The Mental Struggle of Job Hunting | Candid Conversations

One of the biggest side effects, I believe, of the global pandemic (besides the obvious) has been a struggle with mental health care. These unprecedented times are hard. It’s hard because it’s stressful, overwhelming, and downright exhausting. Not having the freedom to do normal day-to-day activities without thinking about the public health consequences and literally isolating ourselves has taken such a toll on everyone. It’s been two years in the making and it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

I don’t think I’ve ever felt so frustrated, angry, sad, and numb than I have for the last few years. I genuinely don’t remember what it’s like to be at peace and happy with my life. There definitely are moments where I am enjoying my time and the people around me but honestly, it’s not enough. Part of the struggle for me has been the job hunt. I have been worried about my career before I even graduated from college. Being someone who needs permission from the government to work has been the biggest obstacle in my career before it even began. Now that I have it, I’m feeling frustrated that I haven’t been hearing back from the millions of applications I’ve sent out into the void. With that said, I know in time I’ll find the job that’s right for me and that there is an employer who will see my value and give me the opportunity I deserve. I just have to keep at it and be patient. 

So, to anyone else out there who finds this post: I hope you feel better knowing you’re not alone. The job hunt struggle is hard no matter how long you’ve been working at it. Searching for jobs during this time especially is hard work. Just know that you are worthy, qualified, and wanted. Most important of all, take care of yourself. You can’t be your best self if you don’t take care of yourself. 

The Do’s and Don’ts of Signing with Your Baby

Sign language has become a more and more popular tool for parents and caregivers to use with babies. By teaching our little ones sign language, we give them the opportunity to communicate their wants and needs to us before they are able to speak. Here are some pro tips to ensure you are setting yourself and your baby up for success with sign language.

Do model the sign while fulfilling your baby’s need

Telling the baby, “Sign ‘more’, and then I can give you more blueberries! I can’t give you any until you do the sign.” is not as effective as you might think. By withholding what they need or want is only going to create negative associations with signing as they get frustrated and feel pressured to perform. So, the best way to teach your little one to sign is by modeling the sign you want them to learn as you’re meeting their needs. You can put emphasis on the word you’re signing to help them associate the sign with the action: “I’m giving you more blueberries!”

Don’t only speak words that you know the signs for

When hearing parents are using signs to communicate with our hearing babies, we have to understand that signs should be supplementary to their language development. Reading, talking, and singing are all things that we do in our everyday routines to encourage language development and signing can be incorporated into them. If you don’t know the sign for a word, you should still speak to your child to encourage well-rounded language skills. 

Do use the correct signs for new words you want to use

By using “baby sign language,” we are actually using an established language that is used by the Deaf community. So, it’s important that we use real signs rather than making them up for our babies. If your child’s sign is modified because their motor skills aren’t refined enough to do the correct sign yet, that’s okay. Just continue to model the correct sign and they will learn to adjust it. Being mindful of the fact that sign language is a real language that belongs to a real culture and a real group of people is the least we, hearing caregivers, can do when borrowing it for our own benefit.