tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-854575870070704513.post5239899130612432472..comments2023-11-05T04:58:54.173-05:00Comments on An American Mom in Tuscany: Jordan's Cochlear Implant Story: Great Expectations?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11437710259566671762noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-854575870070704513.post-20879354815981502022008-02-23T07:15:00.000-05:002008-02-23T07:15:00.000-05:00Valerie, I'd love to be Val also. I haven't been V...Valerie, I'd love to be Val also. I haven't been Val in years, I've Gage and Brook's mom. But you know what,I'm realizing that the only way to be Val again is to speak a little louder (and not literally). I got a part time job and there I'm Val. I'm just learning to have some seperation. My kids have always been "the deaf kids" in school. But that's okay w/me because they are in fact that. It's just a characteristic, like blond hair, or tall and skinny. It's something people use for quick identity since there are no other deaf children. And when they get older, they'll be Gage, the deaf boy that's hilarious or Brook the cute little blue eyed girl w/implants (make that cochlear implants!). Now for setting expectations. I've found that w/raising two deaf children, I left the expectations at the front door and up to the professionals who want to compare the kids to their hearing peers. I can't do that and have never felt it was fair. If I had set all these expectations when Gage was born, he'd have never progressed as much as he has. I work w/my kids regularly building on what THEY know. I don't care if Billy in class can read a novel, means nothing to me. I keep my kids mentally stimulated at their own rate and setting too many expectations early on would have only been BOUNDARIES for us.VBnBamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06188520199027370788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-854575870070704513.post-23555865681928276852008-02-23T03:23:00.000-05:002008-02-23T03:23:00.000-05:00Val...now I know where you get your fighting spiri...Val...now I know where you get your fighting spirit and dedication from...your mom. Beautiful...love, JodiAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11437710259566671762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-854575870070704513.post-17988611998988609102008-02-23T03:22:00.000-05:002008-02-23T03:22:00.000-05:00Mark,You know, guys are like that, it's difficult ...Mark,<BR/>You know, guys are like that, it's difficult to find girl-friends who don't need the daily contact to maintain the friendship. <BR/>Your tuna episode was a much needed wake up laugh this morning...<BR/>I love how you write! And your kids are beautiful...JodiAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11437710259566671762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-854575870070704513.post-27292534463609256462008-02-22T20:23:00.000-05:002008-02-22T20:23:00.000-05:00Let me see, I had to read this post twice....I wan...Let me see, I had to read this post twice....I want to be Valerie. Just Valerie...Not deaf, short, teacher, contact-wearing, lupus, but just Valerie. I know that does not make me any less important then Deaf Valerie.<BR/><BR/>I also understand your thoughts about great expectations. I had no expectations before CI surgery. I just hoped to hear something. And yes, I was very surprised. I do draw from my faith. I hold that close to my heart.<BR/><BR/>My mom has been battling breat cancer for 4 years. So two surgeries and chemo, her expectations are - to just enjoy the day. Cancer has not made her fight hard, just the same. The same way she raises her girls, don't take any crap from anyone and don't give up. When you give up you give yourself permission to fail. We don't fail, we are women! We may struggle and somedays we want to just lie down. That is okay because we don't say down too long. <BR/><BR/>My mom is in remission, she's too tough to let cancer get the best of her. If it comes back, she will keep attacking it back. <BR/>ValerieValeriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17026325968244954541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-854575870070704513.post-32053457638130047792008-02-22T19:27:00.000-05:002008-02-22T19:27:00.000-05:00Hey Jodi,Deeeeeep stuff! Loved it.Your comments ma...Hey Jodi,<BR/><BR/>Deeeeeep stuff! Loved it.<BR/><BR/>Your comments made me think of my very best friends. They have this blessed ability to live in the here and now. We might not see each other for <I>years</I> but when we do get together, we hang out and shoot the breeze in such a way its as if we never parted. <BR/><BR/>On the other hand, there are those who are into <I>you never call, you never write, yada yada yada.</I> I simply tell them that I'm a dad now. One time I left a tuna sandwich in my son's cubby at daycare and brought a bag of extra diapers to work. So if anyone has great expectations for me... they can chill out and have a tuna sandwich :) <BR/><BR/>Excellent post, am enjoying your mind explosion!<BR/><BR/>Best regards,<BR/>DrolzAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-854575870070704513.post-31105102388740139822008-02-22T17:10:00.000-05:002008-02-22T17:10:00.000-05:00Dear Straightedgeanne,Thank you for your beautiful...Dear Straightedgeanne,<BR/>Thank you for your beautiful comment...and I really appreciate that you understood what I was trying to say. There are so many people who have lost faith or entrusted it in the wrong places, I'm happy that you are so in touch with your faith. Hugs, JodiAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11437710259566671762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-854575870070704513.post-52110014755166779232008-02-22T17:05:00.000-05:002008-02-22T17:05:00.000-05:00I know exactly what you mean by the whole "great e...I know exactly what you mean by the whole "great expectations". I used to be exactly like that, and I still am in a sense, but instead of me putting faith in myself, because even I fail myself sometimes, I put it in God. God will never fail me and he never has so far. if he denied me something, it was for my own good. and I was thanking him after I realized it. I know it might sound cheezy, but it's true. I know for a fact that humans WILL let me down. it's not a matter of if, but when. that even includes myself. <BR/><BR/>but Jesus has never failed me. He always prevails in the weirdest situations. <BR/><BR/><BR/>but anyways, I enjoyed your blog, you write beautifully!Anne Morrisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13535937563240125253noreply@blogger.com