Wednesday, October 29, 2008

The busy people


So how is it that some of us don't know when to say "no thank you, I think I have enough on my plate at the moment, but thanks for asking"

Why is that we are so busy with all this stuff going on and then when someone asks for some help with something, we are the first to volunteer?

I tell you what sometimes my husband thinks I am nuts. He just looks at me and shakes his head, knowing trying to talk me out things is a futile effort, with his energy better invested elsewhere.

I suspect that maybe my father is to blame (hey kids can blame their parents for everything these days, right?) Seriously though my father was big on the whole "if you start something you can't let other people down by bailing out"...it started with the school sports teams and went on from there really - if you made a commitment, by heck you had to stick to it.

So here I am as wife and mother to two gorgeous teens (said with total objectivity), working full time, training and teaching karate, and then I still manage to add yet more projects to my life - I think my husband is right, maybe I am nuts.

BUT when it comes to families with children with a hearing loss, how do you say no? I know I can't. I hear that mum with fear, and heart break in her voice, when she is wondering about her child's future, how can I not spend 30-60 mins on the phone with her? When I hear about a government department or fat cat in his ivory tower making some fundamentally stupid decision that will seriously impact on the outcomes of deaf/hearing impaired kids in my state, how can I say, "no thanks, plates a bit full at the moment"? What about that child, what about their right to reach their full potential? Somehow, "I'm a bit busy at the moment" doesn't really cut it, does it?

Fortunately with the power of the internet we are making some bigger groups, educating parents on mass and in turn empowering each of them to work for their own child and perhaps even the children of others in their own communities. The sad reality is that not all parents have it in them to advocate for their children, they need people like us to be there to help them and in turn help their kids...reminds me of the lyrics of one of my favourite songs "Hands" by Jewel.




"We'll fight, not out of spite,
for someone must stand up
for what's right
because where there's a man that has no voice
there ours will go singing....."

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Ain't this the truth...

VBnBama said...

YOU GO GIRL, and as a professional volunteer (lol) I know what you mean!

tammy said...

Everyday I thank people like you, and Val, and Jodi, and Drew's mom, and Toes mom, and so many others who helped me through the "My baby is deaf and my world is crumbling down and what am I going to do next" days. It was all of you that made me realize, it's all going to be okay; not easy, but okay. And it has. I hope I can give back as everyone has given to me. My husband says to me the same as yours ... I take on too much, but I feel if I'm not busy, something's not getting done. Thanks for all your encouragement to make a difference and to continue on as an advocate not only for my son, but for those parents who need that additional hand. You rock!

BTW - I just discovered your blog and so excited to add it to my daily reading! Tammy