Speaking of norms...there was a little boy who came to me in tears. I knew his mother was expecting a baby soon, and I had quickly became afraid that something was wrong. The boy's entire family, including four siblings and countless aunts, uncles, and cousins, were deaf. Even their pets were deaf! So I sat the boy on my lap and asked him what was the matter. He finally confirmed my fears when he said there was something wrong with the baby. Very wrong. It shocked me so I did my best to reassure him that his mother would do everything she could to help the baby, etc. He said, but she can't. The baby is hearing! I finally realized that the family was upset because this child is not "normal." He was different. He was hearing. And the family (I went over to their house, frantic because I thought there was something seriously wrong) were upset because they didn't know what to do. The mother said, "How am I going to talk to him? He's one of them. He's hearing!"
