POV: The family event starts in 2 hours So I did what many deaf and hard of hearing adults do before a busy social gathering. I did my best to prepare. I took my ears off and took a nap. Not because I’m antisocial. Not because I don’t want to be there. Not because I’m tired of people. Because listening takes energy. Family parties can be wonderful, but they can also mean: • multiple conversations happening at once • background noise • fast talkers • people talking from another room • lots of listening, processing, and filling in gaps Sometimes the best way for me to show up fully is to recharge first. So here I am: Blanket on. Cochlear implants off. Battery recharging. Human recharging too. If your DHH child asks for quiet time before or after a big event, it might not be avoidance. It might be their brain asking for a little extra fuel. Lots of times kids get drained playing while parents are getting things ready and when the time of the event comes, they are a MESS. Anyone...