The Adventures of Julie and Bella 2025

Today was one of the longest days ever. ⏳

Working without one of my hearing aids has been exhausting in ways I didn’t expect. I knew it would be frustrating, but I wasn’t prepared for just how isolating it would feel. A few of my kiddos got upset with me today when I asked them to repeat themselves—I hated that. 😞 They don’t understand that I’m not ignoring them or not listening; I just can’t hear them clearly. And as much as I wanted to explain, I also had to remind myself: this isn’t their fault. This is my problem, and I am doing my best to solve it. 🔄

But right now, it feels like I’m standing at the base of Mount Everest 🏔️, staring up at an impossible climb.

Living in a world designed for those who can hear while feeling like I’m on the outside looking in… it’s hard. It sucks. There’s no other way to say it. I’m missing out on so much—little moments, small conversations, passing jokes. And as much as I try to keep up, there’s only so much smiling and nodding 😊 before I’m completely lost, left out, and exhausted from pretending. 😔

I don’t have all the answers yet, and I know the climb ahead is steep. But I also know I’m not giving up. 💪✨