Let me tell you, it’s hard growing up as a bilingual when you are only five years old. You have double the amount of words to remember and the grown ups need to suspect expect that there will be mix ups.
The other day is a good example.
I asked Mama what pigeons eat. I was a little worried. They come quite close when we’re walking through the town, hand in hand, and they sometimes have that I-would-like-to-bite-you look in their eyes.
Mama researched it on the internet for me. She told me they like worms (yuck) and insects (yuck yuck) and fruit (yum) and grains (what?).
I felt a little sick as Mama questioned me on what pigeons eat. It seems, I had good reason, not only do they eat worms. They also eat BRAINS!!
I responded, “Worms and insects and brains.”
I forgot about the fruit. To be honest, I was too busy thinking about how close to the ground my head is. It was alright for Mama, sat there, laughing. She’s tall. The pigeons would have to fly quite high to reach her…
“Grains not brains. G… G… G… Grains.”
“What’s grains?”
I noticed then the difference in the sound of the words and I can tell you I was rather relieved.
She babbled on about what grains are and really, I’m not sure what she was talking about, but I didn’t want to make that horrifying mistake again, so I said out loud to myself:
“Akasha, Akasha, Grains not brains. Grains not brains.”
Mummy laughed again. But she seemed to be crying too. How could she be happy and sad at the same time?
Today, on the way to Kindergarten nursery Mama asked me if I’d told my teacher what pigeons eat. I hadn’t. So she asked me if I remembered what pigeons eat.
I told her, “Worms and cranes.”
I realized my mistake straight away. I shook my head from side to side and corrected myself, “No, no, that’s the building thing. Grains not cranes.”
I think my Mama is quite a happy person. She laughs a lot of the time…
http://www.threadless.com/submission/170537/Vegan_Zombie
Is that one of your designs?
Brilliant!!
No, but I wish I’d thought of it first!
It is a good one!!
Fabulous insight and very funny. Bless her!
Thank you! She’s a star!
Absolutely charming!
Yes, charming and clever. Also reminds me of my chimichanga story and when Paul used to say froggy for foggy. Precious times.
They are aren’t they. That’s why I want to note them down.
Ah…this was a delightful perspective.
Thank you!!
Soo true and sweet! I relate
She’s very cute!! I hope I did her justice.
wonderful! love the way you chose to share this story!
Thank you. It’s a completely different style for me.
Aw, I laughed and shed a tear too. The solemn determination, the quiet logic, your getting so far into your son’s perspective. What a team.
Thank you!! They often make you shed a tear don’t they?
They do….
Even adults can have problems with language. I went around for years saying one thing after another in the “wrong” way. Now I have a daughter who is also a linguist and she tells me where I went wrong. Its ‘erbs not Herbs she says, the British got it wrong.
Reminds me of some of the words my grandchildren either got mixed up or mixed up, on purpose, and I won’t repeat those here. LOL
They do make us laugh don’t they?
Really funny! And I can confirm, growing up bilingual is NOT easy. My kids both understand my French but are very relunctant to speak it. I’m working on a post about a blooper my youngest did. That’s more about foul language though, but it was pretty funny…
I’m looking forward to reading that!!
Looks like you see the world from the eyes of a 5 year old so clearly. Lucky little to have such a great mom. Funny post.
Thank you. She’s hitting ‘cheeky fives’ at the moment so we’re not always seeing eye to eye.
To imagine doves that digest brains when yours is only a meter away. Haha, well written and funny.
What a thought, hey? Thanks Mar!
Akasha, you’re lucky you have a happy momma. My momma is learning to speak Spanish, and it makes her very cranky. Espcially when I say to her, ” Askhtns htowdhhh, asbaba ad a snmowskaw.” She frowns and says, “What on Earth are you trying to say to me?!” She just doesn’t understand enough Spanish enough to know I told her “I want a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.” So I have to explain very patiently to her that’s how you ask for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in Spanish: “Askhtns htowdhhh, asbaba ad a snmowskaw. ” Then she rolls her eyes and sighs loudly and says, “Well, let’s just speak English, okay?”
I tried *really hard* to think of a cool response to this. But I couldn’t. It’s such a perfect comment, all on it’s own!!
Thanks for making me laugh!
Nahdo aobb gorth. Apparently that means, my pleasure.
Hope you had a delicious long weekend at the hotel…
It was delicious – but short!!