tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post4396754785550632780..comments2023-10-21T06:18:41.537-05:00Comments on Fighting Monsters with Rubber Swords: Mermaid soulRobert Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15462451435441751837noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-78708708965811457262011-06-17T22:47:06.533-05:002011-06-17T22:47:06.533-05:00Rob, I am so grateful that you write! Honest to G...Rob, I am so grateful that you write! Honest to God I cry and I laugh. I especially enjoyed the printer incident. I relate so much to your journey as the mother of a child who does not speak. I also have gotten to that place of not explaining unless absolutely necessary. I cannot control it all anyway, and am usually pleasantly surprised at what happens when I don't intervene. Anyway, just dropping by to say I really appreciate your insight and humor in the middle of "it all."Kathihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11492845603919613292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-37710074889378931942011-06-16T08:57:35.470-05:002011-06-16T08:57:35.470-05:00Good for you guys. The need to talk, explain, disc...Good for you guys. The need to talk, explain, discuss, reason, intellectualize...this is something I've grown so weary of in our society. Every person should have the right to be left alone, to have their personal and family time, and it's something people seem to peg you as a freak for wanting. You should not feel like you have to explain things all the time, you should just be able to be. <br /><br />Plus, who needs speech to communicate, anyway? It's overrated. I used to take the morning bus to work, and sometimes there would be a neighbor woman and her baby boy. I was fascinated by them because she barely spoke, (though I know she had both the ability to speak and to hear) or when she did, she whispered. It was a cultural difference, I'm sure, but it was so interesting how she was able to, with no words at all, soothe her baby and get him to settle down. When he would get fussy or cry, she would simply "tuck him in", and I know that might sound weird, but I know no other way to describe it. Using her hands she would just firmly tuck him or reposition him in the stroller, and she would look straight into his eyes as if to say, "Shush now, little one" kindly. It worked with such immediacy that it struck me as a brilliant parenting tool that more American parents should employ. <br /><br />We're a culture of too much empty speech, and sometimes we overstep our bounds, mistakenly thinking that everything is our business. I wish more people would just let things be. If they'd use body language and intuition and empathy more often, they may be able to learn more than speech would ever give them.Loves Pickleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09265109812385130053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-52515872185023918532011-06-14T18:18:54.248-05:002011-06-14T18:18:54.248-05:00I have also followed your blogs- they really are t...I have also followed your blogs- they really are terrific. I am just amazed at how you put into words exactly how I feel! :)<br /><br />I did not know I needed the "validation" of knowing there were others (many in fact) who share so many of my deep, complicated emotions.... but now that I know this- I read your blogs and instantly feel charged- validated.....<br /><br />I thank you for sharing your stories, experiences and feelings- it's definitely given me added inspiration to forge ahead for my wordless, complicated daughter!<br />Happy sumnmer!mattcindy99https://www.blogger.com/profile/10625382388772363060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-72910425515497563352011-06-14T18:14:03.413-05:002011-06-14T18:14:03.413-05:00I also follow your posts...and just cannot believe...I also follow your posts...and just cannot believe how you put into words exactly how I feel! :)<br /><br />Although i didn't realize I wanted it- I feel like reading your blogs has "validated" my own feelings. I think knowing there's someone else (many in fact) who often share my exact emotions.<br /><br />Somehow this is comforting and inspiring- gives me that feeling of power to forge ahead for my wordless daughter!!<br />thank you!<br />Happy summer!mattcindy99https://www.blogger.com/profile/10625382388772363060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-44220117921042181362011-06-14T17:40:22.201-05:002011-06-14T17:40:22.201-05:00I am in a place similar to yours. My daughter is d...I am in a place similar to yours. My daughter is different - she has her own <i>isms</i> - yet I am learning to stay back, stay quiet, because I was creating a kind of learned helplessness for my girl with my "helpfulness". The less I do, even clarifications with adults on the sidelines of the pool, the more she shows she can do for herself. I am a work in progress.Pennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03646382031666180357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-78036955772949887042011-06-14T12:00:45.623-05:002011-06-14T12:00:45.623-05:00But Rhondamine,
Schuyler (pretending she could ph...But Rhondamine,<br /><br />Schuyler (pretending she could physically do it) could sign up a storm and if your communication partner (the little shy boy and his grandmother) don't know sign, it would be as useful as her knowing Chinese in this situation. The little pantomime and non-verbal communication that they did was enough for a connection. <br /><br />When I was a teacher my students used AAC boards or devices and usually had a sign or two (bathroom, no, yes, more) but beyond that what is the point if the lady you are asking where is the bathroom doesn't know sign?<br /><br />This story was wonderful. I fully agree that you two were fine sitting where you were. If for some reason she wants to communicate more with the boy and grandma down the road you could probably print a communication board or two and seal them up in a page protector for the pool. But I don't think that is necessary until she wants it.Clairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13222773465522920585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-9440698597320378322011-06-14T10:15:39.125-05:002011-06-14T10:15:39.125-05:00Lovely. Truly lovely.Lovely. Truly lovely.Niksmomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14715465327343655483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-73317733304451259972011-06-14T10:08:01.051-05:002011-06-14T10:08:01.051-05:00All the impediments to signing are still there, th...All the impediments to signing are still there, that hasn't changed. And she does sign as much as she can. Not being deaf and not being in a deaf community, she basically signs for us alone.Robert Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15462451435441751837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-63152208425434929932011-06-14T10:01:10.787-05:002011-06-14T10:01:10.787-05:00Such a lovely post.Such a lovely post.KALhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15212441008066693103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-88895895224304821342011-06-14T09:33:01.824-05:002011-06-14T09:33:01.824-05:00Maybe it's time to consider . . . oh please do...Maybe it's time to consider . . . oh please don't get mad, I know you had good reasons not to do this . . . but maybe reconsider signing?<br /><br />(ducks)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-3275618548309191912011-06-14T09:11:20.668-05:002011-06-14T09:11:20.668-05:00When my friend, R, turned 7 she wanted to march in...When my friend, R, turned 7 she wanted to march in the Coney Island Mermaid Parade so we did. And we've marched every year since. This Saturday it'll be in celebration of her 10th birthday and we're going to be ghost mermaids. I wish you three could join us.Kizzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01957878512519527975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-33715549722356716192011-06-14T08:12:52.510-05:002011-06-14T08:12:52.510-05:00I stumbled onto your blog -just wanted to say what...I stumbled onto your blog -just wanted to say what a wonderful post.Donnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15129542145242547818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-13324849382790529172011-06-14T07:15:05.990-05:002011-06-14T07:15:05.990-05:00Beautiful post.
Sometimes I don't bother to ...Beautiful post. <br /><br />Sometimes I don't bother to explain my son because *I* feel like blending in and being normal that day. Thanks for making me feel a whole lot less guilty about that. Now I'll think of it as just Emmett be Emmett on his own terms.Julia O'Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16330856629856439993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-33391817792311808652011-06-14T05:09:22.262-05:002011-06-14T05:09:22.262-05:00How fun for her. I bet she's great with little...How fun for her. I bet she's great with little kids.<br /><br />I was thinking too - if Schuyler wanted an interpreter, she's at the age where I'd imagine she'd ask you to help her. She seems like a pretty smart kid. :)Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09762896766377039541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-10923156974524974252011-06-14T01:35:07.398-05:002011-06-14T01:35:07.398-05:00Lovely, Rob. I've found myself leaning this d...Lovely, Rob. I've found myself leaning this direction more and more, lately. Your words are beautiful and so is your mermaid.Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02851098760576370829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-88119903722434038832011-06-13T23:07:47.952-05:002011-06-13T23:07:47.952-05:00Hi, I cant remember who linked your blog, but the ...Hi, I cant remember who linked your blog, but the moment I read it I became a follower. This latest post has me in tears. My daughter has Rett syndrome and cannot speak. There have been so many moments like this for us. Thank you for putting in to words why an explanation isnt always necessary. This, like all your posts, was beautiful!<br />thank you<br />Erica RobertsonEricahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17851509745425295624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-72942301977224764472011-06-13T23:05:04.601-05:002011-06-13T23:05:04.601-05:00The mermaid soul -- what a beautiful story. Here&#...The mermaid soul -- what a beautiful story. Here's to a lasting friendship --<br /><br />I, too, have a mermaid, although she doesn't swim, she is drawn to the ocean as if she belonged there. And by the ocean, she has hardly any seizures --Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03313726816776097840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-52634320091797144392011-06-13T23:02:08.743-05:002011-06-13T23:02:08.743-05:00A wonderful post, thank you. I can totally underst...A wonderful post, thank you. I can totally understand your feelings of not feeling the need to point out Schuyler's schuylerness at that moment — it wasn't at all necessary, just as it wasn't necessary for you to ask that typical little boy a bunch of questions. <br />This was a good lesson for me as I look to my son's future. I worry a lot about what people will say as he and his twin move through life, but I know that sometimes the best thing will be not to say anything at all.Shastahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01013565031179610593noreply@blogger.com