“Daddy. Kitty. Meow.”
“Nose. Eyes.”
“Night night.”
That would be the extent of my daughter’s dictionary. Notice there is no “mommy” anywhere on that list.
Despite her very limited knowledge of the English language, Dorothy is a huge talker – to family and strangers alike. She tells big stories, complete with appropriate reactions and hand gestures, and we respond like what she’s saying is the most important things in the world. The kid even fake laughs to make her point.
It’s adorable and charming, sure, but Dorothy’s communication skills are currently the biggest hurdle in our day-to-day parenting. You see, my husband and I speak English. She speaks some version of toddler Chinese.
We have approximately 73 epic meltdowns per day, simply because I can’t figure out what she wants and she can’t find the words to tell me. She gets frustrated, and mad, and eventually explodes into a toddler tantrum. She had a real fit over the weekend when she wanted a jellybean at my parents’ house… and not a single person there could figure her out. Once the jellybean was in hand, however, the tears went away and her world returned to normal.
Oh, and she tries to point in the midst of these explosions. It’s a real help {not}. It’s really more of a left-arm gesture in the vicinity of….nothing. She’s a specific gal, that Dorothy.
You know those people who continue to speak the same language, just slower and louder in hopes that the person they’re talking to will eventually understand?
You can scream all you want, Dorothy. I still don’t understand toddler Chinese.
Perhaps the current language barrier in the Cotten house is a direct punishment for the deterioration of my Spanish skills. Because, like my toddler, I can totally understand the Español but I cannot respond to you.
I know all the veteran mommas say not to wish away what you currently have, but I’m pretty sure we would all be happier if my daughter could talk.
That is, until she gets too good at this English thing and I need her to shut up.
End rant.
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Anyone else living with a language barrier in your home? At least my kid can talk to the cat, right?
These two are besties.
We are there (1 year and 7-ish months). We use sign language with intermittent success. (ok, really mostly more and please) but it seems to help on the meltdown factor? Though we also have no down pat…
I watch my granddaughter one day a week. Oh how I remember those days of the foreign language. I would always say I’m not sure if it is French, Chinese or Japanese today, but it sure isn’t English that we can relate to. It to shall pass. Good luck in the mean time.
Two things.. 1) Try sign language.. It really can lessen frustrations and also help her brain form new pathways (It’ll be stood benefit in the long run in her education). Just start with basics first. 2) get a hearing test if she continues to speak like this. I had a friend whose parents thought she was speaking Chinese when she was a toddler. Eventually they found out she had a mild hearing loss. It’s not bad, just a different way of living life. 🙂