The "P" Word

Pass.




That's the word they told us at the hearing screening yesterday. Never did such a word mean so much to me, our family, and most importantly to our baby girl.

We know she is perfect in any way and would have dealt with a hearing problem full on - as we will with any problem that will inevitably come up in her life. But to say we were relieved for her to have one less obstacle in life would be an understatement. I have been so emotional the past few weeks wondering if she would be missing out on so many wonderful things in life.

Selfish, I know, for thinking of how I would be affected by this. But I can already tell that parenting is kind of selfish - in the sense that you worry for their feelings, are saddened by their cries, and are happy for their victories. And every parenting choice and thought is based on how you feel about how they feel. Selfish in a backwards, I-really-do-care-too-much kind of way.

Things Our Beautiful Daughter Will Now Be Able to Do:
* hear my voice as I rock her to sleep after a long day
* delight in Christmas music that puts anyone and everyone in the holiday spirit - even if they do start in October
* have a book read to her at bed time without relying on vibrations, signs, or pictures
* fully appreciate the applause when she scores a winning goal, has a perfect performance, walks across the stage at graduation, and more
* have an absolutely beautiful song sum up the spot she is in life and have it inspire her
* watch a movie without subtitles
* enjoy punch lines, inflection, and raw sarcasm in jokes
* actually, just laughter
* have tears stream down her face on her wedding day as her dad takes her hand for their dance to a song that speaks to both of their hearts
* hear her soul mate tell her he loves her for the first time, hear him say "I do" on their wedding day, and hear the reassuring first cry of their babies