Hardest, He Tried.

May 2009

Mommy: "I have a meeting on Monday at 2pm. I need to go by myself. Who do you want to watch you when you come home?"
Liam: "I can go with you. I will be quiet."
Mommy: "No, you can't come with me. It's not possible."
Liam: "Uhhh why? I promise I'll be good!"
Mommy: "No, you are NOT coming with me."
Liam: "Uhhhh ok..... Tanya!"
Mommy: "I think she will be sleeping by then."
Liam: "Hmmmm Jack's babysitter??"
Mommy: "I can't just go and ask Jack's babysitter - I don't know her at all. How about Grandpa??"
Liam: "Yeah! Good idea!"

A while later....
Liam: "At the meeting, you won't understand them and they wont understand you. I can interpret for you."
Mommy: "Oh no, that's ok. We already have an interpreter."
Liam: "But I can do it."
Mommy: "Thanks for the offer, but we already have one. We have a professional one."
Liam: "I really can do it...."

Jeff: "Wanna practice and show mommy you can do it??"
Liam: "Yes!!!"
Jeff: "Alright, are you ready?"
Liam: "Yeah"

Jeff: "Good morning Sheri. How are you. Can you tell me more about your experience with graphic design and what you can do...."
Liam listened to Jeff very carefully this whole time and watching him.

Mommy: "What did he say? You have to tell me. You're the interpreter."
Liam: "I'm waiting until he's done."
Jeff: "That's not how it works. You have to sign at the same time I speak."
Liam: "Ok, ok. Start again."
Jeff: "Good morning Sheri. How are you. Can you tell me more about your experience with graphic design and what you can do...."
Liam: *Still looking at Jeff and signing to mommy* "Good morning Sheri. How are you. Can... can... can.... can.... Jeff is not slowing down for me!"
Jeff: "That's not how it works. You have to catch up and look at the person you are interpreting for not the speaker."
Liam: "Ugh, I can't do it."
Mommy: "That was a good try. Don't worry about me."

Liam: "Oh wait! I write faster than signing!"
Jeff: *Jumps out of his seat* "Wanna me get paper and pen??"
Liam: "Yeah!!!"

Jeff: "Alright, are you ready?"
Liam: "Yeah"

Jeff: "Good morning Sheri. How are you. Can you tell me more about your experience with graphic design and what you can do...."
Liam: *Scribbled as fast as he could* Good morning... "Can you start again after this word (morning)."
Jeff: "Why? A real interpreter can't ask the speaker to repeat all the time."
Liam: "But... I was just trying..."
Jeff: "Alright, one more chance..... Ready?... Good morning Sheri. How are you. Can you tell me more about your experience with graphic design and what you can do...."
Liam: *Scribbled as fast he could - How are you. Can... "I can't do it!"
Mommy: "I think writing is harder than signing. That's some good effort."

Liam: "Why don't we try typing??"
Jeff: *Jumps out of his seat* Wanna me get the laptop??"
Liam: "Yeah!!!"

Mommy: "No! No! No! That's ok!"