National Boundaries

They both demand attention at the same time.  My son needs his Pikmin repaired forthwith and Nonna required her spectacles superglued, posthaste.  She has no qualms jumping the queue.

"You ave to wait your turn," she says shooing him aside,  "I need mummy more."

His mouth drops open, aghast, "But...you said...mummy."

"So wot?  Wot it got to do wiv you den?"

I interject, dispute resolution and interpreter to the fore--put the fire out before it starts, "It's alright dear.  Nonna just forgot for a moment.  Maddy and mummy sound pretty much alike," I whisper as the hearing aides are still in the mail.

But he's not mollified for a moment,  "no ...  she is saying the English but Nonna is Italian."

National Boundaries

http://sandwichedgenes.blogspot.com/2010/12/national-boundaries.html

Melting moments

If you continuously search the same six inches of your very large suitcase at intermittent intervals, such behavior can become seriously distressing very quickly.   

Emotions run on high octane and it can be difficult to break the cycle.  Intervention requires sensitivity, a quality which seems to dissipate under stress.  In addition, if English is your second language there is a tendency to revert to the mother tongue and small words become irretrievable.  It’s a process of adjustment, a bit like laundry, spray the stains,  soak and steep overnight in bleach for a brighter future.   

Most of the time we cope well and remain on track, but every once in a while something hits home.  The words may be off but the sentiment is sound.   

It is indescribably sad.

“You know Maddy?”

“Hmm?”

“I used to be so proud of my head.”

Melting moments

http://sandwichedgenes.blogspot.com/2010/12/melting-moments.html