mrsfran

Yes, all the time when I was an angsty teenager. I used to yell FUCK OFF at the backs of their heads.

For a while, I was convinced the whole deaf thing was an elaborate prank and would talk to them when they couldn't see me, saying things "I know it's not true! I know you can hear me!". Either wasn't an elaborate conspiracy or they're VERY good actors.

Because they are both culturally Deaf as well as physically deaf. The capital D denotes that they consider themselves part of the Deaf community, with all that entails. They go to deaf clubs, they use BSL, their friends are all Deaf. It's much more that just having no hearing.

No, I never had to wake them in the night although I was always afraid there would be a fire and I'd have to be the one to wake them. It never happened.

When I was a baby they had a flashing red lamp next to their bed which would flash when I cried and wake them. My mum said when she was really tired she'd just turn it off...

You know, I never once heard them. Deaf people have sex with the light on, they don't need to make noise.

I was always frightened there would be a fire in the night and I'd have to be the one to wake them. It never happened. We were burgled in the night once but I slept through the whole thing so it made no difference.

There were times when I had to interpret for them in situations I shouldn't have. My mum had mental health issues for a while and aged 14 I had to call her psychiatric team when she had a breakdown, and interpret what was going on while she was sectioned. That sticks in the memory.

Mostly it was more irritating that overwhelming - people speaking to me when they should be talking to my parents. Like asking an 8 year old in a restaurant "What would they like?" instead of asking them directly. My parents encouraged me to say "I don't know, you need to ask them" (and I enjoyed being that obxious :D )