Children Should Not Become the Safety Net
Sometimes I think about what children notice when adults are trying to solve problems.
They may not understand every detail.
But they often notice stress.
Confusion.
Uncertainty.
As a Deaf parent, I have reflected on how quickly children can become aware that something is not working, even when nobody explains it to them.
When communication breaks down or support disappears, children can find themselves standing closer to the problem than they should be.
Not because anyone intended it.
But because children are often present when adults are trying to find a way through.
Sometimes they witness it.
Sometimes they absorb it.
Sometimes they quietly carry it.
The adults may be focused on fixing what has gone wrong.
The child may simply be trying to feel safe.
The truth I keep returning to is that children should never have to become the safety net when support falls away.
Every child deserves protection when the world feels uncertain.
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.
