Because time passes so fast when something is on a to do list....

[ignoreme]

Hi all, I thought I would answer the 'why?' question which I thought would be easier than it is! It made me think for sure! Learning BSL has for a long time been something I wanted to do and should have done a long time ago.

As a youngster I spent time abroad and the friends I made at school didn't speak English and due to us being kids we just worked round it and communicated in our own version of gestures/signs. Over the months (I was the only English speaking kid there) we developed a pretty wide vocab through gestures which I would often use at home too without realising and my brother took the mickey when I did. This led to me thinking it was wrong in some way (I was about 6). It was my dad that clicked on to what was happening and him that went on to explain about different ways of communicating throughout the world etc. and showed me BSL when explaining about people who have hearing difficulties. My interest was sparked however I found myself fluent in their spoken language quickly due to it being all around me and our 'signing' ceased.

My communication interests were once again ignited when I studied to be a nurse and I completely focused on this area whenever possible from patients who didn't speak English to patients who couldn't speak and all inbetween. I became an advocate for communication aides and tools and knew I wanted to learn BSL but it was always on my 'to do list' yet I never got there, my time filled with patients whom other communication pathways were taken. Even as a nurse I didn't meet anybody who signed for a long time until a patient of mine used makaton and learning this once again reignited my desire to learn BSL. My good intentions were sadly once more overrun with life and it remained on my 'to do list' and repeated each year on my 'new year resolution status update.' Time just passed and I never took that first step.  

And then.....! My nephew started nursery and I noticed he was signing with some words which his dad knew nothing about when I asked. I was absolutely amazed when I dropped him at nursery and the teacher signed with everything she said and I realised he (at age 3) had been learning it without realising. I had to explain to him how awesome I thought it was and following that he has started using different signs he has learnt every time he sees me! So this has been my final kick up the butt because if I ask him what he is saying he says 'Auntie Meez you no you should learn yourself, you are a big girl!' 

It has been years since I first had my interest sparked when I was a child. It has been over ten years since I was a student nurse and added it to my 'goals to achieve' plan. It has been on my 'to do' list way too long. So I signed up for the BSL course and finally took that first step after all this time. 

And I am so glad I did.