Children Should Not Feel Permanently Needed
Sometimes I notice how easily expectations can become part of everyday life.
Not because anyone talks about them.
Not because anyone plans them.
They simply settle into routines.
As a Deaf parent, I have spent time reflecting on what it might feel like for a child who is always aware that they may be needed.
A phone rings.
A question needs answering.
Something needs explaining.
The moment may seem small on its own.
But when a child is always listening out, always ready, always aware that they might be called upon, that readiness can become its own kind of responsibility.
A child may not describe it as pressure.
It may simply become normal.
The more I reflect on this, the more I believe childhood should include space to switch off.
To play.
To rest.
To simply be a child.
Childhood should hold rest, not constant readiness.
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.
