11/22/11

Deaf kid vs Christmas concert? do they really work?

You and I both know that any young deaf kids and music concert doesn't go together!  I noticed that Cory is practicing..ah..(really?) singing the Christmas music at his preschool.  NOT really.  He was actually goofing off and yelling "non words" and so on.  No one is helping him or given him any guidelines..
That is sad. Really...what are they thinking??? I don't get it.  Why didn't they ask me about it?  Why didn't they ask about signing few words for that?   It makes me little mad in sense that they are not really thinking it through.  What about Cory?  mmmm?  I have to decide whether to let him participate or not.  Really..I'm leaning toward not.  its NOT worth it.  He is only 2 years old into "hearing" world, so would you do a music concert with bunch of 2 years old???  I didn't think so.  The expectations is too high for him right now.    I did thought of asking them for some songs that Cory and I can practice together but we don't know the "tune" so how do we practice without others? 
One thing, though, I am not letting him do this so he wouldnt be able to do this.  It's bit embarrassing, I am not sure if he would feel ashamed or feel bad about it.   Again, this is from my own personal experiences, I did some music concerts with my hearing friends at elementary school.  I tell you, I HATE it and it was awful for me.  It took a lot of strong wills not to burst in tears during the concert.  I know that eventually, Cory will be able to singing in those such things but not right now.
Rather than give it up.  I will ask the teacher for song sheets and try to go through with it by using signing supports and key words.  Cory still can practice with his friends but ultimately, he will decide whether he want to join the concert. I will let him decide that.

11/2/11

Halloween!

Non stop chatting about Halloween for the last 2 weeks..I'm so sick of it and I had to put decorations away TODAY! Cory keeps thinking it's gonna last...NOT!
SO we had a lot of fun..I think it is really neat having a deaf kid when having to share so much information and using sign languages as part of expressions.  We had barrel of laughs..Cory isn't afraid of Halloween as much he did in the last 2 years.  So talking about it more and having fun with it, really helps!  I think I didn't do enough last year because I was too "careful" not to scare him and only try to focus few things at a time. But this year, I just went all the way!  We watched "The Monster House" movie.." and he loves it!  We held off not taking him to haunted house or Stanley Park Train Ride, how much is too much? eh?  Well, one night, I was taking 8 girls to the Potter's House of Horrors and Cory was extremely upset that he is not going.  I had to tell him that it's too scary for him and so on.  He wouldn't accept it.  He practicially GLUED on me when I tried to leave.  Bawling his eyes.."Mommmy..I wanna go! I like scary!! " lol.  Really??? it was hard to say.   We did thought of going to the Bear Creek one in next few days if we have time!   It wasn't part of the plan for the weekend but after that with Cory..we thought we should. But we never had a chance to.  :((  too busy!   He seems to forgotten about it..
but for sure, we'll go next year!  Can't wait!
I did played a prank using a big knife, fake blood, bloody kitchen floor and my hand...
Didn't work on CA..she was like "seriously, mom?  really! JEEZ!"  and as for Cory, his eyes grew bigger and his jaw dropped, then he said "are you ok, mom?"  like he feels bad for me.  oh brother! I caved in.
Photos of Happy Halloween!
We did ran into bit of Cory's stubbornness!  HE didn't want to wear his CIs while trick or treating..I thought of safety issues, that he should , because it is bit of overwhelming event.  Should hear cars, people running up to him so he is not "surprised" or hear Halloween things etc..so he is knowing what is going on and get used to different sounds etc.  (we did played Halloween scary sounds on my CD player at home ..) we would guess what it was..he loves it!!!  So he said he doesn't want to.  Didn't say why or what..I told him that he can't go trick or treating without his CI.  He didn't have to wear both.  and He flat out refused.  I think this is the first time I had to stand firm which it kinda of go against my beliefs...by forcing him to wear it for safety reasons.   I did thought maybe he didn't want to wear it because it scared him etc. but that is not the case.  so just no reasons.  He was just being stubborn or couldn't tell me why.   Most of the times, he would tell me why..but this is one of those thing.  so finally, he did wear it and no troubles at all.  I guess I will never know...