Spanglish

No that's not the title of our home movie. That's just what's happening around here.
It's mostly funny, but I have to confess that it does annoy me a bit. This is what happens when you learn a new language and you are lucky enough to meet people who speak the same both languages that you do, and so you mix them up, add some flavor and some new phrases which makes for a fun conversation- I mean you should read "The Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" or "Drown." Although, Mr. Diaz claims that you do not need to know Spanish to understand his spanglish novels, I think you do.
However, when a toddler speaks Spanglish it is almost literally half and half. Sucio Hands is one of Nesta's go to Spanglish phrases. There's also Quieres ir downstairs mama? and the list goes on. The reason it annoys me, its because I feel he doesn't know all the words he needs to know in Spanish or in English, and so he decides to do this instead.
I know his vocabulary is still growing, and he will get those words but I'm impatient. I also get annoyed with myself because I think that if he didn't hear me speak English then his Spanish would be better.
It's all fine, and I need to relax but choosing to raise a child bilingual is hard work. Ask anyone who has tried or is trying.
New challenges means I need to find new books to read.

What language challenges are you having? Or what fun new phrases are your kiddos saying?

Gracias.

Nesta is finally trying to put together words-it really is an amazing thing to see, and hear. I've taken care of children Nesta's age in the past, but of course everything is different when it is your own child.

                                                      Nesta saying something to me, just not sure what!

He's always said 'mama' but he says it to other people. If I'm not around and sees a picture of me he knows that's 'mama.' If I'm around he won't call me 'mama,' if he needs me he grabs my hand and takes me where he wants me or hands me a book. However, recently he started repeating more often after me. Usually he likes to mimic animal sounds- his favorite is dog and lion. Still, those are not words just sounds. Like most moms, I sit here saying please and thank you over and over in hopes for my child to have some sort of manners. So the other day after handing him something I heard 'gashas.' I wasn't sure if I heard it, but just in case I said 'de nada.' Something else happened and I said to him this time 'gracias,' and he repeated after me 'gashas.' It was like the sun came out and shone brightly on us both. I believe he also says 'leche' but I am not sure of this one as he uses often and not when he wants milk. I am sure he says many other words but perhaps they don't sound like words to adult ears. All I know is that my kid may have manners after all- just maybe!