Sometimes I wonder . . .

What are we doing to our children?  Due to JTP’s job we will be moving about every two to three years.  We will be in different cultures that speak different languages.  Moving is a challenge for children when they share a common language with their future classmates.  Although our children will be attending English speaking schools, we have found that most often there is a difference between the language of instruction (English) and the language on the playground or the social language.  Adjustment is that much more frustrating and difficult when a child does share the social language with his peers.

I had wonderful evidence of this challenge today when AJP began his day-camp for school break.  The camp is in Portuguese.  Although AJP can speak Spanish and understands Portuguese, he is very shy about actually using these skills.   I thought he was going to hyperventilate himself to death today when he started the camp.  He just kept crying and saying, “I just don’t know what I am supposed to do.”  My heart broke but I always responded with some variation of the following, “AJP, you can do this.  You know Spanish.  You understand Portuguese.  Remember the blessing you received.  Didn’t Heavenly Father promise you that you would learn Portuguese because of this camp?  Didn’t He promise you that you would make friends?”  He would calm down and then start again in a few minutes.  I finally left because I was pretty sure my presence was hurting more than helping.  When I returned to pick him up, he was smiling and is going back tomorrow.

Sometimes I wonder if I am a bad parent because I essentially “push him into the deep end of the pool” with regards to the culture and language of our new home.  Then I realized that I don’t really have a choice if we want him to do more than just sit at home.  I guess stretching one’s limits hurts.  AJP saw that today.   All is well, though, since he will do it again tomorrow!