I have never been under any illusions that with our calling to live overseas our children would have a similar childhood to what we had. There wouldn't be frequent trips to visit family, no going to school and holidays and memorable moments would be just a little different. And I am totally OK with all that. Well, not totally OK with being so far from family, but I have come to a place of peace about it.
But even with all that, the other day Kirby said something that kinda threw my mind for a loop. Stan was explaining a burn scar from his childhood that is on his left collar bone area. This prompted Kirby wanting to hear stories from our childhood. I was telling him about something, I seriously can't remember exactly, and I mentioned a lady and he asked 'Was she English or Chinese?' And it just totally hit me.
As long as we live here he will always think in bilingual life. This simple question is part of his everyday. He has no concept of growing up in an almost all English speaking world. I know that people in America speak multiple languages but most people stick to a social life spoken in their first language. He is slowly learning to respond to English speakers in English and Chinese speakers in Chinese. When I told him that everyone I knew when I was a child spoke English he was completely puzzled. For him to imagine that my childhood was different is so difficult.
My boy's childhood isn't going to be better than mine or Stan's, just completely different. Do I know how to handle it if they have culture shock when we return to America? Nope. Will it always be easy on us as a family? Nope. Would I change the decisions we've made? Nope.
I am excited to see how their little hearts grow in their desire to know and serve God. I'm excited to let them soak it all in. I'm excited to see the men they will grow to be. I'm excited that there is the question, 'English or Chinese?'
As long as we live here he will always think in bilingual life. This simple question is part of his everyday. He has no concept of growing up in an almost all English speaking world. I know that people in America speak multiple languages but most people stick to a social life spoken in their first language. He is slowly learning to respond to English speakers in English and Chinese speakers in Chinese. When I told him that everyone I knew when I was a child spoke English he was completely puzzled. For him to imagine that my childhood was different is so difficult.
My boy's childhood isn't going to be better than mine or Stan's, just completely different. Do I know how to handle it if they have culture shock when we return to America? Nope. Will it always be easy on us as a family? Nope. Would I change the decisions we've made? Nope.
I am excited to see how their little hearts grow in their desire to know and serve God. I'm excited to let them soak it all in. I'm excited to see the men they will grow to be. I'm excited that there is the question, 'English or Chinese?'
2 comments:
good thing he will get our jokes about brekfarst and delicharse and volumtuarse! i had never thought about the difference! that is neat.
thinking of you today... praying.
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