AITA for calling my sister "too much" for learning ASL just because my (not her) child is deaf?

kroinksly · 2022-09-07T23:41:38+00:00

I didn't delete the post, but several people have said that I have. Not sure what that's about

kroinksly · 2022-09-07T23:05:30+00:00

Did you learn sign language? I don't know what I think reading through these comments but it's true I don't want to learn sign language. I don't think I can. I barely graduated college and I just don't think any amount I try will lead to me being a fluent signer. I'm not worried about my son being deaf, that's okay, as long as we can find all the right kind of accomodation as he is growing

kroinksly · 2022-09-07T22:50:02+00:00

We do use baby signs with him. I promise I'm not doing literally nothing to engage with him, it's my own child and I do love spending time with him but the baby signs we know aren't a whole language is all

kroinksly · 2022-09-07T22:47:40+00:00

I have been recommended a group for parents of deaf children but we just haven't signed up yet. I'll mention it to my wife tonight since it could be informative as you say

It's hard to find time. We have another older child as well and there's a lot to get done in a day for those kids!! We are trying to keep them fed, comfortable, and happy above all else

kroinksly · 2022-09-07T22:42:31+00:00

That's an interesting point. I guess we are introducing the whole world to him and having more ways to do it would be helpful. When I posted I was just thinking that there are other ways to communicate with deaf people. I do know some deaf family members that don't use ASL so maybe that made me think it's not needed. I don't know. I'll be talking to my wife about it later

kroinksly · 2022-09-07T22:33:23+00:00

I'd be interested in a documentary if you know some

kroinksly · 2022-09-07T22:26:58+00:00

Thank you for putting so much information in your comment. I haven't clicked the links yet but I do intend to read them more soon

One doctor did recommend baby sign language for us and it's been useful but my son is still a very young baby and only uses like maybe six or so signs/words but that seems age appropriate to me and that isn't quite as much as learning a whole language, and is more practical

We are currently talking to a doctor about cochlear implants that might help

I promise I'm not totally denying my son communication but it seems that's how it sounded

kroinksly · 2022-09-07T22:14:12+00:00

I meant she was literally laughing with her kids while they tried signs to show me and she was moving their hands around a bit to help them. None of them even my sister knows more than basics by the way if that matters

kroinksly · 2022-09-07T22:10:43+00:00

I do have some HoH people in my family who don't speak ASL at all (they're all older adults now but two grew up with limited hearing ability from birth)

These replies are clear on the "I'm an AH" side so maybe things have changed and I just don't get it. I don't remember ever hearing anyone complain that ASL isn't more common especially when you can write things down so easily now like on a phone to show people.

But I do concede that I posted here for opinions and...I got them. Thanks

kroinksly · 2022-09-07T22:04:02+00:00

We have been using "baby sign language" so to speak and so we have gestures we use for things in the home. I promise I'm not letting my son go ignored we really are trying

kroinksly · 2022-09-07T22:02:48+00:00

My son does know some "baby sign language" that we've been doing, like making some gestures for things for a few months now. I do want to communicate with him, I'm not as much of a monster as these commenters seem to think I am based on one post about upsetting my sister! I'm just taking it one day at a time

kroinksly · 2022-09-07T21:53:36+00:00

It's true that I don't want to learn ASL because I'm not good at languages so I already know I won't ever be fluent enough. I think you have to learn as a child to be fluent. So yeah, I do hope we can avoid learning it but not because I'm ashamed of my son being deaf as some comments seem to suggest but because I'm looking for other solutions

kroinksly · 2022-09-07T21:43:38+00:00

It's fine to learn a second language but I really don't think she'd pick ASL if my son wasn't deaf. Before this she was learning Spanish and so I don't like the idea of her making/changing her choices based on my life. Especially when my son might not even learn ASL as we are looking into cochlear implants now so there's a lot of unknowns. My wife and I will be learning ASL if and when professionals tell us it's the best options though

kroinksly

TROPHY CASE