I have just reviewed this entire thread, and have found a total of 14 posts where a poster has disagreed with another's opinion, but has managed to say, in different ways, "I understand what you are saying, and it is valid." That has come exclusively from deaf posters. I have yet to find a post where a hearing parent has responded by validating a deaf person's perspective even if they disagree with it. What I have found, is several posts from hearing parents telling the deaf posters that their perspective is wrong. That, my friends, is what causes the problems and the disagreement, and the defensiveness. That is the same pattern I have seen for years repeating itself right here in black and white. If you, as a hearing parent, want your feelings validated and listened to, you must, must, must do the same for the other side. If you don't, you are creating yourself the situation that makes you feel rejected, by rejecting the validity of another's perspective and forcing them to approach you from the defensive position.
