OK get your shoes"Stelly and Haddy: "On our bikes you run too long"Me: "OK call your dad your tires are flat and I don't know where the pump is"Haddy: "Mom, the sign you just used is a bad word...."Me: "OOPS! Sorry sweetie I am tired"Haddy: "It is OK I made sure Stella didn't see"Me: "So let's run!"Hadd...
Tue, Jun 28 2011

Nothing Clever But Really Cool
We Never Landed In Holland Wednesday was amazing. My son is in an all hearing physical theater company. The cool thing is they don't use their voices but only their bodies. Wednesday they went to the deaf school to showcase their theater form. It was awesome! After the show the director and company answered questions and invited the deaf kids to join the company next year..... this was very wel...
Sat, May 28 2011

I see What You Are Saying
We Never Landed In Holland Tonight I was volunteering at my son's school working the back of the house at a dinner show. Last year as the actors would pass me back stage I would notice some were signing with him. Some would come up to me and make attempts. Cool.One year later as I sit back stage I notice almost the entire cast and crew is signing conversations with me during the play. It seems ...
Fri, May 20 2011

Dear Mr. Shakespeare,
We Never Landed In Holland Dear Mr Shakespeare,I am sure when the stories were forming in your head being ready to commit to paper the idea that your words would prove the world to be a glorious place for a Deaf kid was not even on your radar. Well if I had the chance I would inform you that your words by chance have shown me the journey we all take is meant to be and if for some reason i...
Thu, May 05 2011

The Thing About Life
We Never Landed In Holland So I had a crappy day. Yep, really crappy.Time for my hearing kiddo to go to sleep...."Mommy, but you need to read to me....."I do, I start..... I am lousy.....trying, my voice is like a snail on a rock.My deaf kid takes over.... they have a story that he has made up.... it is a sort of a chronicle about my daughter's life. They tell me it is called "Unibrow!" Uh, thi...
Wed, May 04 2011

"So, Like, I Woke Up And Like"
We Never Landed In Holland Sometimes my daughter and I venture down to the playground next to my son's school and wait for him to walk out. My daughter runs off full of energy to play and I sit and watch.This is the part I shouldn't share maybe,Friday I was sitting on the bench signing to my girl because talking is a strain at that distance. There were two kids, the same age as my son, on a tir...
Mon, May 02 2011

There are folks in life I wish I knew- Alan Champion
We Never Landed In Holland I don't have many words for this but he is a person I wish we had known. My words are lost because how does one express celebration for a stranger who feels like a friend?My son has sat through so many shows ..... trust me........ this man was a true talent..... [link]
Mon, Apr 25 2011

That Really Humble Moment
We Never Landed In Holland Not even really sure what to say.....I have learned over the last 13 years that even when I feel like a two year old kicking and screaming the community we stumbled into will show a side of humanity that stills cares for the children, the folks who need a voice, the mamas who just need a map and the friends we find along the way.From a very young age I have refu...
Fri, Apr 22 2011

Changed My Mind
We Never Landed In Holland Sometimes I want to kick and scream like a two year old.Yep, at 44 years old I really do....
Sun, Apr 17 2011

Well.... crap....
We Never Landed In Holland Now what?So I am doing everything I am suppose to do?Turns out my kid wants to study Shakespeare.Turns out my kid remembers meeting Howie. Turns out he remembers meeting Bernard.What the hell is my kid studying?I will followcan't help it.He is learning.....
Sun, Apr 17 2011

Uh... Yea the Deaf kid...
We Never Landed In Holland OK, so Haddy wants to apply for Summer Intensive Theater Camp at VSAA. Great! Only one problem, This camp is for VSAA students who are focused in theater. Yep, Haddy is.... but he is deaf. The teachers are providing this privately. That means ADA doesn't apply. That means that in order for him to participate if he is accepted he needs theater interpreters. He nee...
Sat, Apr 16 2011

Huh
We Never Landed In Holland So my son tells me the ASL students at school have started telling him he is making mistakes with his signing. They are learning some different signs then he uses. Now what is interesting to me is when I was first learning I was told that you go with what the deaf person uses. I am also often told by Deaf people his signing is beautiful. They are often shocked by his ...
Fri, Apr 15 2011

In Defense Of The Arts
We Never Landed In Holland I love this picture. It was taken while my son was goofing off before curtain a little over a year ago. I love how comfortable he is in his skin.He was the only deaf kid in the play which had a lot of improve. He was a principal and the only middle school kid cast as such. This experience was natural for him, like a second skin. He was completely joyful. For him it is...
Fri, Mar 18 2011

No Words From Me
We Never Landed In Holland I have very few words to describe this.This is so crazy.... Haddy wants to learn Spanish. He has been studying the written form independently. He just does this kind of thing. He wants to help Stelly with her homework and realizes some of it is spoken. They are so close but do not share this one language. She is in Spanish immersion. He finds an app on his phone ...
Tue, Mar 15 2011

A Walk Down Memory Lane
We Never Landed In Holland Today was weird. Just plain weird.I need to dissect it and compartmentalize it for this blog but imagine the past tumbling down with great force on your nice poached egg and toast breakfast.The first thing I will broach is some papers I found. I may choose to post about the rest of my day later or choose to let it float out into the world.12 years ago.....My husband w...
Sat, Mar 12 2011

The Invisible IEP
We Never Landed In Holland So recently I have been thinking about the challenges my son faces mainstreaming at an arts magnet school. The good thing is everyone wants to make sure he gets the accommodation he needs but the outcomes of their efforts sometimes fall short. The constant seems to be that they don't trust my opinion. My perspective is he would not be doing so well if I hadn't spent c...
Fri, Mar 11 2011

Imagine- rated R for language
We Never Landed In Holland Imagine you get pregnant and plan for months to welcome your new baby. Imagine all of the gifts you receive at a baby shower. Imagine how you decorate the perfect nursery. Imagine how you read all of the books and do all of the research to be the perfect parent. Imagine how the world seems collectively shout with joy when your precious bundle of joy is born.Now ...
Thu, Feb 24 2011

What Is Real?
We Never Landed In Holland I monitor my son's Facebook. To be honest I don't do it often. His friends are kids from his arts magnet school and a couple of teachers. The posts are often creative and rarely worth worrying about . The fact that his friends are hearing and he is deaf doesn't matter online. He can express himself directly. I often feel his meaning in direct conversation is cha...
Wed, Feb 23 2011

A Tribe of Many Cultures
We Never Landed In Holland "All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree"Albert EinstienIf you like my blog you may want to check out my friend's new blog. She just got started recently. Only three posts so far but her story is as complicated as mine. It will unfold, I am sure, over time. Our stories are never the stuff of a manual.Our Greatest JourneyI met this family almost ...
Sun, Jan 30 2011

Angry Birds and Ipods
We Never Landed In Holland I have habits in regards to the radio when I am in the car with my kids. If I am alone with my hearing daughter I turn off the radio because she is always talking and the news shows I listen to are to adult. I also enjoy having that time to connect with her. When I am alone with my son I do the same thing. When I am driving without the kids I listen mostly to pu...
Fri, Jan 28 2011

This May Seem Strange
We Never Landed In Holland I apologize to my two friends for posting about a private meeting.Today I had the pleasure of meeting with two friends. They are deaf.... maybe? I don't know if they are HH, deaf , hearing or what level of hearing they have. What I do know is how good it feels to sit and have a really in depth conversation in sign. It feels so good to just relax and know they understa...
Sun, Jan 16 2011

Free Hearing Aids
We Never Landed In Holland IMAG0112Originally uploaded by haddy2dogsI live near two state schools. Both received free hearing aids for all of the students and staff. Nice. OSD's gift was made very public on a TV show. So I was at a friend's house yesterday and she was showing me her daughter's. They are light weight and small. Nice. She said although she was grateful it was a pain to turn them ...
Wed, Jan 12 2011

Music To My Eyes?
We Never Landed In Holland My son is staying after school to rehearse for the ASL showcase this Friday night. All of the ASL students auditioned for the show. Haddy was a judge. They asked him to join in for the show.The thing that struck me last year is it is all interpreted music. It was cool but felt odd to me. I am used to going to the deaf school to see ASL poetry. My first instinct was wh...
Mon, Jan 10 2011

A Simple Question ...
We Never Landed In Holland What does it feel like? Uh, to be deaf.....How do we do this better? Uh, parent of deaf kid....What do I do different? How do I do it?Those are the questions my husband and I asked. Now that we are 13 years in I feel it is important to ask again.What tech stuff do we need? What did we do right or wrong? How can we be better parents? Anything is a fair question or answ...
Sun, Jan 09 2011

Hearing Loss
We Never Landed In Holland It seemed a bit funny to me today watching my kids at a birthday party. I have heard this phrase mentioned in regards to my son, "He suffers from a hearing loss".That never really felt right. He doesn't suffer and he never "lost"his hearing. How can you lose something you never had. He has however, lost his hearing aides once or twice as a wee kiddo. Deaf people...
Sun, Jan 09 2011

A Very Loud Awakening
We Never Landed In Holland This morning the whole family planned to sleep in. This is rare for us so my husband and I are excited. By 6am my mom starts calling my cell phone which I quickly turn off and float back to sleep. Soon after the other phone starts ringing followed by mom's dog (who never makes a sound) yapping at the front door. This prompts the big dogs to whine obviously annoy...
Sat, Jan 08 2011

How Much Language Do We Allow?
We Never Landed In Holland In my last post I talked a bit about the obstacles parents face when they first find out their child is deaf and how we came to the place we are. This topic is so complicated I plan to post several times about it addressing my opinion on the different factors I feel are involved. One thing I notice is a general fear of encouraging a child to become bilingua...
Thu, Jan 06 2011

Location, Location, Location
We Never Landed In Holland So many people advocate for all deaf children to have access to ASL as a native language. I am one of them. The problem is that it is very complicated. One obstacle is where you live. To be totally honest I don't always think that is a valid excuse.There is the argument that a family may not have access to classes in a rural area or fluent signers to practice with. I ...
Wed, Jan 05 2011

Hearing Parents Need Support
We Never Landed In Holland Yesterday I was sitting in my car ready to pick up my son from school. I saw him across the street chatting with a friend. She was telling him about her martial arts class. Then they joked as they waited for the light to change so they could cross the street. A fire engine raced by blocking my view for a moment blaring an ear shattering wail. He is deaf, she is hearin...
Wed, Jan 05 2011

We Use ASL
We Never Landed In Holland We use ASL as the primary language in our home.Does anyone wonder why? Does anyone wonder how much support we got? Does anyone really care?It was a mess.....We did it on our own.........Yep.... I have something to say.....Do you care?
Wed, Jan 05 2011

Mainstreaming and Oven Fires
We Never Landed In Holland Mainstreaming is interesting,I have been playing with my blog a lot over the last few days. There are reasons for that. It is something to do while I sit on hold waiting to straighten out my mom's affairs. I wait for folks to understand that I am in charge. I wait for them to help me straighten out her life. I wait while I deal with the fact that it is over...
Sat, Jan 01 2011

Deaf Discount
We Never Landed In Holland This is something I started in November. I never got around to finishing it but the topic is important.Today while shopping my son came a cross something he wanted to buy. The vender was very friendly and helpful. Haddy handed him a $10 bill which was the price of the item. The man said," I'm going to give it to him for $8" he then handed my son $2."My cousin is deaf"...
Tue, Dec 28 2010

Just Kidding
We Never Landed In Holland I am cleaning up my blog. I have so many posts I never got around to posting! This is pretty recent, I wrote it about a week ago...... hey, be kind, I didn't really edit.... Life has been really busy around my house. I get crazy every year around this time filling orders for Christmas. I was working away yesterday when I got a text from my son."Are yo...
Wed, Dec 22 2010

Mom, I Miss Deaf Culture
We Never Landed In Holland My son is thirteen and mainstreamed full time. A few years back I would have never imagined that. I am a big advocate for bi/bi education and allowing deaf kids to be involved in deaf culture. I wanted my son to learn language in a natural visual way. I thought I was doing everything right. Same old story.As he grew he out paced his peers which brought on the dilemma ...
Sat, Dec 18 2010

My Travels Through The Aging Mind
We Never Landed In Holland I feel like I have deaf education pretty well covered in my life. Research, workshops, networking, moving, advocating and parenting. Yep, got that covered. Now after all that hard work we can rest just a bit and enjoy the ride. Live a normal life. Not worry so much.Well lets not get too comfortable. My mother has dementia.Mom is sick.. the hours spent serving a ...
Wed, Dec 08 2010

Sit Down You're Rockin' The Boat- Part Three
We Never Landed In Holland So it is ten minutes before curtain. Over forty people were sitting in the section reserved for folks using the interpreter. I was having a great time catching up with friends when I saw the interpreters.Down on the floor below the stage sitting in chairs. They must just be resting up for the show I thought. They were on a four inch platform which could not be seen fr...
Sat, Nov 20 2010

Sit Down You're Rockin' The Boat- Part Two
We Never Landed In Holland So this is the second bit of my story about the interpreted night of my son's musical. Over the last thirteen years we have learned the complicated landscape of interpreting. This night would not break any records or instill me with new hope.I was asked to show up when the theater doors opened to be an ambassador for the deaf audience. I had already planned to be ther...
Fri, Nov 19 2010

Sit Down You're Rockin' The Boat- Part One
We Never Landed In Holland So my last post was about my son's birthday landing on the same night his musical was interpreted. It never goes off without a hitch.Yesterday was the big day. Since he would be at school from 9:15 am - 10:30 pm I decided breakfast should be special. I was going to make his favorite, eggs Benedict! I woke up early and realized the refrigerator was broken and all of th...
Fri, Nov 19 2010

On Turning Thirteen
We Never Landed In Holland Hey Haddy,You are 13 now. A blog for your birthday.I am prompted to write tonight about my deaf son turning thirteen tomorrow. Before the sun rises he will transition into the land of teenish. I know that is not a word. It is a Mel word but it best describes how I feel tonight.Thirteen years ago I was in a hospital overjoyed with my new sweet baby. Moments before and ...
Wed, Nov 17 2010

Fire!
We Never Landed In Holland I remember one time I went with my family to Seattle to go to DeafNation. Haddy was going to preform his poetry and we were going to see friends from Los Angeles.We dropped the kids at Grandma's house and ran for the hotel! Adult time..... nice. We met up with our friends and separated into groups that would stay at the hotel, go to dinner or go find a bar. My hubby e...
Sun, Nov 14 2010

OUR COMMUNITY ROCKS! *oops sorry that was my outside voice*
We Never Landed In Holland Sorry for shouting. I am just so excited. I emailed my son's old school, WSD (the one in Washington) about his principal role in his school's musical, "Guys and Dolls". For the last year he has preformed for and with hearing people. That is really cool but....... he needs his Deaf community. To have his community witness is big. He is Deaf. He always looks out to see ...
Mon, Nov 08 2010

Hearing in Pairs
We Never Landed In Holland Last year a student at my son's school wrote this. Of course a tech advisor would have helped but how cool the hearing kid who wrote and directed this is thinking..... Haddy was very campy and his hair!
Sun, Nov 07 2010

No I Am Not Italian My Son Is Deaf
We Never Landed In Holland I have a funny habit. When I am out in the world, maybe miles from my son, I will spontaneously start signing while I am talking. Some folks have told me they just thought I was Italian. Yea, the tall faired skinned Norwegian who can't make a decent pasta sauce.It often happens when I get excited about something. Last week I attended a committee meeting. I had an idea...
Fri, Nov 05 2010

A New Language Emerges
We Never Landed In Holland At my son's school a lot of the kids are taking ASL and because of this his social life is active.Over the last few nights as I watch my son walk out of rehearsal I have noticed him signing away with one of his friends. The other kid is hearing and they became friends this year. I knew this kid was learning to sign but what I saw startled me. They were conversing at a...
Wed, Nov 03 2010

IEP= Tired
We Never Landed In Holland Today was my son's IEP. Every year we sit at a big table and dig through the many details of his education. Today for two hours we preformed this well rehearsed task. I am really tired.The cool thing is the district is awesome. There are a couple of issues regarding team interpreting for lectures but really given the red tape it takes to get approval I am impressed wi...
Wed, Nov 03 2010

Public Accommodation Does Not Apply To Pac-Man
We Never Landed In Holland I always tell my son he can try anything. I tell him To go for it. Most of the time we are all pleasantly surprised. Sometimes a wee bit disappointed. Halloween was just a really good laugh.He really wanted to be Pac-Man. So the costume was built, at the last minute. Now take a good look at the picture. Could he have made it any harder for him to communicate? Remember...
Mon, Nov 01 2010

Who is punching my kid?
We Never Landed In Holland The other day I was looking for something in my son's backpack and found a note,"You are really good at taking a punch to the stomach"That was all it said. I was startled. What did it mean? Was some kid punching my son? Was it some sort of awful game they were playing? I read the news I know about all the awful stuff that is happening in schools. I ran over to text my...
Wed, Oct 27 2010

Administration ...... grrrr...Or Yea?
We Never Landed In Holland I have been blogging about the budget cuts at WSD. It really concerns my family because without the services we received my son would not be doing as well as he is. I have personnel experience with the benefits of this option for our deaf kids. Well the other day I got an email from an administrator from another state school. To be honest I was shocked. I always ...
Mon, Oct 25 2010