Being Deaf, you'd think I would not have to hear all the whining and screeches that my children make. Agh!! I can still hear that and it is just as irritating to me as it would be to a hearing parent. I KNOW that I am not the only one out here that wishes I could put duct tape on their mouths and silence the whining! I could turn off my hearing aid and then my world would be silent again, but I can't bring myself to do that because of the what-if factor. What if something happens and because I turned off my hearing aid, I didn't hear the crash, or the scream or the hurt cry. So just like hearing parents, I suffer along with the whiny cries.
It could be because they didn't get enough sleep, or one of the kids just can't leave the other one alone (usually this is the case), or they whine because they like to see mommy climb the walls. But along with the whines, I also get the tugs of the shirt because they know that's how they get mommy's attention. So I could be working in the kitchen, getting dinner ready and having a kid swinging on the back of my shirt, whining all the while. I've accepted that half of my shirts now look like a tuxedo coat with the flaps on the back covering my butt.
I can hear enough to know the door has been slammed on the little one's fingers and she lets out a blood-curdling scream. I can hear (actually I can feel the floor vibrating) when the girls are jumping up and down on the couch when they know they aren't supposed to (and I get a kick out of seeing the shock on their faces when I catch 'em). I can also hear the silence of the girls getting into the pantry and sneaking pieces of Easter candy-- It's too quiet in here, what are the girls up to??
Unfortunately, I can't hear when the girls break a light bulb off the Christmas tree, and they are standing among broken glass, afraid to move and cut their little feet. I can't hear their giggles in their room at night when they are playing with the flashlights. I can't hear when they whisper to each other and I want to eavesdrop on their conversations. I fear someday when they get older, they will realize that I can't hear them talk to their friends on the phone and they will be up to no good, right under my nose. These are the moments when I am grateful to have a hearing Hubby, who can tell me what they are saying and will be able to hear the back door open when one of them tries to sneak out of the house.
I know there will come a time when my hearing aid will no longer help me hear a little. I don't look forward to that because that will be the end of hearing my children's voices. I won't be able to hear Hubby say words of passion in bed. I won't be able to hear my grandchildren, if I get lucky and live long enough. If being able to hear means hearing the whiny cries of my kids, then so be it. Where can I buy some big rolls of duct tape?
Friday, May 4, 2007
Thursday, May 3, 2007
How Do You Say...Correct Me If I'm Wrong!
I have hearing children, and they know that mommy is Deaf. In the beginning, when they were small, they knew to tap me somewhere to get my attention. When they got a little older, I felt like they knew I was Deaf, but they didn't quite comprehend what that meant. I had to explain to my children that mommy cant hear without her hearing aid and even then, I can only hear louder than normal sounds. It took some repeating, but I think they understand now.
I keep the TV set at a certain sound level... the volume has bars that tells me how loud or soft it is, and I keep it on 7 bars (Hubby tells me that 7 is just right). When Hubby plays the radio in the car, I like to turn up the bass so I can hear/feel the beat and I've noticed that when I get in the car after he has had it for awhile, the bass dial has been turned down. I find it sweet that he doesn't fuss when I adjust things to fit MY needs and then when I am gone, he adjusts them back. Life with a hearing Hubby and children has been interesting to say the least.
Once upon a time, before I met Hubby, I was a single girl, free to date and roam the earth! I had a boyfriend that was completely Deaf-- couldn't talk, couldn't hear. I didn't like it! At the time, before my hearing faded, I liked listening to music and I could recognize specific songs that came on the radio and I'd be grooving and bopping along to whatever was playing. I remember once, a song came on the radio and it was one of my favorites and I told my boyfriend to listen! He looked at me funny and said, "I'm deaf, remember?" heh..ahem! There was another time where he was across the room, and I called out his name and he didn't respond and I got frustrated (ummm, he's still Deaf!). I knew then, that I would probably end up with someone hearing or HOH.
I admit to using my voice more than sign with my hearing husband and I asked Hubby to correct me if I say something wrong. I know there are many Deaf people that DO NOT like being corrected and I used to be one of them. Going to public schools, I was forced to go to speech classes. Oh the endless "Buh...buh...buh..." and "Ch...ch...ch... not Sh...sh...sh..." Kids would mock the little Deaf girl that had to go to speech classes. I dreaded going to that room everyday and I told the speech therapist I didn't like these classes. She made me a deal-- the better I talked, the less I would have to go! Wouldn't you know that was just the motivation I needed?? I got my speech classes down to once a week! Fast forward 20 years, I think I still talk well and I get asked often by strangers if I am from Ireland. So I guess I have somewhat of an accent, but Hubby tells me that he wouldn't know I was Deaf by the sound of my voice.
I remember growing up, I thought I was helping my mom and my sister by telling them they weren't saying a certain word the right way. I remember the looks my sister would give me and she didn't like it when I tried to correct her. Mom would play along and try to say it right just to please me. One of my favorite words that she could never say right, was "alligator". When she said it, it came out as "allitiger". I would laugh and laugh when she said it. I don't correct them anymore. I realized that it isn't important if they cant say a word correctly, I know what they meant. I know there are words that I cant pronounce, like Dulles Airport... How do you say "Dulles???" 1 syllable or 2? Long u or short u? I can never remember the proper way to say it so I end up saying it several ways to make sure that whoever I am talking to, understands me.
When I was in 7th grade, in public school, a particular hair product came on the market and spread like wild-fire among the girls that had great hair styles. Remember what hairstyles were like in 1985? BIG hair with puffy bangs. How did we do it?? Lots of hairspray and that new product called 'mousse'. You were supposed to take a little mousse and rub it through wet hair, blow dry, and style. Well, me being 11 at the time, I didn't know all that, and I put mousse on with dry hair and as a result, my hair looked like a helmet all day. Girls were coming up to me and asking me ( in that snobby, catty way) what I did with my hair and I said "mousse" (pronounced like "moose"), when they gave me funny looks, I said "mousse?" (pronounced like "mouse"). I went back and forth both ways and the girls burst out laughing at me. I was so humiliated. Turns out I said it right the first time (sounds like moose), but the damage was done. As an adult, I don't care what other people think of me, if I talk funny or different or pronounce something wrong. If I can get my message across, then my job is done.
Bottom line is this, I will tell people that I am Deaf and to please make sure they are looking at me when they talk or make sure I am looking at them. Don't talk to me when my back is turned. I'm aware that I don't talk perfect and if I see they have a puzzled look on their faces, I'll ask if they understood me. The hearing world is not that difficult to get around in, and I know it is easier for some than others. Since being married to Hubby, who can talk with just about anyone, anywhere, anytime, my own confidence level has gone up a notch. I watch him and see how he approaches people. He also doesn't let me play the "Deaf card" and makes me do it if I am the one that wants it done. He has been good for me, and I hope I have been good for him, too.
I keep the TV set at a certain sound level... the volume has bars that tells me how loud or soft it is, and I keep it on 7 bars (Hubby tells me that 7 is just right). When Hubby plays the radio in the car, I like to turn up the bass so I can hear/feel the beat and I've noticed that when I get in the car after he has had it for awhile, the bass dial has been turned down. I find it sweet that he doesn't fuss when I adjust things to fit MY needs and then when I am gone, he adjusts them back. Life with a hearing Hubby and children has been interesting to say the least.
Once upon a time, before I met Hubby, I was a single girl, free to date and roam the earth! I had a boyfriend that was completely Deaf-- couldn't talk, couldn't hear. I didn't like it! At the time, before my hearing faded, I liked listening to music and I could recognize specific songs that came on the radio and I'd be grooving and bopping along to whatever was playing. I remember once, a song came on the radio and it was one of my favorites and I told my boyfriend to listen! He looked at me funny and said, "I'm deaf, remember?" heh..ahem! There was another time where he was across the room, and I called out his name and he didn't respond and I got frustrated (ummm, he's still Deaf!). I knew then, that I would probably end up with someone hearing or HOH.
I admit to using my voice more than sign with my hearing husband and I asked Hubby to correct me if I say something wrong. I know there are many Deaf people that DO NOT like being corrected and I used to be one of them. Going to public schools, I was forced to go to speech classes. Oh the endless "Buh...buh...buh..." and "Ch...ch...ch... not Sh...sh...sh..." Kids would mock the little Deaf girl that had to go to speech classes. I dreaded going to that room everyday and I told the speech therapist I didn't like these classes. She made me a deal-- the better I talked, the less I would have to go! Wouldn't you know that was just the motivation I needed?? I got my speech classes down to once a week! Fast forward 20 years, I think I still talk well and I get asked often by strangers if I am from Ireland. So I guess I have somewhat of an accent, but Hubby tells me that he wouldn't know I was Deaf by the sound of my voice.
I remember growing up, I thought I was helping my mom and my sister by telling them they weren't saying a certain word the right way. I remember the looks my sister would give me and she didn't like it when I tried to correct her. Mom would play along and try to say it right just to please me. One of my favorite words that she could never say right, was "alligator". When she said it, it came out as "allitiger". I would laugh and laugh when she said it. I don't correct them anymore. I realized that it isn't important if they cant say a word correctly, I know what they meant. I know there are words that I cant pronounce, like Dulles Airport... How do you say "Dulles???" 1 syllable or 2? Long u or short u? I can never remember the proper way to say it so I end up saying it several ways to make sure that whoever I am talking to, understands me.
When I was in 7th grade, in public school, a particular hair product came on the market and spread like wild-fire among the girls that had great hair styles. Remember what hairstyles were like in 1985? BIG hair with puffy bangs. How did we do it?? Lots of hairspray and that new product called 'mousse'. You were supposed to take a little mousse and rub it through wet hair, blow dry, and style. Well, me being 11 at the time, I didn't know all that, and I put mousse on with dry hair and as a result, my hair looked like a helmet all day. Girls were coming up to me and asking me ( in that snobby, catty way) what I did with my hair and I said "mousse" (pronounced like "moose"), when they gave me funny looks, I said "mousse?" (pronounced like "mouse"). I went back and forth both ways and the girls burst out laughing at me. I was so humiliated. Turns out I said it right the first time (sounds like moose), but the damage was done. As an adult, I don't care what other people think of me, if I talk funny or different or pronounce something wrong. If I can get my message across, then my job is done.
Bottom line is this, I will tell people that I am Deaf and to please make sure they are looking at me when they talk or make sure I am looking at them. Don't talk to me when my back is turned. I'm aware that I don't talk perfect and if I see they have a puzzled look on their faces, I'll ask if they understood me. The hearing world is not that difficult to get around in, and I know it is easier for some than others. Since being married to Hubby, who can talk with just about anyone, anywhere, anytime, my own confidence level has gone up a notch. I watch him and see how he approaches people. He also doesn't let me play the "Deaf card" and makes me do it if I am the one that wants it done. He has been good for me, and I hope I have been good for him, too.
There's More to Life Than Negative Comments
This was an email that got circulated a couple of years ago and I think it is worth repeating. If some of you have seen this before, read it again! The basic message applies to all of us and especially for those of you that get upset over negative comments. Don't let negativity get you down, who cares what other people think of you, your B/Vlog is your opinion and everyone is entitled to their own. If you don't like the way other people think, agree to disagree and move on. There are more important things to life than a bad comment!
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee...
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly began to fill the large, empty mayonnaise jar with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. Many agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar and the pebbles rolled into the open spaces between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
Next, the professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes!"
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the desk and poured both cups into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things-- your God, family, your children, your health, friends and your favorite passions -- things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter, like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else-- the small stuff. If you put the sand into the jar first, there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical check-ups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18 holes. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always time for a couple cups of coffee with a friend."
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee...
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly began to fill the large, empty mayonnaise jar with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. Many agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar and the pebbles rolled into the open spaces between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
Next, the professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes!"
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the desk and poured both cups into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things-- your God, family, your children, your health, friends and your favorite passions -- things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter, like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else-- the small stuff. If you put the sand into the jar first, there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical check-ups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18 holes. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always time for a couple cups of coffee with a friend."
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Where are the Deaf people hiding?
I live within 25 miles of the State's School for the Deaf and Blind, and you'd think that the place would be crawling with Deaf people. Not so. Since I moved here 2 years ago, I have seen only a small handful of Deaf people. I remember once, we were driving back home from our monthly shopping excursion to the next biggest town and I happened to see a couple outside signing. I told Hubby to stop the car and turn around!! After introductions, they were a younger couple, still in their early 20s and you could tell they didn't really want to make new friends. They explained to me that most people around here tend to keep to themselves and proceeded to point in different directions saying, "so-and-so lives a few miles that way and so-and-so live down this road..." We said our good-byes and I haven't seen them again since.
Once, when I was thinking of enrolling my oldest child into daycare, I called via relay to make an appointment. When I got there, they had asked one of the volunteers to interpret for me, which was thoughtful on their part. Only trouble was, their "interpreter" was just someone that had a deaf child and only knew home signs. I couldn't understand her signs! I ended up telling them that I didn't need an interpreter and that I could talk and read lips. I should have said something about her home signs, but I already felt awkward and didn't want to make the situation any more uncomfortable than it was.
This morning, I went to the town's small food store and my hearing aid battery died. Just my luck, I didn't have any extras on me. Of course, the moment my hearing aid battery doesn't work, is the moment the cashier wants to make conversation with me. I had to tell her that I couldn't hear her because my hearing aid battery died and where did they keep the batteries. She was kind enough to give me the pack after she rang them up. After changing out batteries, and she saw that I could hear again, she started to talk with me. So, even though I don't see any Deaf people walking around, the locals seem comfortable with being around Deaf people.
We didn't move here because of the Deaf school, we just happened to see an ad for our house and liked the area. Only later, did I find out that the Deaf school was just down the road from us. The Deaf school is a beautiful place, with old buildings and a pretty campus and right there on Main Street. Some weekends, I will take my children to the playground and let them run and play. One of these days I will have to go and find info on Deaf clubs or events and start meeting the local Deaf people. Some people might have done that within a month or two of moving here, but as I said in one of my earlier posts, I wasn't interested in the Deaf world at the time. I just focused on my growing family and making our new house a home. As any mom will tell you, that is a full time job, with overtime, just taking care of the kids and home.
It's true that people around here keep to themselves. That's why we moved here, too. To get away from the city and live a slower-paced life in the country. Neighbors are few and far, and the local town just has the bare necessities. No malls here, no big walmart... just Mom and Pop stores and basic services. People are so friendly here and wave as you drive past, and we have made some nice friends with some of the people here. Locals like going to the firehouse for weekly bingo and bi-weekly breakfasts. Hunting is big around here and come deer hunting season, you see many trucks and ATVs with deer in the back. What do the local Deaf do around here? Where do they go for fun? I'm going to find out!! Stay tuned!
Once, when I was thinking of enrolling my oldest child into daycare, I called via relay to make an appointment. When I got there, they had asked one of the volunteers to interpret for me, which was thoughtful on their part. Only trouble was, their "interpreter" was just someone that had a deaf child and only knew home signs. I couldn't understand her signs! I ended up telling them that I didn't need an interpreter and that I could talk and read lips. I should have said something about her home signs, but I already felt awkward and didn't want to make the situation any more uncomfortable than it was.
This morning, I went to the town's small food store and my hearing aid battery died. Just my luck, I didn't have any extras on me. Of course, the moment my hearing aid battery doesn't work, is the moment the cashier wants to make conversation with me. I had to tell her that I couldn't hear her because my hearing aid battery died and where did they keep the batteries. She was kind enough to give me the pack after she rang them up. After changing out batteries, and she saw that I could hear again, she started to talk with me. So, even though I don't see any Deaf people walking around, the locals seem comfortable with being around Deaf people.
We didn't move here because of the Deaf school, we just happened to see an ad for our house and liked the area. Only later, did I find out that the Deaf school was just down the road from us. The Deaf school is a beautiful place, with old buildings and a pretty campus and right there on Main Street. Some weekends, I will take my children to the playground and let them run and play. One of these days I will have to go and find info on Deaf clubs or events and start meeting the local Deaf people. Some people might have done that within a month or two of moving here, but as I said in one of my earlier posts, I wasn't interested in the Deaf world at the time. I just focused on my growing family and making our new house a home. As any mom will tell you, that is a full time job, with overtime, just taking care of the kids and home.
It's true that people around here keep to themselves. That's why we moved here, too. To get away from the city and live a slower-paced life in the country. Neighbors are few and far, and the local town just has the bare necessities. No malls here, no big walmart... just Mom and Pop stores and basic services. People are so friendly here and wave as you drive past, and we have made some nice friends with some of the people here. Locals like going to the firehouse for weekly bingo and bi-weekly breakfasts. Hunting is big around here and come deer hunting season, you see many trucks and ATVs with deer in the back. What do the local Deaf do around here? Where do they go for fun? I'm going to find out!! Stay tuned!
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Can We Learn To Write Better?
There have been lots of comments lately in the Deaf B/Vlog world about being pre-linguistically Deaf and perfect grammar and usage of vocabulary and so on. I must admit that one of my pet peeves is bad grammar. I was raised by parents who, when I asked what a certain word meant, I was told "go look it up." Agh! I'd have to get out the big, heavy dictionary and look it up. Looking back, getting out the dictionary not only helped me learn what a word meant, also, my eye would also catch on a different word and I'd learn a new word. Those sneaky dictionaries!!
I never could grasp the differences between noun, pronouns, adjectives and verbs. I still struggle with those today and for some reason I cant get it in my head. But if you ask me to correct your paper and check for grammatical errors, I can do that with no trouble-- just don't ask me why it's wrong. I just know it is!! I know my own grammar is not perfect and I catch my own slip-ups from time to time, but I do try to make sure it is accurate and that it makes sense.
I know for Deaf people, translating words in your head to paper can be difficult if no one took the time to explain proper grammar. When you grow up with ASL as your first language and you basically think in ASL, it is hard. Reading books can help but not always, and not everyone likes to read. I happened to grow up with two bookworms for parents and my sister and I caught the reading bug, too. We all still love to read and I admit, that once my kids came along, I cannot allow myself to read any novels. I am the type of reader that once I start, I can't put it down until it's finished. The few times I have read a book, I totally ignored my kids and got irritated at being interrupted. Poor kids! Bad mom! I have settled for reading magazine articles and short stories here and there and once in a while, Hubby will give me a "day off" and take care of the kids so I can get my "book fix". What a sweet, sweet man!
When I was in school, I had classmates that would ask me if I read a certain book, and if I had, would I explain to them what it was about, so they wouldn't have to read the book themselves? For some, I was a walking, talking 'Cliff's Notes'. Sometimes, it was a book I hadn't read yet, so I would read it and be done with it in a few hours. I also remember correcting someones paper and the grammar was...ugh! Gives me a headache just thinking about it! By the time I finished with the paper, it was covered in red marks. Might as well write it all over again!
You CAN learn to write with better grammar, but the bottom line is, I think there is a certain amount of Deaf pride that gets in the way that says "ASL is a language, why should I change?" Some people just don't want to put in that extra effort and learn proper English. I don't judge anyone for how they want to write or what they want to learn. I have learned to live and let live, but why wouldn't you want to learn to write better so that other people don't judge you? They say "First impressions are lasting impressions", well, don't you want to put your best foot forward and be the best you can be at all times?
Monday, April 30, 2007
Secrets? Not Here!
I never realized how small the Deaf world was until I went to Deaf school for the first time. I knew my parents had gone to Gallaudet, along with too many aunts, uncles and cousins to mention. I just didn't put 2 and 2 together and figure out that so did many of my teachers from school!
My freshman year was a tough one for me-- I had to adjust to a new school and a home away from Mom and Dad; my sister didn't want her little sister tagging along behind her and would tell me to "shoo-shoo!"; and my parents also separated that year. For a young girl, that equates to her world falling apart! I needed someone to talk to, so I went to see my school counselor. I confessed everything that was happening in my life-- my parents impending divorce, my big mean old sister, it was as if the world was against me! It felt wonderful to unload and have someone hear me and make me feel better and I just knew I did the right thing.
The next day at school, several teachers came up to me and said they were sorry to hear about my Mom and Dad's separation. Huh?? Where did that come from? No one knew about my parents getting a divorce except...for... the...*gasp!* The Deaf counselor!!! I was so upset that I went and told my Mom what happened. She asked me what the counselor's name was and it turned out that it was one of her classmates. Mom explained to me then, that many of my teachers were her and Dad's classmates from either Deaf school or Gallaudet. She took the yearbook from the previous year and pointed out all her classmates to me, so that I could be more careful with my words and who I said them to. Mom went to talk with my counselor and of course it was all denied that she said anything. I never went back to her again and switched to a hearing counselor.
Today, the Deaf world is still small. True, there are more Deaf people than ever before, but the same names come up over and over and people everywhere recognize them. You may be a friend of a friend of a friend, or so-and-so's classmate. With today's technology, events -- good or bad -- spread like wildfire faster than ever: VPs, Internet and pagers. I got a rude awakening all those years ago, and it was a lesson I have never forgotten. Be careful what you say, there are no such things as secrets here.
My freshman year was a tough one for me-- I had to adjust to a new school and a home away from Mom and Dad; my sister didn't want her little sister tagging along behind her and would tell me to "shoo-shoo!"; and my parents also separated that year. For a young girl, that equates to her world falling apart! I needed someone to talk to, so I went to see my school counselor. I confessed everything that was happening in my life-- my parents impending divorce, my big mean old sister, it was as if the world was against me! It felt wonderful to unload and have someone hear me and make me feel better and I just knew I did the right thing.
The next day at school, several teachers came up to me and said they were sorry to hear about my Mom and Dad's separation. Huh?? Where did that come from? No one knew about my parents getting a divorce except...for... the...*gasp!* The Deaf counselor!!! I was so upset that I went and told my Mom what happened. She asked me what the counselor's name was and it turned out that it was one of her classmates. Mom explained to me then, that many of my teachers were her and Dad's classmates from either Deaf school or Gallaudet. She took the yearbook from the previous year and pointed out all her classmates to me, so that I could be more careful with my words and who I said them to. Mom went to talk with my counselor and of course it was all denied that she said anything. I never went back to her again and switched to a hearing counselor.
Today, the Deaf world is still small. True, there are more Deaf people than ever before, but the same names come up over and over and people everywhere recognize them. You may be a friend of a friend of a friend, or so-and-so's classmate. With today's technology, events -- good or bad -- spread like wildfire faster than ever: VPs, Internet and pagers. I got a rude awakening all those years ago, and it was a lesson I have never forgotten. Be careful what you say, there are no such things as secrets here.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
In today's culture of 'want it now' and 'want it fast' I seem to be the odd man out. People everywhere are always looking for shortcuts and how to get something fast, faster, fastest. Take a look around you-- fast food, drive-through, emails, heat 'em and eat 'em foods at the grocery store to name a few. How hard is it to cook up some rice the old-fashioned way? 2 cups of water, a cup of rice, 20 minutes on simmer and voila! Why is it with all the so-called time-savers we have, IE: microwaves, cars and computers, that it seems like we have less time than ever before? If we can cook a meal for 5 minutes or less in the microwave, drive a car and arrive at your destination in 10 minutes, wash and dry clothes in an hour and a half, WHY are we STILL busy?!?!
Gone are the days of washing clothes in a big old washer and squeezing the water out through the wringer, then hanging up the clothes on the line where it will then take most of the day to dry (if its a nice hot day and not overcast). No more do we have to pump the well and carry 10-20 pound buckets of water to the house so there will be water to cook, clean and bathe in. Need meat? Go out to the pasture and pick a cow to butcher and then spend most of the day gutting, draining the blood, skinning and cutting up the meat to feed your family. Time to cook a meal? Head out to the garden and pick enough vegetables and fruit for everyone to eat. Seriously, life was hard work before all these time-savers came about, but I think time-savers steal away time with family.
Not only is it quick to make a meal, we now scarf down our food in 5 minutes and then scatter to our respective rooms; free to watch TV, play video games, surf the Internet, call a friend. Instead of the whole family working together, weeding the garden or chopping wood, we spend time with electronics. We talk on the phone while we drive and listen to the radio and put lipstick on all at the same time. If you saved 15 minutes on dinner, how come you don't have time to put lipstick on before you get into the car? Why is it when I meet you at the mall, you answer your pager every time it beeps and put me on hold? As my Hubby likes to say: the phone is there for me, I'm not there for the phone. In other words, if I don't answer, it doesn't mean something happened to me, it means I am out doing something else, instead of waiting for the phone to ring!
We moved to a house with 15 acres with the intent of having a bigger garden and a bigger yard for our children to play in. I started to can my own food a few years ago, as a way to preserve some of the extra fruits and vegetables that we couldn't keep up with and people who would see us coming with armfuls of garden goodies would turn the other way, afraid we would unload more tomatoes and zucchini on them! After moving here and discovering berry bushes and trees, I wanted to try making my own jams. So we spent our summer evenings walking around the property, picking berries, half would go in the bucket and the rest into my children's mouths. What fun that was, to talk and laugh and play, instead of cooped up inside the house with our electronic friends. I like to tell people that Hubby wasn't very enthusiastic about helping us pick berries for jams, because he thought I would leave the seeds in them. After my very first batch of seedless jam, he started walking with us and pulling the higher branches down for us to pick! He quickly changed his mind after tasting my jam!
Today, we all spent time in the garden, tilling the soil to get it ready for planting. The kids had fun taking their shovels and digging holes, looking for worms, while Hubby started trimming the branches of trees around the garden. We have a fence around the garden, so I could let the little one run around and not worry too much about them running away and concentrate on the task at hand. Eventually shoes came off and they ran around in the soft soil and left trails of little footprints everywhere. Then Hubby attached the wagon to the tractor and pulled the children around for a ride. It was a most perfect day! The TV remained off the whole day, dinner was made from scratch, and dirty feet were washed before bedtime. Who needs all those time-savers?? Instead of buying shortcuts from the store, I made time with my family in growing our own food. My kids will know that food comes from the earth, meat comes from animals, and they will know that there is more to life than video games.
Gone are the days of washing clothes in a big old washer and squeezing the water out through the wringer, then hanging up the clothes on the line where it will then take most of the day to dry (if its a nice hot day and not overcast). No more do we have to pump the well and carry 10-20 pound buckets of water to the house so there will be water to cook, clean and bathe in. Need meat? Go out to the pasture and pick a cow to butcher and then spend most of the day gutting, draining the blood, skinning and cutting up the meat to feed your family. Time to cook a meal? Head out to the garden and pick enough vegetables and fruit for everyone to eat. Seriously, life was hard work before all these time-savers came about, but I think time-savers steal away time with family.
Not only is it quick to make a meal, we now scarf down our food in 5 minutes and then scatter to our respective rooms; free to watch TV, play video games, surf the Internet, call a friend. Instead of the whole family working together, weeding the garden or chopping wood, we spend time with electronics. We talk on the phone while we drive and listen to the radio and put lipstick on all at the same time. If you saved 15 minutes on dinner, how come you don't have time to put lipstick on before you get into the car? Why is it when I meet you at the mall, you answer your pager every time it beeps and put me on hold? As my Hubby likes to say: the phone is there for me, I'm not there for the phone. In other words, if I don't answer, it doesn't mean something happened to me, it means I am out doing something else, instead of waiting for the phone to ring!
We moved to a house with 15 acres with the intent of having a bigger garden and a bigger yard for our children to play in. I started to can my own food a few years ago, as a way to preserve some of the extra fruits and vegetables that we couldn't keep up with and people who would see us coming with armfuls of garden goodies would turn the other way, afraid we would unload more tomatoes and zucchini on them! After moving here and discovering berry bushes and trees, I wanted to try making my own jams. So we spent our summer evenings walking around the property, picking berries, half would go in the bucket and the rest into my children's mouths. What fun that was, to talk and laugh and play, instead of cooped up inside the house with our electronic friends. I like to tell people that Hubby wasn't very enthusiastic about helping us pick berries for jams, because he thought I would leave the seeds in them. After my very first batch of seedless jam, he started walking with us and pulling the higher branches down for us to pick! He quickly changed his mind after tasting my jam!
Today, we all spent time in the garden, tilling the soil to get it ready for planting. The kids had fun taking their shovels and digging holes, looking for worms, while Hubby started trimming the branches of trees around the garden. We have a fence around the garden, so I could let the little one run around and not worry too much about them running away and concentrate on the task at hand. Eventually shoes came off and they ran around in the soft soil and left trails of little footprints everywhere. Then Hubby attached the wagon to the tractor and pulled the children around for a ride. It was a most perfect day! The TV remained off the whole day, dinner was made from scratch, and dirty feet were washed before bedtime. Who needs all those time-savers?? Instead of buying shortcuts from the store, I made time with my family in growing our own food. My kids will know that food comes from the earth, meat comes from animals, and they will know that there is more to life than video games.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)