My mom and I were chatting about my history of being deaf and independent when I was a kid. She first told me that my first time was on stage when I was 3 years old in Dothan, Alabama. That was my modeling show about my hearing aids. I told her how I felt when walking into the stage with all strangers out there. Remember I only 3 years old! She said, “No, you were so happy and smile when come out of store (where catwalk comes from the store to stage).” I said “No I was so confused by those people, but I only I can see my dad who waves at me. ” I just stand and smile. Many flashes from cameras. People backgrounds were so dark, and I couldn’t see anyone but only see my dad who kneeled and waved. I was modeling as toddler for two years, then stopped after I had a golf accident on my forehead. My modeling career was for displaying pictures.  My stage career is ended.

Then she dropped me to swim lesson and like nothing happened. She told people at swim lesson that “Jen will learn from you by copying other people.” Yes, it is true I learned from other people and followed them as always.

Then, in Birmingham, Alabama, at Girl Scout camping, she dropped me like nothing happened. Hehe. I have to face those kinds of issues with hearing campers, but lucky I have found someone who knows sign language to talk with me. The counselor is about 18 or 20 while I was about 10! I depend on her all the time, I felt bad for her, but it is worth it for me to be there to face among people like that.   At Dance Studio, She took me to dance lessons and left me there with all the girls.  The teachers were so freaked out because I was deaf!  Poor teacher.  I have followed the girls and am kind of a little behind the route, but I did. 

Both paragraphs are from Alabama.

Dallas, Texas, here is it. I been along with hearing kids and deaf kids in same public schools. I don’t see any independent yet until 20s. Oh yes, mother told me to go to store by myself and was so nervous! I still young and pre-teen! I been depending on parents since I am only child. Yes, I did been independent when I had relationship with boyfriend and we are kind of teenager thing, not listen to parents or whatever I could remember. Hehe. My mother is overprotective when I was teenager, be good girl…. NOT!

When I became 20, started to be noticed more I got independent. I thought I would win by on my own like live in apartment and having a job. Ended up, wrong decision. I been brat for while like immature and think independent enough but NO. I learned lot those years within right and wrong about being independent. I had girls who been in and out of my life that involved crazy situations and I survived through those years. I learned that, too.

Wonderful years in St Louis, MO and in 30s and 40s. I learned by own decision and being independent. Yes, I had parents near me and can reach with them when I needed them. Live in apartment and handle the finances. Won the lawsuit from UPS, bought home and handles well. Then moved into condo after the issues with job laid off. Lucky, finances enough covered from house and truck. Yeah, I had BIG RAM Truck exchanged to car fit enough in condo garage.

Moved back to Alabama, my home state and family NEED me! I stayed over parents’ house and being independent as always. Hearing world or Deaf world?

What about deaf family members being independent? I meant whole deaf family, not like mine because my family are HEARING, no one is deaf in family, just me. Do you?

Smiles ~ DW