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My Deaf Child’s Christmas
In the early 1990s, I wrote this piece that was published in the local newspaper. I think it’s still powerful today.
For many people, Christmas is a time for beautiful music and singing. For Miranda, my 5-year-old Deaf daughter, Christmas is not about the sounds of the seasons.
I suppose if I were still in the throes of dealing with Miranda’s profound deafness diagnosis, I’d be lamenting the fact that she will never be able to enjoy Christmas carols.
But I’ve struggled through that stage of only thinking of things my daughter won’t be able to do or enjoy. I have no desire to return to those negative thoughts.
Through her eyes
Instead, I’m at a point where I’m wishing I could experience the holidays as she does. I’m trying to imagine how wonderful Christmas must be through Miranda’s eyes.
She must get intense pleasure out of seeing sparkling multi-colored lights adorning everything in sight and reflecting in pools of rainwater. I know she sees more than we “hearies” do.
Two years ago at Christmas when I dressed up as Santa Claus, she knew it was “Daddy” as soon as I walked through the doorway.
