Over the summer months Myka has taken it upon herself to expand her multicultural abilities and take on a new language. She has chosen Spanish. I do not speak Spanish. I only remember what I learned during the two week preview in 7th grade, which included how to introduce myself and counting to twenty. (Now after 4 years of German I know many valuable things like "you are a vacuum cleaner", "have you heard [insert favorite rock band here]'s new record? It's great!", and "so, Monica, are you satisfied?" But that knowledge is not helping me now.) Kurt knows a little Spanish, but only about as much as Dora or Rosita from Sesame Street. So since Myka cannot read, her resources are limited. I am often asked, "how do you say __ in Spanish?" to which I almost always reply, "I don't know." However, rather than just give up, Myka takes her best guess. "Well, I think it must be gargula (or whatever syllables she puts together at the time). "I think you're right." This has gone on daily almost all summer.
The other language issue we have been dealing with is baby talk. (No, not Eli.) I know this is normal and we have a one year old who is trying his hardest to get a word in edgewise, so she is imitating what she hears. But she has spoken abnormally clearly since she was 15 months old. Let's just say I have no tolerance for the baby talk.
So last weekend we were at my aunt's house hanging out and enjoying the chilly July weather by the pool. Myka came in to ask a question just as I was cleaning up Eli's breakfast and had a handful of dirty dishes and a crabby kid strapped in a high chair. She walked up 2 feet in front of me and said, "gabolla falop." I bent down and asked her what she wanted, already frustrated that she was baby talking and I was busy. So she said "Gobumba talob." My response was "I'm going to ask you one more time what you want, and if you don't speak clearly I'm walking into the kitchen." And with 110% seriousness in her voice and on the brink of tears she shouted, "BUT MOM, I SAID IT IN SPANISH!"
Have you ever tried to look your kid in the face and take her serious when your whole body is shaking with the laughter that is about to explode out of you? It's not easy. So with tears running down my face I asked through stifled chuckles, "Can you ask me in English, I'm not sure I understood you?"
"I said, 'Can we go swimming now?'"
Ooooohhhhh.
I guess they forgot to teach us that one in 7th grade foreign language.
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2 comments:
If you ever want to have a playdate the boys could play and I could answer all of Myka's Spanish questions with the actual words. I could also bring over some of Nathaniel's books in Spanish to read with her:)
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