I love you, and you, and you
The American Sign Language sign for “I Love You” is a combination of the letters “I”, “L”, and “Y” all held up at the same time. *
My “baby” girl started Preschool a few weeks ago. She is one of two hearing children in a classroom for kids who are deaf and hard of hearing. The class is bilingual–ASL and English. A few hearing students are admitted into the program to serve as speech “models”.
Although Marvel Girl has no special needs that I am aware of, I have placed her into a special education classroom. Why?
Because of my hopes and dreams for her:
- I hope she will never judge someone for the way that they talk, walk, or move.
- I hope she will form friendships based on mutual care and interests and not on looks or abilities.
- I hope she will be compassionate , helpful , sympathetic , and genuinely interested in all people.
- I hope she will be confident and friendly when she meets others, even if they look or act differently than herself.
- I hope she will know that there are many ways to communicate , and each is beautiful.
- I hope she will grow up knowing that everyone is special in their own unique way.
Sometimes talking about family values isn’t enough. Sometimes, you have to throw your children into situations where they can embrace the values for themselves.
* If you turn this sign palm down, and fly it through the air, you are now signing “airplane”!
You know that I did that with Laura. I knew her mind would grow just fine wherever it was, but I wanted to make sure to provide fertile ground for her heart.
Good choice, you.
XOXO
You are just amazing. Having two sisters with special needs, I so appreciate your awareness of differences being beautiful and special. Thank you for this post, I am sure it will touch many hearts.
So precious! I have a good friend that did the same with her daughter. Awesome!
What a wonderful post. If all mommies were as aware and compassionate as you are the world would most certainly be a better place.
LOVE the picture. Its perfect.
You are awesome. That is the best idea. The lessons she will learn are invaluable.
What a great experience this will be for your daughter! Thanks for the beautiful thought and picture.
And that is such an important thing to learn!
That’s amazing…such compassion and acceptance.
This is absolutely beautiful. Really touching!
You are one heck of a mom! 🙂
Those are pretty great reasons to me! 🙂
My son is not in a special needs classroom (I wish we had easy access to one) but just learned this sign and is LOVING it!
That is so amazing! Great shot too!
I love what you have done for your daughter.
My sister-in-law gave birth to a baby boy with Downs Syndrome. I would be lying if I said that I am not relieved that all of our children came out relatively “normal” (I hope that word normal isn’t taken wrong).
But I am so grateful that my children have the chance to love and interact with someone with such special needs.
He has been a blessing to our entire family.
This hearing impaired momma thinks you rock!
There’s more to learning than ABC’s.
Oh my goodness you are so right and what a beautiful thing you are going for your daughter.
Of course she will become all of these things, b/c you are her mother. What a fantastic justice you have done her, and I agree with the other comments, you are truly amazing 🙂
I really love that. That is awesome!
Please have a wonderful weekend!!
what an awesome idea. i look forward to hearing more about it
wonderful idea. You are a great inspiration…I’m sure she’ll be all that you hope and more.
you know what – I think that (and you) are FANTASTIC!!!! What a great idea!! And I am sure your baby girl will FLOURISH!!!!!!
So awesome. I love the ways that you encourage and challenge. Thanks, friend.
This is so beautiful! Your reasons are amazing. I’m with you 100%!
I loved this post and agree whole-heartedly.
I also agree with your girl crushes! tee hee!
Uhm… so we’re not doing the whole pointing and laughing thing anymore?… That’s the only sign language I know 😉
Beautiful post friend. ✌
What a wonderful idea! I think that’s fantastic.
I just have to share that when I taught preschool, I had a three year old who LOVED to give people the bird. I taught him the sign for I love you as a replacement. It worked…most of the time. lol
Two of my children were in the same situation for preschool And it taught them so much. I know they are more accepting of others because of it!
I have taught all of my kids sign language, and it is so amazing to watch them learn it, and share it with others. This year for Valentines, we traced the kids hands, cut them out, folded the middle two fingers down so the hand said “I love you” and glued it on hearts for their dad.
You’re an awesome mom! She is going to be a very sensitive adult when she grows up…hmmm…an SLP in the making?? Following in mom’s footsteps?:) Thank for sharing that.
I love this, what a great opportunity! Granted, I’m all hormonal right now, but this post had me teary eyed!
Hugs,
Steph
You are such a great mom and that was a fabulous gift to give your daughter.
Those are all the fabulous reasons I was so excited about C’s preschool because every class is a mix of children with all different levels of development. Some are above target, some are below. Some have special needs, others don’t. It has really helped her gain not only understanding, but empathy for those that are not the same as she.
C gets the biggest thrill out of helping the Speech Pathologist by being her model reader for the other kids. It has been great motivation to kick her reading up another level so she can (show off) help more at school. 😉
This is a great thing. We need more schools with programs like this.
Wonderful! You are raising wonderful children who are going to grow up to be compassionate and caring!
You are such a wonderful mom and person!! 🙂
What a great list!!! You are an amazing Mommy!!!
My son is in a similar program that is Spanish. I think fluency in ASL is wonderful and so very needed. I wish I knew it. She’ll be a valued asset.
That is a very cool idea. Glad that she was chosen to attend the class. My 3 youngest used signs before thy could talk … love the ability to talk without using vocal words.
That’s great – your daughter will be much more accepting of those who are ‘different’ to ‘normal’ people by being in such a program.
And it’s great you’re encouraging it. When I was about 9 I found an old calendar which had, on one of the pages, diagrams showing how to do the alphabet in sign language. I taught myself how to do it, but when I showed my parents they were like “Well what would you want to do that for.” And my freinds were the same. I thought that if I ever met a deaf person I would have some way of communicating, but no one seemed to care. Sad.
That’s wonderful. If there were more understanding of differences in this world, it would be a better place all around.
I send my 4 year old to a pre-k that specializes in assisting children with disabilities. He sees them all the same… they’re all his friends. Just the way it should be.
I would love for my children to go to such a class.
That is just amazing! My kids and I learned some together when they were small and my oldest son knows sign fairly well as he had a couple of classmates in high school who signed and he was one of the few who could talk to them.
Wow – talk about putting your beliefs in to practice… She’ll do wonderfully, I’m sure.
What a wonderful way to teach and inspire your children. You are a wonderful mother, and your child is blessed to have you.
Do you know how much I love that you are sending to an ASL school? The things to learn there! Life-skills, for sure.
What an awesome idea! Truly inspiring.
I think it’s a wonderful thing you do!
I honestly didn’t know the ‘I love you’ sign mixed the three letters. But it definitely makes sense!
I think it’s amazing that you’re putting her in a special needs class. She will benefit in many ways, and the other children will benefit as well. I’ve actually been reading about that type of interaction in regard to development and teaching…. amazing!
Thanks for sharing!
That is wonderful! I am sure she will grow up being a special lady!
My children have been in the same situation and I love it. Although both were admitted with speech issues, so far they have come away with much greater understanding and an ability to befriend others with difficult challenges. There is no fear involved. I really feel like they have been blessed by their experiences and always will. Oh, and when you locate the source of the super powers, please share!
Too many parents worry that if they place their children in classrooms with children with disabilities they will “pick up undesirable behaviors”. I am so glad to hear so many people who understand the benefits and beauty of classrooms with children of all abilities learning and growing together!
You rock. This is an awesome post and you are so wise to make this choice for your sweet girl. ASL is such a beautiful language and your sweet one will have an amazing opportunity to form bonds that other kids miss out on.