A Deaf Mom Shares Her World

Once Upon A Time… I Started Blogging

On a fine summer day, two years ago in July, I sat down in front of some blogging software. Blogger, it was called. “Why don’t I start my own blog!” I said to myself. I figured it would be nothing more than an online journal where I could entertain my family and my friends.

Blogger prompted me to select a name to be part of the www.—–.blogspot.com domain. I wanted something unique, something easy to remember and something that would stand out.

“Putzworld!” I said to myself. “There’s not too many people out there with a last name like Putz!”

And that’s how www.putzworld.blogspot.com was born.

Ok, so that wasn’t exactly a brilliant move back then, but you have to admit, it was memorable, wasn’t it? Who forgets a Putz?

In the last two years, I’ve been having fun with this blog. I’ve been able to share bits and pieces of my life, such as my family’s story of discovering a deaf gene, or how about some waterskiing memories and the fun of raising my kids. When I had the drive-thru window closed in my face and service denied at the Bolingbrook Steak ‘n Shake, I shared the frustration here on this blog and it spread to many other websites and blogs.

Along the way, the blog became a little bit of something more. I met so many wonderful people, both online and face-to-face as a result of this blog. Every morning, I get the chance to Twitter to hundreds of people. It’s like having a virtual water cooler conversation– something that I don’t normally have access to when conversing in groups without an interpreter.

The blog opened up some writing opportunities for me. I worked for a writing company for a year, dipping my toes into a whole new kind of writing. I went to work as a copywriting freelancer for a real estate company, and lasted through just one project and a tiny grammar mistake before I was kindly “let go.” I still see that real estate company looking for copywriters all the time.

Last fall, out of the blue, I was contacted by an employee of a new, soon-to-be launched website, Disaboom. Would I come and write for them, they wanted to know. I’ve been writing for Disaboom since they launched and I regularly write feature articles for the site. Having my own blog also lead to writing for Parenting Squad and the Chicago Moms Blog. My recent article at Chicago Moms Blog, Camp is Over, It’s Back to the Real World, was syndicated in several newspaper websites. I also have another blog that focuses on deaf and hard of hearing people in different Jobs, Careers and Callings.

So here it is, two years later and I love writing more than ever and I plan to continue this blog for many more years. So I’m turning to my readers to learn more about you. What brings you here? What keeps you coming back? Is there something you’d like me to share more of?

Let’s talk!

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Tags: Uncategorized by DeafMom
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Yes, It’s My Birthday–You Want to See My Present?

A special thank you goes to all of you for the many Tweets, emails and Facebook comments that everyone left today. Terry Starbucker even sang “Just the Way You Are–” virtually, of course. I’m a sucker for that song.

The hubby apparently forgot my birthday early this morning before he went to work. He remembered around 9:40 this morning, when he sent a text message. He came home for lunch and left a nice note in front of the computer. My friend Beth took me out to lunch and we did dinner with the in-laws.

This morning, I was tweeting about my favorite birthday cake, the Red Velvet cake. That cake is a staple in my family and my Mom has made it for many, many birthdays among my siblings and the grandkids. I promised Genevieve Hinson a peek at it:

Those of you who read this blog faithfully (what do you mean you don’t? Subscribe, baby!) know that I bought myself the ultimate birthday present recently. For those of you who don’t know, let me tell you about my present. It’s a big, gleaming hunk that I can wrap my legs around and ride. It has different speeds and even accessories that allow me to decide when it goes fast and when it goes slow.

Oh no, no, no–get your head out of the gutter.

Here’s my new toy:

I figure it’s a lot more satisfying than having an affair. John Edwards should have bought one.

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Tags: It's All About Me, Uncategorized by DeafMom
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Embracing the Identity of Being Deaf and Hard of Hearing

When I was growing up, I wasn’t comfortable being hard of hearing. I hid my hearing aid under my hair and as soon as I arrived home from school, I tossed it on a ledge. I never touched the hearing aid during the summer. You’d almost never find me asserting myself by telling someone, “I’m hard of hearing, I need you to face me when you talk.” Only among close friends, would I have the courage to say, “What? Repeat that, would ya?”

So what happens when you’re not comfortable being deaf or hard of hearing? You hide it. You do everything possible to “fit in” and “look normal.” You develop an impressive arsenal of social bluffing skills. You nod along in conversation, figure out when to put in a thoughtful, “hmmm,” and ask questions that might lead you to a clue in the topic that is firing back and forth in a group.

When I became deaf at the age of nineteen, I changed in many ways. I learned American Sign Language and discovered many new deaf and hard of hearing friends for the first time in my life. Slowly, I tapered off the bluffing. I learned to take pride in being deaf, to be open about it, to rejoice in this whole journey. I can’t even begin to describe the differences. For one thing, you’d never catch me showing off my hearing aids on public television. Yes, those are my blue earmolds on ABC– aren’t they purty?

I love stories like this one: Social Bluffing, by Katie. In her post, Katie shares:

I have decided to be more honest with myself and with people I don’t know re: my hearing impairment. I’ve decided that it is perfectly OK to tell the cashier, the waitress or whomever I’m speaking to that I have a hearing impairment, and could they please talk slower and speak up for me?

and:

In my experience, I’ve also discovered that when you are honest with people and tell them why they need to repeat what they said or word it differently for you, they are more than accommodating in the request. I am learning to give people more credit than I did in the past, which has allowed me a more positive view of the world.

In her guest post, Katie shares that she recently began this journey of becoming hard of hearing just a few years ago. So taking the action to assert herself is part of the path of learning to become comfortable about being hard of hearing and getting the communication access that is needed. Little by little, confidence comes from taking baby steps and then one day, you find yourself asserting your communication needs with relative ease.

Just the other day, I received this comment sent via the contact me form on this blog. I received permission to share it here:

Hi there Karen

I am Elias and I am 34yo from way down under

All my life i was in denial of my impairment and sort of closed myself from the deaf community. It wasn’t until a personal crisis that forced me to take a deep look inside myself.

I looked up on the internet for inspiration and help and i came across Stephen Hopson and it was what i needed. I was amazed to learn he is a pilot and motiovational speaker. The more i read about his life the more inspired i became. He woke me up so much and realised that I can do more for myself. I realise i finally knew what i wanted to do for myself and the world.

Then i came across your blog and for the past few months i read as many as i can from your blogs. All i can say is wow.

I wish to say a big thank you for showing me that it is okay to be deaf. I found your blog through Stephen
When i decided to check out your blog, i was amazed by your life experiences. Thank you for showing me that it’s okay to be deaf.

I plan to enter the world of Blogging hopefully soon.

Again thank you!

Elias

Thank you, Elias, for sharing your journey with me. I look forward to reading about your venture into the blogging world.

You’re right, Elias, it’s ok to be deaf.

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