Comments on: Ser Papá Bilingüe: Where Are All the Dads?

By: Beth Ortuño

Beth Ortuño — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:06:10 +0000

Thank you Chelsea and your partner for this insight!
In our case, my husband avoids going near a computer. But although he is not on the website himself, I have heard him repeat things to his relatives that I told him in one of our many conversations that start “I was reading on Spanglishbaby that…”
You are so right that the dads can be so much more than backup. In our case, since he works in the evenings and I during the day, our son is with him (hearing 100% Spanish) all morning. I have found it’s important to let Papi do things in his own style. Then in the afternoons our son stays with his Tia (also speaking to him Spanish), and she also has her own style. So I have to recognize that things are not going to always be done quite how I would do it. That is really hard for me sometimes.

By: Mi Daddy (quieromilk)

Mi Daddy (quieromilk) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:41:53 +0000

Hi Moms…& Dads!!!

I am sorry but what I think is a little different… I have 3 kids (from 1 to 5 y.o.). We live in Spain and when the oldest was born I decided to speak in English with her, even though I am not a native speaker. After reading a lot of books/webs about bilingualism, and with a little effort, I realized I could do it (with some help from my Spanish wife). As English is the minority language (very very minority in our case as we don’t have English relatives), I have to do my best to keep them surrounded by it (reading, playing, watching tv,…). Some friends asked me about this adventure and I started a blog (quieromilk.com) a few months ago…Maybe I am a little obsseesd, but I think it’s the only way in my situation…anyway, “para mi, en lo que a la educación de los hijos se refiere, no hay, o no debería haber, ninguna diferencia entre padres y madres”. En nuestro caso, ambos los bañamos, o les damos de cenar, o les leemos cuentos, o hacemos ejercicio con ellos,….. la única diferencia es que lo hacemos en idiomas distintos.” That´s all.

Thank you very much for your blog.

Regards

By: Roxana A. Soto

Roxana A. Soto — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:54:34 +0000

I love it, Chelsea! And you’re totally right, we need to hear more from the Dads, especially because in many instances it’s really up to them to pass on the language and that’s definitely no easy task!

I too hope more male figures decide to share the journey of how they’re raising bilingual children!

By: suzanne mateus

suzanne mateus — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:00:23 +0000

I agree, Chelsea. In my opinion, though, writing the way we do on our blogs is similar to the way we (women, females, maims) talk. They (men, papis) have a different way of communicating—hence the lack of papi blogueros who focus on similar things we do. My other half is all over raising our bebita in a bilingual and bicultural home he just doesn’t want to write about it like I do. Who knows….