It's hard to be a parent!

Today was a reflection day. Today I was at the plant store(imagine that) and I walked up to a lady that was working and watering the flowers. I asked if she could help me. She turned around and pointed to her ears and mumbled "I can't hear." I paused and we both stood there for a moment. The lady took out a notepad and began to write to me. I wrote back which plant I was looking for and she took me there. I wrote on her pad that my daughter was hearing impaired as well. She became very excited and wanted to know if I signed. I wrote that I knew only basic baby sign at this point. Colin was with me and was absorbing it all. She wrote on her pad, "Encourage her to be involved in both deaf and hearing worlds." Colin and I turned to her and signed 'thank you'........and for a moment I actually felt adequate. At least I was able to communicate that. I was shaken.....Colin was pondering. I felt helpless in that moment.....I could not communicate effectively or the way I wanted to with this lady. Is this how is might be with Amelia? I often wonder and worry about how will we communicate with her when she is at the pool , at the beach, and/or places where she cannot wear her hearing aids. We have held off on signing at this point b/c we want her to become a auditory-verbal child. Some "experts" believe that if you sign early it is like a crutch for the hearing impaired. Still this experience today gave me many emotions. Back in the day there were no implants and even today some people choose to remain deaf. And her words about letting Amelia be in both worlds was emotional too. It is hard to be a parent. We have to make this decision for Amelia and maybe one day she will choose to be a part of the "deaf world" or maybe she will not. It's hard making decisions for someone else's life. It is hard being a parent.....but today I thought about those parents that spend their whole life trying to communicate with their child that has down's syndrome, or autism, or those that try to save their kids from drugs. I just want to be able to communicate with my child. In the end........it's hard being a parent but it's worth it!
Scarlett
p.s.- Amelia is having surgery on this Monday. She is getting tubes in her ears and her tongue clipped. We will have to post afterwards.