So in the beginning, I worried that WanderBoy wouldn’t speak Russian, his father’s language. I shleped him 2 hours per day (a.m. 30 min there back, p.m. same) 2-3 times per week to a Russian nursery. By 4 he was totally fluent, preferring Russian over English — his mother’s tongue. In Moscow in September, he easily communicated with kids his own age on the playground. In Thailand in November, his American grammy and grampy had to repeatedly ask him to speak English.
Fast forward to January. In a couple months of watching way too much Diego (he can count to 10 in Spanish..great;) and not interacting with other Russian kids, English has taken charge. He attends a Thai nursery school where there is little English but some — clearly no Russian. Now, we have to ask him to speak Russian.
I can see this amazing gift of language slipping away. So its on me now to speak alot more Russian at home with the kids and WanderPapa. Also, good news for the Russian grandparents. You’ll be seeing alot more of our kids.
Just as a sidebar: WanderBoy’s English is very colorful and I love it. He calls my bike a ‘piece of crap’ (oops…wonder who taught him that) and he kept saying “I’m so exciting” yesterday on the plane. He meant excited of course.
From what I’ve read, it’s not likely that WB will lose any of his Russian with the kind of base he has, particularly if WP continues to speak with him in Russian. With all the crap you have to worry about right now, I would take this one right off your list. And you know me, always looking for more things to worry about.
For some reason, I needed to hear that. You’re right. Thank you for letting me off the hook:)