Sometimes I think about the things children hear simply because they are nearby.
Not because anyone intended them to hear.
Not because anyone wanted them involved.
But because some conversations happen around them rather than with them.
As a Deaf mum, I sometimes reflect on how easily my hearing children could become aware of information that isn't theirs to manage.
Sometimes it's personal.
Sometimes it's emotional.
Sometimes it's something they may not fully understand.
A child might hear part of a conversation without knowing the whole story.
They might remember it, wonder about it or have questions.
Not every overheard conversation becomes a burden.
But becoming aware of private information doesn't make a child responsible for keeping secrets, explaining adult matters or protecting someone else's feelings.
Those responsibilities belong to adults.
I can't control every conversation my children encounter. But I can think carefully about what is discussed around them and make space for questions when something concerns them.
Some things are simply not theirs to carry.
Confidentiality should never rest on a child's shoulders.
REFLECTIVE QUESTION
What responsibilities might we unintentionally place on children when they become aware of private adult conversations?
