At age 12, I completely lost my hearing after years of battling ear infections. My family didn’t know any sign language, so communication was slow and frustrating.
Then one night, I found my dad watching ASL videos on YouTube. Every evening after work, he studied late into the night. Within months, he could chat with me fluently and even got my school to start offering ASL classes.
Today, he runs a weekend sign language group for other parents. Because of him, I never feel left out at home.
Story 3
My parents weren’t perfect, but they always supported what my brother and I loved—even if they didn’t understand it. They weren’t into skateboarding, yet they spent hundreds helping my brother enjoy it. They didn’t care for my drumming, but they bought me a drum set, let us rehearse in the basement, and drove us to every show.
They once dreamed I’d be a lawyer, but they never looked down on me becoming a line cook. Their support taught me that I’m free to follow my own path—and they’ll be cheering me on, no matter what. © mgraunk / Reddit
Story 4
At 22, living in a new city, I found myself in a fight with my landlord over a bogus security deposit claim. I vented to my brother over the phone, not asking for help, just needing to talk.
The next day, he messaged: “I’m downstairs.” He’d flown in overnight with documents, photos, and a folder labeled “Receipts.” We marched into the landlord’s office, and my brother argued like a seasoned attorney. The landlord gave in immediately.
We celebrated with gas station tacos and a night full of laughter. He flew home the next day and never mentioned it again.
