Children Deserve More Than Survival
Sometimes I think about the difference between coping and feeling safe.
From the outside, the two can look surprisingly similar.
A child may seem capable.
Adaptable.
Resilient.
They may learn how to manage what is around them and keep moving forward.
As a Deaf parent, I have spent time reflecting on how often strength is noticed before safety is.
People admire resilience.
And resilience can be something remarkable.
But I sometimes wonder what made that resilience necessary in the first place.
A child should not have to become strong simply because there was no other option.
A child deserves more than getting through.
More than adapting.
More than carrying what is needed to keep things going.
The more I reflect on this, the more I believe childhood should offer more than survival.
It should offer safety, belonging, and space to simply be.
Children deserve more than survival.
This reflection comes from my perspective as a Deaf parent, shaped by my family, my experiences, and the CODA voices I have listened to over time. It is not about speaking for every CODA, but about recognising a pattern that deserves care.
