Category: Parent Talk
Hi guys. I was at the doctor's office one day and she asked me when was my last period and I gave her the date it started. Then she says "Christina are you sexually active?" I thought "Why the hell would she ask me such a question after I've been going to her for so many years." Then I answered yes and shesays "Are you using any protection?" I answered no and she asked me if I am trying to get pregnant. I explained to her that my BF and I discussed it together and we both agreed to have at least one kid or two. So she's like why would you wanna do this to yourself? Don't you know taking care of babies is a lot of work? I'm like and? Blind people can raise kids I have counselors who are blind and they have children of their own. I also told her that my BF had to be the man of the house when his mother had to work 2 jobs. So he had to watch and take care of most of his brothers and sisters when they were little and he knows how to raise kids. How do you all feel about this? Do you think she was right for bringing this subject up to me? In my opinion I think she was wrong for even think this way. I feel as though blind people have lives as sighted people and that includes becoming parents.
I think my answer to this question is pretty obvious, seeing as I'm about to have Wildebrew's baby :-). Sure, there will be challenges, but aren't there always? And honestly, I simply can't imagine anyone in the world I'd rather have as the father of my baby, blind or not.
I honestly don't see a problem with blind peopel becoming parents. I think it makes no difference whether a parent is blindor sited.
Oh and then she asked me questions like who's gonna be the father, how will we take care of the baby if he or she gets sick, and who will buy the baby formula and clothes and stupid things like that. Duh! We both get a check every month! Of course there is a such thing as wellfare and wick! And if the baby gets sick, transportation works really good. I mean I'm like come on doc give me a break! I know she means well and she is a good doc indeed and I don't wanna leave her cause I can't find no other doc like her, but she fails to realize that I have a life just like any other human being in this world. She may act like my mother but I won't give her the right to make decisions for me. That's all up to me. Whatever it takes to make us happy and stay together that's what we'll do. Oh and I asked her if she thinks I'm pregnant and she said no but I'll still do what I wanna do regardless. This is my body and I am the one to decide what's best for me.
isn't it amusing that some blind parents are better parents than a good amount of sighteds? honestly!
I agree I myself plan on having a baseball team.
Awwww how sweet Susanne you had wildebrews viking flesh sword in you! And to the blind person, fuck no you shouldn't be allowed to have a baby. I don't give a shit if your blind, what pisses me off is the fact that you assume there's wellfair, god damnit make something of your self before having a kid, at least wildebrew has a job and Susanne is in school, people like me piss you the fuck off I don't want to pay for your kids because your to fucking lazy to get your own god damn job.
Well, I don't think its an issue of being blind or sighted. Its hard to say in a few words what makes a "good parent." As far as your physician's questioning your ability to be a parent, the reality is that there are many ignorant medical professionals. You need to decide if you want to continue your lreationship with him or her. I might not have been so blunt as the last post, but I tend to agree. Another concern is perpetuating generations of people living off the state. We all pay for it one way or another.
Lou
Two things. Firstly there is absolutely no good reason why blind people shouldn't have children if they so desire. Indeed one of the best parents I know happens to be a blind Mother who does pretty much all the caring for her Son while his Dad works. That isn't to say that it'll be an easy thing to do. Quite the opposite in fact, I'm sure that it wouldn't be. But if you are aware of the extra issues involved with being a blind parent then why the hell not?
Secondly I'm moving this into the 'Parent talk' category as I think it is more suited.
Thanks. Dan.
Actually, Cristina, don't immediately disregard The Roman Battle Mask's post just because it's framed in his characteristic kindness and sensitivity :-)--he's got a few good points. What worries me about your idea of becoming a parent is not that you're blind, but that it seems to me that you're just sort of letting yourself skid toward parenthood. Why aren't you guys either using protection or seriously preparing for pregnancy, whatever that entails? I'm not sure it's such a good idea to just wait and see what happens, unless you are absolutely prepared for parenthood. I'm not saying that you're not, but it's a big deal. Are you old, experienced and mature enough to take responsiblity for another life? Is your relationship stable enough to withstand the pressures, and more importantly, do you both want to withstand the pressures together? Have you had enough time for yourself? Do you know where your life is going and how the baby is going to fit in that plan? What kind of life will you be able to offer him or her, and yourself with him or her? What are you teaching by example? Don't get me wrong--I don't really know you, and I'm not implying you're not ready, but the point is that there are so many things a person should consider before giving up birth control--and from your post I'm not sure you have considered them.
I agree with many of the things said. I think welfare's a resource for those who found themselves on hard times (like suddenly losing jobs and having an impossible time finding one). Getting government cheques is barely enough for one person to live on, much less three. And the questions are valid: who would take the baby to the doctor when s/he's sick? Do you REALLY want to take a sick baby/child on a bus?
I think that is absolutely outraging that some people think blind people can't be as good of parents as sited ones. I've looked after babies and kids for years and am 2 months away from having my own with James, AKA Grunshaw. In some respects, blind or visually impaired people make better parents. I think sometimes they're more attentive, and they baby proof their house more, just to name a few. I agree that you shouldn't rely on wellfair and government funding. It annoys me when people feel they can just get public funding and not have to do a darn thing. Wouldn't you want a job to have some self respect and pride?
So, I think there should be no discrimination between blind and sited parents. What matters is the love you give your child and taking care of them. Who cares how you do it!
Lizzy
Okay, I'm 44 and have two adult children. I raised them alone, as I was divorced when they were 5 and 2. I agree with Suzanne's points. Is it a question of blindness or age? Christina, how old are you? And yes, your doctor should ask you those questions. If your mature enough to have a baby, you better be damn sure, you can't drop it off at the pound when the going gets tough and it will get tough.
Carla
I personally applaud a doctor who is caring and frank enough to ask those questions, not just of a blind person, but of anyone who is young and likely to be in a relationship. It's questions you darn well should be asking yourself, not because of the blindness but because once you have a baby it's hard to impossible for you to make big changes to your life, to get education, career, all those things. It takes a lot of energy and persistance, especially when you're blind, you have to be more dedicated than a sighted person befcause you have to convince people that you are as good or better for the job, you have to work harder at school, scan, read at night, with a baby I honestly don't see how you could do it. So, do you want to live of wellfare or lousy jobs for the rest of your life or do you want to get education, explore the world, have some fun for yourself and settle down first before you start planning your private baseball team. Those things may not be for all, granted, but you better damn well make sure. I think in your situation what you're doing is pretty stupid, to be honest, babies are cute and they're the best thing in the world, but only if you're ready for them.
I didn't really feel ready until after 25 and now at 28 I honestly think I have the capacity, job and job prospects if something goes wrong with my current job to be a good daddy. The baby also deserves parents who can give him or her a good upbringing, travel and so on and one should do whatever possible to be able to provide one's baby with such things.
As for blindness, being blind is just one attribute of aperson, it may make them better in some ways, worse in others, it may depend on the person. I have no doubts some blind people make awesome parents, I'm also sure some make lousy parents, blindness alone is just a one out of many things that determine how good of a parents you will be, your satisfaction with yourself, your life, your job, the money you make, how preapred you are, how stable your relationship is, how accepting your families are of the baby are as important, if not more important than your blindness.
So hurry up and get those condoms.
cheers
-B, who is about to be a proud daddy himself.
*applauds B* THanks so much! I wanted to say that stuff... but I was kinda out of it when I made my post. Congrats on the baby!
Okay I am blind and a Mom of a 21 month old. I stay at home and Daddy works so I am the main care giver. I couldn't agree more with Texas Red, Suzanne and Wildabrew. Being financially ready is a good thing not struggling from pay check to pay check or living off of the government. I do not what your situation is G. but think long and hard about what kind of life your future child might have. Love isn't the only thing you can depend on to get him/her through life. As for the doctor. I also aplaud her for talking to you about that, if in fact to get you to think about what you are doing. If you got all defensive with her she probabbly felt even more justified with her lecture. So any expectant Moms feel free to write me if you need pointers and Dads as well.
Wow sorry all for the botched spellings in that post. Hope it made sense.
I agree with b. I also think all blind parents just make as good as parents as sighted ones.
Troy
Firstly, I just don’t get this notion that “blind people often make better parents”. Wherever does this perception come from? Being blind or sighted has nothing what so ever to do with whether you will be a good or bad parent, being a good or bad parent has to do with how you relate to your children, how you bring them up, I could go on and on but the list is endless.
I do agree that the gp was perhaps a little tactless in her approach, however I don’t think that having a baby is something that should be taken lightly. A child is a lifetime commitment, and a baby doesn’t come with instructions, they’re hard work. Are you ready for sleepless nights, going night after night after night being woken on the hour every hour when the baby wants feeding, obviously this doesn’t happen to everyone but it certainly does to some. Are you ready for colic, when your baby screams every evening between the hours of 6 and 12 with no let up and no way of consoling him, are you ready to have to put most of your money into caring for the baby, having to buy new clothes, toys, high chair etc as the baby grows up? Are you ready to give up your social life because once you have a baby you won’t have a social life. Yes you can go out and get babysitters, but you won’t be able to do that every night, once a month if you’re lucky maybe. Suddenly your childless friends won’t have much in common with you any more because you have a baby and they don’t, especially as you’re still so young and most of them probably don’t intend to have children for a while. I have a son who will be 4 next month and he is my world. I live for him and I would die for him, but it took me till I was 27 to decide that that was what I wanted in my life, and even though I was financially and (I thought) emotionally prepared for having a baby, nothing in the world can prepare you for what it’s really like until you hold that baby in your arms. It’s about more than having someone to love and who will love you, it’s about making the right decisions, making the right lifestyle choices for your baby, will he/she have a nice home, two parents who love him/her, financial stability, a good upbringing, parents who will drop everything for him/her. There are so many many more considerations as a child grows up, education for instance and so the list goes on. People come up to me now and tell me what a lovely little boy I have, he is well mannered, very popular in his preschool class which is in part unfortunate as it’s costing me a fortune for all the birthday presents to take along to the parties he has been invited to. I believe that the reason he is like that is because of the way I brought him up, and as a parent that makes me feel incredible. But could I have done the same job when I was just 20? Somehow I don’t think so.
It has nothing to do with whether you are blind or sighted, it has to do with whether you are ready to have a baby, and to be honest I don’t think you are.
Wow Sugarbaby you rule! I too don't think blindness makes someone a better Mom or Dad. Sight or blind some ppl have it some don't as far as parenting goes. I do however think being blind gives you the chance to have a better bond with your children because we are so much more hands on then a majority of sighted individuals. My husband is sighted and he is always that he appreciates the bond between my son and myself and what a great Mom I am. He actually does say that me being blind makes me a better Mom, but I just say nah because I don't know what else to say.
Well, what can i say? All the questions that your doctor asked you were valid. It wasn't that she was discriminating against you, but she was concerened for you. You noted in your post that you've been with this physician for some time, now and that probaly means that sh'es seen you through all your medical troubles. in that light, take her advice.
Also, I can totally understand when they, meaning all the moms and dads, have said that it is crucial that you be stable--in all aspects. I knew someone whose stepdad gambled away a great deal of the family's money. This caused a tremendous amount of stress in her life. Her mother went through depression, and she's now left with scars, emotional ones, of the various fights taht her parents have had in the past.
So, please reconsider. This has nothing to do with your blindness, but it has everything to do with a future life that could be directly affected by your decision. If not for your sake, do it for him or her.
Iris
I would agree that your doctor is probably just concerned for you. I know I would feel offended at first by some of the questions as well, but if you've been with her for a long time, she's probably just asking out of concern/curiosity and not meaning to offend. As for wanting to become a parent, everyone else has pretty much said it, just make sure your really emotionally as well as physically ready.
Hi
I think that there are a few crucial underlying issues which will have caused/contributed to your outrage.
firstly, and most importantly, you are not happy about being blind. You have major issues about being blind, and you feel, like many other VI people, that you have to prove yourself 'normal', and better than normal. you *and by you, I mean the retorical you* feel like you must do things quicker, bigger and better than the person before you. This is one of the reasons you want a baby so much; to prove to yourself and others that you can me a mum and you can do it well. However, a baby won't solve this. Because you have these issues, you're going to be anxious, angry, frustrated, etc, every time something goes wrong, and you will project that onto your baby. You will grow to dislike your child every time they fail, should that be physically or academically. that is not good. Having a child won't solve this problem. self confidence and acceptance of your condition will.
Secondly, your comment 'whatever it takes to stay together, that's what we'll do' caught my eye. Are you having this child to cement your relationship with you boyfriend? If so, let me share something. A cousin of mine had a girlfriend whom he wished to leave. she decided to have a child, to keep the relationship together. he left anyway. a second time, the same thing happened, and he left. Now, she is left with two children, no money and constant depression. That could happen to you.
Make sure you are ready for this child. If you aren't prepared, and you can't resolve these issues, don't have one. you will cause it's life to be a misery.
Everyone has all ready covered it, but I still feel compelled to throw in my two sents and do so bluntly and consicely, paraphrasing everyone else's thoughts, as I shared them my self while reading this topic. Having a baby won't help your relationship. If it is at the point where you were even considering having a baby to cement it then you should not have a baby. The doctor is full of shit if they are questioning your potential skill as a blind parent, however I feel that they might have been questioning your potential skill as a parent period, blindness aside. If that was the case then I am afraid to say that I agree with them. If you are thinking of relying on wellfare then you have some major issues that you need to work out now, way before bringing another life into this world. Wellfare provides a suckey life at best for one individual, for a mother and baby it provides a hellish exhistence just barely holding on, with lots of stress, not enough food, not enough money not enough of anything accept debt, hunger, frustration, anger and hate. Please, please I'm begging you, don't get pregnant at this stage in your life, for your sake, for your family's sake, for your boy-friend's sake and for the sake of the child or children you might some day have.
I don't applaud Christina's doctor in this situation at all. I honestly don't think she would have been asking so many questions of a sighted woman whishing to have a child. It would just be assumed that the woman knew raising a child was hard work, etc. If this doctor did ask all these nosy questions of a sighted woman, she would be outraged, just as Christina has the right to be. I guess if this particular doctor made it a habit of condescending to all her patients in this way, then she didnt' treat Christina any differently. However, as I say, from my experience with doctors, they would not ask all these questions of a sighted woman. Besides, even if they are valid questions, it sounds as if this doctor's tone was very condescending, and very against having a child. A lot of how questions are asked is tone of voice, which we'll never know, since we werent' there.
And no, I don't think whether you are blind or sighted effects how good of a parent you are. Many, many other variables go into being a good parents, and I don't think vision is one of them. Blind parents may have to do some things a bit differently, but so what? That's how we live our lives every day, even if we're not parents.
I see your point
sister Dawn, but we only have Medical Queen's word on how it really went so who really knows if she was asking out of concern or just doesn't think a blind person should have a kid. And if the doctor asked the sighted woman those questions and she got defensive then honestly do you think that sighted woman is really ready to have a kid either?
It's totally fine for a blind person to have a child, but I personally want my husband to be perfectly sighted, well not perfectly, but you know what I mean.
If people want to live off welfare let them. It is tight but some people can manage it. I don't think it's the way to go, but whatever works for people. Back in the spring I went to my doctor and she asked me the same questions and she didn't want me to have a baby. She actually told me that because she was afraid that the baby would be blind too. She refused to treat me. So instead of making huge deal about it and filing a descrimination suit, I just found another doctor. He is a sweet doctor and is willing to help me. I've been off of birth control for a year and a half now and nothing has happened. So if it doesn't happen soon, the doctor is going to try something else he said. But yeah, some doctors are just crazy and don't think blind people can have a child or in my case they didn't want me to have a blind baby...which wouldn't have happened because my blindness is from a brain tumor...it's not hereditary. But anyway. I think if anybody, blind or sighted, wants a baby they should be able to have one or adopt or whatever it may take.
ok, here's my bit for what it's worth. you can be as prepared mentally and financially, you can have the most stable relationship, the nicest home in the best neighbourhood, and the best job to maintain it all, but it's nothing if you don't love the kid. Now some of you will read this and think I'm stating the obvious, but it's so obvious that people don't even consider it. Anything could happen to you at any time, and all that matters at the end of the day, the only thing that has any impact on any of us when we grow up, is if we felt we were loved as a child or not. if you do your best all of the time what ever the cercomstances for your kids, then that's all that matters at the end of the day. Just make sure your truely sure that having a baby is what you want, and what your partner wants before you do anything, and stay on birth control till that discision is made.
Ok, let first start by saying I am a mother of a 14 year old, and most of that I was a lone. The thing that worrries me is the bf, and not husband facter. It is a very unstable relationship to be bringing a baby into. I was with my boy friend for five years, and we even bought a home together. and six months into it and the baby was born I was left alone. As for leaving on the stat, if it can be helped I wouold not do it. now if it is the case of didn't want to have a baby and you were usuing protection then really look at everything before just bring it it home. my first one I gave up just because of that. I wantted him to have a better life then I could give him nyself. I went through privet adoption.
I hope that helps. Now for the Doctor asking all the questions, it has come toa time they have to to make sure it is not going to be another baby found in the trash later, and dead some were because it got tuff.
Hi Chriss. I am the parent of two adult sons. As in anything, there's pros and cons to this, and I speak from experience. First the cons:
No matter what people say, having a parent with a disability is not easy for the kid. But kids are resilent, and adapt easily. One thing I had a problem with was transportation. I had to figure out ways to go with my kids by myself. It was easy when they got older, but it was a nightmare when they were small. One you can pretty much handle, but two, that's a different story. lol. Unless you can hold your toddler, if you're by yourself in a store or other public place, you better figure out a way to hold on to him/her. I finally decided to hold my kids while in a public place if I was by myself. Another thing was homework. Unless you can get text books in braille or digitally, there needs to be someone there to help them.
Now the pros:
It's fun being a parent. Reading them stories, playing with them, buying them Christmas presents. And when you get older, and they're adults, they'll be the best buddy you ever had. Why? Because they know you better than anyone besides your spouse or pardner. So, be happy if you're pregnant. If so, and you have questions, e-mail me. I'll send you my address in a private qn if that's what you want to do. Now, for my advice, all I ask is you name it after me. No, just kidding.
dl
ps. today, blind people with kids have it a lot easier than I did. And there's absolutely no reason why you shouldn't be a parent. Those were the best times of my life, and being a grand parent is fun too.
If you're finnancially stable, in a good relationship, have a roof over your heads, and you both (and here, I place heavy emphasis on the word), want a child, I think you should do it. Nothing you do can actually prepare you for the sleep deprivation, the diaper changes, the crying, or anything else that parenting brings, but if you know anyone who is blind, and has raised children, ask them for ideas and helpful hints. I would recommend getting a DVD called Dunston's Baby Language. This person from Australia has had a very sharp memory for sound and did a study of at least a thousand babies from around the world, and found that infants from zero to three months old make the same five sounds. (see DVD for details or type the title mentioned above on the Internet). It might ease the stress. Good luck.
not exactly sure how to spell her name, but I think it's Persilla Dunston if you'd rather just type her name in instead
I've always wanted to be a parent and bugger my visual impairment, almost since I could walk and I got my first dolls, pram, even if that was my Aunt's old doll's pram because mum was bringing me up alone with hardly any money coming in, other than the support from my Grandparents and the money she'd earned while she had her job as a nurse in SCBU at Ashford Hospital and my dad was still around. When I was 18 months old however, my parents, marriage broke down and I started the Terrible Twos big style and the happy little baby disappeared and I developed my mum's incredibly two-faced and stubborn personality. That's about the only thing that'll really, truly make my blood pressure rocket when I become a parent for the first, second or even the third or fourth times, when the Terrible Twos kick off or the terrible teens kick off, lollol. Apart from that though, those who know me well and of course my family think I'll do all right as a mother and they'll be there to support me through any hard times.
Jen.
Let me say first that it is quite posable for a blind person to be a parent, I should no, boath my parent's are totely blind. And now this topic has made me think about it, I actuley had a better childhood then half the sighted kids I new. Things had to be delt with in diffrent ways then the other people on the block would do it, but they still got, and still get dun nun the less. It's all like all these other posters have sed, you need to be reddy in all respects, and you need to make sure you really like kids before you stop takeing birthcontrol. Because little babys don't have little buttens in there heds to just be shut off, you have to deel with it because you are the parent. Like someone has sed, there is no pownd for babys, and it's elegel to abandom them in the trash because you got into something that is to old for you.
I do disagrey with the person that says that you have to be a sertent age to be a good parent. I no people that would make much better parents blind or sighted at 14 then people that are in there 20's or 30's. It really depends on the person and there ability to cope, and onnistly, Medical queen, you have growing up to do before you even considder this topic again.
Tracey
way to go tracey!!!!! i have two kids who are graduating from college this year. both my husband and i are blind. caring, commitment, a strong sense of confidence, commonsense and a sense of humor are necessary before having a child should even be contemplated. My kids have grown up to be responsive and responsible citizens of my home, community and the world. When they were little, there were many times, when it would have been easy to throw up my hands and walk away. My husband was always there and still is to take up the slack and fill in the gaps. If a ring a date or even better if the deed has not been done after the birth then it is very easy for one of you to say "it's not my problem darlin' you deal with it." Unfortunately after this happens, it is too common for the child to end up in foster care. Babies needs are not for fools or weaklings. Raising kids well is the most dificult, challenging, and ultimately rewarding adventure we can undertake.
Amen Turricane!
Wo, to baby girl j. You are a shallow individual. I am sorry, but you really are. I want to have a perfectly sighted boyfriend before I have a baby? What the fuck is up with that? Does that mean that you expect him to do all of the work, or what? Oy vay. I just can't imagine what is going through your head girl. To another poster; I agree with you, if your doctor refused to continue treating you because they were afraid of you having a blind baby then you did the right thing by getting out. It's not just a matter of not wanting to make a big deal and bring a lawsuit, it's more about the fact that if the doctor feeols this way, do you want them treating you anyway, even if you could eventually convince them to or force them to with legal action? I mean, seriously, a doctor like that might try to sabitage you to miscarry or to have child protective sieze the child from you the instant it is born. If I had a doctor give me that reaction I'd run and run fast, that and send them a big pick-up bag full of Paisley droppings for their mailbox. lol To another poster; you absolutely do not need a sighted helper or the child's textbook in Braille to help them with their homework. Jesus Christ on toast. If your child is reading a text book then they can read you whatever they are having difficulty with. "Mommy I don't know this word." "Ok, honey, read me the sentence, the rest of the words around it." "Ok, um, it says, When he bit into the apple he noticed that it had a, um, that's the word I don't know, taste." "Alright, can you spell it?" "P e c u l i a r." "Ok, sound it out." "Pee coo, peecoo, leer, peecooleer." "Really close, peculiar." "Peculiar?" "Right. Now do you know what it means?" "Nope." "Ok, figure it out in context, just guess, read the sentence and tell me what you think it means." "Maybe it means like bad, or yucky." "Sort of, it can be bad, but it just means strange or odd. like, the food tasted funny." "Oh, ok, I get it." How would a sighted parent have done that any differently? If anything it makes the parent interact more and the child engage in more independent thought and reasoning skills whereas many sighted parents would have just jumped in and out of force of habbit just given them the answer with out guiding them to the correct one. Even something more complicated could be easily surmounted. "I don't understand this problem mom." "Ok, what subject." "geometry." "Ok, what is the question?" "It wants me to find the sum of the angles in the figure." "Ok, so, describe the picture." "Ok, oh boy, ok, let's see, it's got one, two three... um six sides and it looks like an l." "Ok, so the shape it's self is like a print letter l, with all right angles? Like this?" "Yeah." "Ok, so do you know what the individual angles equal?" "Oh, yeah, they're all right angles." "Which means?" "Which means that... they... that they each equal ninety degrees?" "Right, and how many angles are there? That look like right angles?" "Five and that corner thing, but it's not really an angle, it's sort of a..." "Right, I understand, but for now add up the right angles, then we'll look at the shape in more detail, I want you to tell me how you could cut it apart, what other shapes are inside of the figure." "Ok, so ninety times five is four hundred and fifty and then, um, ok it could be two rectangles." "Good." "Or, a longer rectangle and a square." "Yes, ok, so let's work with the first one you said." and so on and so forth. If there was something that a parent didn't know they could look it up on the internet or scan the print text book or have ordered a comperable textbook, not neccessarily the exact same one as that is difficult, on tape or cd or in Braille. That is very limiting of you to have said. Having two children or more in public is a challenge, but it is just as challenging for a sighted parent. I can easily see my self with an infant in a baby bjorn and a toddler on a child leash walking with me while I used my guide dog and my five year old followed behind me, or in a more crowded or dangerous situation holding onto the strap of my purse or my fanny pack. I have taken multiple children into public situations before and it is not that terrible. It is not hard on a child to have a blind parent, or no more so than it is for them to have an unmarried parent, a gay parent, an older parent, an overweight parent, a mixed race parent, a whatever parent. The point is that every child will at some point find something about their parent that they do not like and or that they imagine makes them too different from the other kids, but the truth is that this will be the case for every child, no matter who their parent is. For a blind child it could be a real blessing to have at least one blind parent who can give them better perspective and real-life advice when the sighted parent can't understand. I know many sighted children of blind parents and they are doing just fine and if asked would probably not say that having a blind parent is any harder on them then it is for their friend to have the parent who works nights or their other friend who has a hippy nonconformist for a mother. It may have gotten somewhat easier for parents to raise children since you were a parent, but I do not think that it is any easier for blind parents now than it was then, or at least not because of anything that wouldn't also be true of sighted parents. I am twenty-one years old and my mother didn't have all that much trouble raising me as a blind parent, a blind single parent and I can tell you that whith some of the changes in laws it has actually become harder as a blind parent. The ADA has done a lot of damage even though it has also done a lot of good and the no child left behind act has certainly done more harm than good. I say that not as a parent but as a student of childhood education and special education.