Babel.
The other day, I was running late to a benefit that I left work early to attend. Because right before that, I had to hurry home and change clothes, then drive across town, drop off some cleaning, go to a press check, fill up my car, find the right parking area, catch a minivan transport and walk 200 yards in the rain. In heels. So by the time I walked in late again as always and forever to the luncheon, I was tired and soggy and grumpy and a bit disoriented. As if I were a sweaty mountain climber, who hoisted herself up to the top peak only to find she was in the middle of a fancy dress ball. And I totally hadn’t adjusted to the altitude change. Or the scenery change. Or the costume change.
So after I caught my breath, I leaned over to my tan, glowy friend in the next chair—a wonderful friend whose life choices and circumstances benefit her with a lot of free time and sleep—and said, “Whew, I can’t seem to catch up to myself. I haven’t even processed where I was last and then all of a sudden I’m here, and I didn’t really even think about being here until I actually was here. In fact I haven’t even realized it yet, and I’m sure I won’t even realize that I wore completely the wrong attire for this until later on when I’m two places from where I am now. You know?”
She looked at me. Giggled. Cocked her head and giggled some more as she purely and honestly said, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
She was serious. And I realized that a.) as sleep deprived as I was, I completely got what I was talking about and B.) as much as I love this friend, we totally don’t speak the same language. At least for right now.
This is also what I’m experiencing at home.
Babel.
Because as much as the HcQ and I are freaking crazy, loony, insane in love with the Hurricane, we just don’t speak the same language. Yet.
He understands us, mostly. And we can usually figure out what he wants as well. If only because he’s mastered the move of taking our hands, leading us in the right direction, pointing, grunting, and if need be, screaming. And that’s what I was trying to say yesterday, amidst all the screaming and the grunting and the pounding of the fists, our sweet toddler sounds and perhaps acts a little bit like a caveman. (So you hear that future Hurricane and future Hurricane’s therapist, we don’t actually think you are a caveman or that you in any way look like a caveman; you just currently posses some pre-language caveman communications skills and also somewhat kind of act like one. But in a good way. No worries. Love ya. Don't hate.)
Because all screaming and grunting aside, the HcQ and I do primarily speak English. And the Hurricane primarily speaks Hurricane. Which is a mixture of English, Spanish, Martian and Dolphin. We’re working with him on the English. Our beloved Maria is working with him on the Spanish. And we’re all learning. Together. Kind of.
However, according to experts, because the Hurricane is learning English and Spanish simultaneously, this means it will take him longer to speak anything.
And I can't wait for the speaking.
Because I'm so looking forward to speaking his language. Whatever it is.
This whole language thing is one reason that when Parent Bloggers Network asked me to review the Boca Beth language program, I said heck yeah, no problem, let me at it, sure. Because I’m looking for some ways, any ways, any hows, to learn language along with my son.
And the program is good. All four of us checked it out, and we’re sharing our thoughts about it today on Cool Stuff con Queso.
Oh, and plus, there are giveaways. Check it.
So after I caught my breath, I leaned over to my tan, glowy friend in the next chair—a wonderful friend whose life choices and circumstances benefit her with a lot of free time and sleep—and said, “Whew, I can’t seem to catch up to myself. I haven’t even processed where I was last and then all of a sudden I’m here, and I didn’t really even think about being here until I actually was here. In fact I haven’t even realized it yet, and I’m sure I won’t even realize that I wore completely the wrong attire for this until later on when I’m two places from where I am now. You know?”
She looked at me. Giggled. Cocked her head and giggled some more as she purely and honestly said, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
She was serious. And I realized that a.) as sleep deprived as I was, I completely got what I was talking about and B.) as much as I love this friend, we totally don’t speak the same language. At least for right now.
This is also what I’m experiencing at home.
Babel.
Because as much as the HcQ and I are freaking crazy, loony, insane in love with the Hurricane, we just don’t speak the same language. Yet.
He understands us, mostly. And we can usually figure out what he wants as well. If only because he’s mastered the move of taking our hands, leading us in the right direction, pointing, grunting, and if need be, screaming. And that’s what I was trying to say yesterday, amidst all the screaming and the grunting and the pounding of the fists, our sweet toddler sounds and perhaps acts a little bit like a caveman. (So you hear that future Hurricane and future Hurricane’s therapist, we don’t actually think you are a caveman or that you in any way look like a caveman; you just currently posses some pre-language caveman communications skills and also somewhat kind of act like one. But in a good way. No worries. Love ya. Don't hate.)
Because all screaming and grunting aside, the HcQ and I do primarily speak English. And the Hurricane primarily speaks Hurricane. Which is a mixture of English, Spanish, Martian and Dolphin. We’re working with him on the English. Our beloved Maria is working with him on the Spanish. And we’re all learning. Together. Kind of.
However, according to experts, because the Hurricane is learning English and Spanish simultaneously, this means it will take him longer to speak anything.
And I can't wait for the speaking.
Because I'm so looking forward to speaking his language. Whatever it is.
----------------
This whole language thing is one reason that when Parent Bloggers Network asked me to review the Boca Beth language program, I said heck yeah, no problem, let me at it, sure. Because I’m looking for some ways, any ways, any hows, to learn language along with my son.And the program is good. All four of us checked it out, and we’re sharing our thoughts about it today on Cool Stuff con Queso.
Oh, and plus, there are giveaways. Check it.
posted by Girl con Queso at 8:04 AM
11 Comments:
“Whew, I can’t seem to catch up to myself. ..... You know?”
I do know. So I guess I speak Babel. I really want to learn Spanish. So I'm going to check out your review.
How smart and cool are you to teach your child English and Spanish? Does the HcQ speak Spanish?
I really want my daughter to speak Spanish, living in the west as we do, I think that she is going to need Spanish. I will have to look at your review.
Im on way to go and check it out, oh and how awesome that the Hurricane is learning Spanish as well. We used to say that Claire spoke Chinese when she was a toddler because we had no idea what the hell she was trying to say.
English, Spanish, Martian and Dolphin = He's an alien sea creature, not a caveman!
little cavepeople certainly know the concepts a long time before they are able to verbalize them -- try working on sign language. our own little cavegirl was "talking" to us in signs long before she had vocal abilities, "please, thank you, more, etc." it'll blow your mind to see how much they pick up so fast. it also has been shown to help develop verbal ability. here's a good book -- Baby Signs, but there are others. try it. it is great to be able to communicate and fun for parties, too. :)
but the danger is when you start to understand them....and they can repeat what you say. oh, no.
To quote Churchill, the Hurricane is "a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma."
You need only find the key.
Perhaps Hieroglyphics?
Q speaks (well, he speaks, and sometimes we understand) both English and Chinese, and we didn't notice that he picked up words particularly later. One interesting thing - when a word is difficult to pronounce in one language, you can teach him the word in the other. He says "please" in English, but "thank you" in Chinese. Now sometimes he translates to the other language for us when we don't obey him quickly enough. ;)
Have fun with the Martian and Dolphin!
I totally got what you said (that your friend didn't get) and I don't have kids yet and I don't even work, for goodness sake! But I love how you put it: "I can't seem to catch up with myself." A good one to describe my own life at times! And yay for Spanish!!!
I so would have understood what you were saying...I spend most of my days trying to "catch up with myself"!!!
Yeah, like kristen said - be careful what you wish for... Sometimes we forget that ours now understands and actually listens to what we say these days. Especially the things he's not really meant to...
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