I have an only son who is hearing all grown up. He had problems with his speech because I tried to talk to him in my Deaf accent which I did not know that. Someone told me that my son mispronounced his words wrong because I signed and talked with him that way. When he was out in public, he was very embarassed being in public with me being deaf and refuse to sign in front of people like at the fast food place, etc. He would only sign at home, but not out in public. I think now that he understand where I am coming from as a Deaf individual. Most CODAs really don't understand what is deaf like with their parent or parents who are deaf. They have never been deaf. Sometimes they think they are deaf, too, but in a different perspective as a hearing CODA. They are in two worlds between hearing and deaf. Like me, I am in two worlds as native and white as I don't know which one I should have for my heritage. Now I am very proud of being a modern Deaf Native, not traditionalist. Just a few traditional ways that I can follow with the four directions, smudging, study our native history, and trying to go along with the hearing traditionalists that sometimes help me understand their way. We have lost a lot over five hundred years or more. But we learn mostly from the Elders which is very important to help us cope with our identity. I am helping my son understand my way as a Deaf individual and he knows that. 
