This evening was the first time in a long time that Elijah's deafness caused me to be scared to death. We had walked around the block and I was going to water the yard after that. When we got home, Elijah asked if he could play in the sprinkler and he didn't want his CI processors on so he was deaf while playing.
I sat outside and watched him play int he sprinkler and MUD! He was having a great time. I saw a nieghbor with two boys down and across the street playing in a sprinkler. I gestured to Elijah to come and see them and signed, "play go". He responded with a yes, grabbed his cars and took off running. I was walking behind him when I hear a car coming up behind us. Now Elijah does look both ways, but he was excited and my heart just jumps. I just knew he was going to dash into the street without looking. I took off running after Elijah hoping the driver would see me running. We do have "Deaf Child Area" signs on our street. With my heart racing and time seeming to stand still, Elijah thankfully LOOKS back and stops at the curb. He starts to look both ways....meanwhile I am STILL running and sign "wait stop" to him. He does and I get to him just as the car passes.
Now even a hearing kid, in the moment of excitement, may forget to look both ways but a parent can YELL at them to stop. Elijah is rarely without his processors so I usually have this advantage as well and I guess I just forgot that I needed to be more diligent when his "ears" are off.
Oh Mary, that is so scary. Mom's of deaf kids have to be track stars too!
ReplyDeleteYes we do!!!
ReplyDeleteMy little one, though he still hears a bit, can't hear some cars for some reason and that scenario terrifies me often, though I've yet to experience it. So, the lesson here is maybe practice running for the future?! :)
ReplyDeleteYes, I need to keep in shape!!
ReplyDelete