December 1990. At a mall theater in central Oklahoma, my 13-year-old sister Monica and I sat and watched the movie Home Alone. It was a tough winter. Our older sister was about to be deployed with her Army unit to assist with Operation Desert Storm. Her newborn son was less than a month old and … Continue reading
Filed under Have a Little Faith …
Lipreading Mom Turns 15 Years Old: How My Little Boy Inspired this Blog
I hope you all are doing well with the cold winter weather. A lot of us will be impacted in the Midwest United States. Thinking about the snowstorm that we will be receiving makes me think about 15 years ago, when I was sitting in a living room with my then four year old youngest … Continue reading
My CI Goes to the Movies
Today was a landmark day with the new cochlear implant. I went to the movies and understood dialogue without captions. Seems unrealistic because I am deaf. Leaving the theater, I asked my husband: “When was the last time you remember me enjoying a movie without captions?” “About 28 years,” he said. We’ve been together 30 … Continue reading
Sunflower: The Symbol of My Deafness
Did you know that the sunflower is the universal symbol for non-apparent disabilities? Deafness can be an unseen disability, unless you have a brightly colored hearing device or use sign language in public spaces. The sunflower symbol was established in 2016 in the UK as the official symbol of non-apparent disabilities and is now embraced … Continue reading
Lipreading Mom’s Head Trip
Not long ago, my family took a trip to Montana and Wyoming. This photo was taken by a loved one when I noticed a waterfall hidden within a Montana park. The natural setting and 1,700 miles of road traveling inspired time to think about goals. Typically, goals would be about work or something with family. … Continue reading
The Power of Connection During Social Distancing
I hope you are doing well during these unbelievable times. My family is making the most of our time at home and trying to stay healthy. For the next few weeks, my workplace and community will follow COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. What does that look like for a Lipreading Mom? The Power of Captioned Video … Continue reading
Four Words All Moms Need to Hear Today
Today is my 14th Mother’s Day as a mom and 41st as a daughter. It is an opportunity to acknowledge the role mom has played in my life. Yet it is difficult to select a Mother’s Day card. Every pre-printed message exudes a sentiment that may not sincerely reflect how I feel about this day. … Continue reading
What I Found In My 20-Year-Old Time Capsule
On April 19, 1995, I piled into the back of an old Chevy along with four other small-town newspaper reporters and made the 45-minute drive into Oklahoma City. It was dark when we arrived at the city’s downtown. The first thing I noticed was the enormous gaping hole of a federal building illuminated by floodlights. … Continue reading
The Three ‘C’s of Being a Working Mom
Blog friends, it has been several weeks since I last posted—and with good reason. Need a hint? It begins with a ‘J’ and ends with a ‘B.’ My J-O-B keeps me busier than I have been in 12 years. For the past decade, I paused my work life to become a stay-at-home mom. While that … Continue reading
When You Call Me a Hurtful Nickname
This week, a child who I don’t know very well called me a hurtful name, ‘Deaf F—–‘ (Rhymes with Maggot).’ Instead of staying upset at him (he later apologized), I wrote “The Power of a Name.” You are welcome to share this with anyone you think it may help. THE POWER OF A NAME Before … Continue reading
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