Now You See It...

We've been reading these little Tonka board books recently. One is opposites, one is colors, and a third has vehicles. I've been showing Christopher the signs for the different things in these books. He's picked up quite a few new ones recently.

He went for a long period where he didn't want to sign back to anyone. He'd watch out of the corner of his eye, but life was too full of other interesting things to slow down and wave his hands in the air.

Since his new tenure at Purdue however (wink wink), he has reconsidered his previous view on signing. Now he is showing daddy everything that mommy shows him how to sign. He modifies a few signs that he can't quite produce yet, but he is definitely giving it the "old college try" (I couldn't resist that phrase.)

The cutest modification he makes thus far is for "I love you." He can't quite get the thumb, index and little fingers to all come up at the same time. Instead, he points that little index finger straight up into the air, with his thumb bent out to the side ever so slightly. Just so I'm clear on what he is signing, he hollers, "Love ya Mommy!" It's the greatest thing to see him at the bedroom window, signing this as I pull away...

Hey Professor! Can You Teach Me to Sign?

My dad came over one evening to watch the little guy so I could leave for work. Next thing I know, out he comes from my bedroom, sporting one of my few purses over his shoulder. The little hand comes up and he says,
"Papa, you can go home now. I'm going to work."

"You're what?!"

"I said, I'm going to work. I got a job."

"You've got a job?"

(Exasperated) "Yes, Papa, I got a job."

"Well, where do you work?"

"At Purdue."

"You work at Purdue? What do you do at Purdue?"

(gestures randomly) "I signing at Purdue."

"You do?!"

"Yes, like Mommy do."

"Well, will you teach Papa some signs?"

"Umm, no, you take my class at Purdue." (trying to make a buck already)

"Please, just one sign?"

(sighs) "Ok, just one. (signs "grandpa") "There, one sign, that's your name. It means Papa."

Cloudy, With a Chance of Learning...

A few days ago, it rained pretty hard in the evening. There was a lot of thunder and lightening as well. I was helping Christopher get ready for bed. As is the case most evenings these days, he was not being cooperative. So I used the storm outside as a way to get his mind off of getting ready for bed.
"Christopher, can you hear that?" (signing "Listen" as I asked) He cocks his head and listens. "That's rain" ("Rain). The sky lit up, and I showed him the sign for lightening. "Listen again..." There, that's thunder (Thunder).
He stood on his bed for a few minutes, listening outside. "I hear the rain!" he exclaimed signing it over and over. He called his Daddy into the room and proceeded to give him the same weather lesson, complete with signs, that I had just given to him. The next day, he told his grandparents the same weather story.

What's Up?

It's been awhile since I've posted here. So Many things have been going on in the last few months, it's hard to keep up. Here's a little recap...
Last weekend, Purdue North Central had their first community event for Deaf and Hard of Hearing children. Kids from all over came together to spend the day learning ASL, doing skits and playing games, and just being able to hang out with other people who use ASL.
When you are a Deaf or HOH child in a mainstream setting, sometimes you are the only child in the building like yourself. There is not always another child, or a classroom of other children where you can go for lessons in ASL, or another sign system. It can be pretty lonely and isolating. The PNC event gave kids the opportunity to get together with family and friends, and meet new people who also use sign to communicate.
It was a fun day, and we look forward to seeing it happen on a yearly basis. Thanks to the PNC ASL Club and Karen Donah for putting this together.