The latest episode of ABC’s Supernanny told the story of deaf parents struggling to raise four hearing children. Dorothy and Kip Baulisch of Papillion, Nebraska rely on their eldest daughter who basically plays surrogate parent to the three younger girls who often throw screaming fits. The girls have refused to learn sign language.
Melissa has given up her youth to be a full-time interpreter in her own house. She’s frustrated, working two jobs and still going to school. She has a limited relationship with her Dad, who says he loves her but doesn’t think she loves him back.
Host Jo Frost arrives with a sign language interpreter and sees how the children whisper to each other with their hands covering their mouths so their mom won’t know. Jo tells the parents, “Just because you’re deaf doesn’t make you any less of a parent!”
