Rest Should Not Disappear When Access Is Needed
Sometimes I think about what rest means for children.
Not just sleeping.
Not just taking a break.
But the feeling of knowing that nothing is expected of you for a while.
As a Deaf parent, I have spent time reflecting on how responsibility can sometimes follow a child into places that were meant for rest.
An evening at home.
A family gathering.
A holiday.
A quiet moment.
The expectation may never be spoken out loud.
Yet it can still be there.
A child may know that if something is needed, they are likely to be the one who steps forward.
A child may not even question it.
It may simply become part of the background of everyday life.
The more I reflect on this, the more I believe rest is not only about having free time.
It is about being free from responsibility for a while.
Children deserve moments where they can fully put things down.
Rest should not disappear when access is needed.
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.
