Author: Karen Putz

It’s one of those weekends…

We have three dogs, four adults, and six kids in the house and there’s a couple more adults and kids joining us for a New Year’s Eve party tomorrow. Lauren’s friend Sarah, came in from Texas. The hubby made me promise that there would just be “a few people” this year. Thank goodness that he doesn’t read this blog.

I’m down to one chair in the dining room. Joe’s mom gave us her kitchen set several years ago and one by one, the chairs have been tossed out as they break down. I’ve finally realized the reason that they’re probably breaking down: we have no humidifier in the house and the dry air is probably cracking the rattan. That, and the wild children that live here.

The good news is that we have some lights working in the basement. Our friend Dan came over yesterday and spent the day re-routing wires and adding lights. Here are the guys high-fiving after they turned the lights on:

My mom and my mother-in-law both tell me that the years start becoming a blur as you get older. Time starts spinning faster and faster. They’re not kidding! I swear, it was just a few months ago when we had our last New Year’s Eve party. We’re gonna miss our friends who’ve moved out of state. Happy New Year to you guys!

It’s Wordless Wednesday:

“It’s not a snowman, it’s a SnowWoman, Mom!”

This morning, I came across a website that has many links to deaf and hard of hearing people:

DeafPeople.com.

The website is owned by Matthew Moore who owns MSM Productions, Ltd., a multi-media company that produces Deaf Life magazine. Deaf Life magazine began in 1987 and has returned to full production after a haitus. One can order the complete set of Deaf Life magazines for $1,750.00!

In March of 2006, we had a team of researchers spend the day with us at my house. One of my cousins came up from Missouri and my parents came in from Michigan. All of my siblings and some nieces and nephews were there as well. The researchers spent the day talking with each of us individually and gathering blood samples. Before they left, we sat down to a huge dinner. My mom never lets anyone leave on an empty stomach.

A few months ago, we received a letter identifying the gene with a bunch of numbers and letters. The gene at this point is rare–just two other families have been identified with this gene so far.

I posted more about this gene here: The Genetic Puzzle.

The implications of genetic research are not to be taken lightly. We knew, going into this research project, that we likely would discover information that would impact future generations in our family.

My daughter has the gene and there’s nearly a hundred percent guarantee that she will pass this gene on to her children. My sons will not.

My husband and I knew that we would likely have deaf and hard of hearing kids when we got married. That didn’t factor into our decision whether or not to have kids simply because there was a deaf gene present. We wanted kids and if they happened to be deaf, hard of hearing or hearing– it didn’t matter. Sure, we talked about how it might be easier to have kids with hearing in the normal range. And we grieved a bit when each of our kids lost their hearing, mostly because we knew that society was going to give them a rough time here and there.

In the end, it comes down to attitude. I happen to think that this world is much more interesting because my deaf and hard of hearing kids are in it. I like hanging around people who feel the same way. I avoid toxic people who think that my family, my kids are less human because our genes are a little skewed.

And I look forward to embracing my deaf, hard of hearing and hearing grandchildren someday.

Welcome to Jobs, Careers and Callings!

Some of you may know me from my other site, A Deaf Mom Shares Her World. I’m a deaf mom who is raising three deaf and hard of hearing kids. My kids are now at the point where they’re exploring “what they want to do for the rest of their life.”

I grew up without deaf or hard of hearing role models. When I arrived at Northern Illinois University, I had no clue what I wanted to major in. I explored business, computers and a few other things. I wanted to be a nurse, but a career counselor expressed her doubts. “Being a nurse requires a lot of communication and you have to be able to hear.” Years later, I discovered deaf and hard of hearing nurses, including one who works in the emergency room. She was just like me… And then I met deaf and hard of hearing doctors, lawyers, dentists, vets and even police and firemen.

Where were these role models when I was growing up?

So that’s why this site exists today– to show the variety of jobs, careers and callings that deaf and hard of hearing people are doing each day.

So if you’re a parent of a deaf or hard of hearing child and your child tells you, “I want to be a….” chances are, there’s a deaf or hard of hearing person out there doing it. And if they’re not, let your deaf or hard of hearing child blaze the way.

On Saturday night, it was my turn to host BookHands, a deaf women’s book club, at my place. I’m notorious for picking books by deaf authors or with deaf themes, but this time, I went with a self-help book, What Happy Women Know.

We were missing two of our members, Karen and Kathy, who moved out of state (and how we do miss them!) and another member had a company party to go to. We had quite a lively discussion about happiness and the role of money in happiness. We took some trips back in time where we shared some happy memories. We talked about “Jobs, Careers and Callings” and how each of us approached our work in life. Some shared how the hard times in life brought happiness through a better sense of self and changed circumstances.

A great book, great discussion and a lot of food left us discovering that we are indeed a happy bunch:

Two weeks ago, my oldest son was asked to take over a role in the Hinsdale South Deaf Drama, “Dorothy Meets Alice.” So for two weeks, he stayed after school until six p.m. and practiced learning 35 lines in American Sign Language. We went to see the play last night and I was so, so proud of my guy! The entire cast did a good job, although there were times when the ASL went over our heads. He’s in the red shirt below:

Are you a mom or caregiver of a deaf or hard of hearing child? Then you’ll want to join the Illinois Hands & Voices Mom’s Night Inn on January 12, 2008.

This overnight retreat begins at 2 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Naperville, Illinois. Leeanne Seaver, the Executive Director of Hands & Voices, will be presenting her own journey, “Beginning with the End in Mind: What I Know Now, I Wish I Knew Then.” There will be pizza, crafts, a couple of heart to heart discussions and some pampering. Sunday includes a full breakfast and a parent/child panel where the audience can ask questions from both perspectives. This is for Moms and Caregivers of deaf and hard of hearing children of all ages. This is an event where we connect and learn from each other.

For more information and to join the fun:

Mom’s Night Inn Flyer

Mom’s Night Inn Registration

At my Women’s Club this Sunday, my friend Jean gave me this dish towel. Need I say more?

Happy Wordless Wednesday!

My friend Tony, has just completed the LSAT and is planning to go to law school when he finishes his undergraduate degree. Tony is hard of hearing and I’ve been connecting him with deaf and hard of hearing lawyers when I find them.

Here’s one for you, Tony:

Leonard Hall, Kansas Attorney.