Advice from bilingual/multilingual parents

[Gauchita]

Hello,

I'd love to hear from other parents in a similar linguistic situation

We live in England, have a 7mo DD and DH is trilingual (Spanish, Portuguese and English) and I'm bilingual (Spanish and English, although this post might not reflect that, DD woke up 4 times last night, apologies in advance!). I speak and work with Portuguese as well.

We speak Spanish at home (to each other and DD) but I find myself speaking English to DD sometimes, especially when we're out and about and when in company of British friends. I don't know why, it just comes out naturally in English.

I think maybe unconsciously I'm afraid they'll feel excluded or uncomfortable or they'll feel I'm alienating ourselves, I don't know... Now, however, I'm thinking I might confuse her in the long run and maybe this isn't the best approach?

It'd be great to hear from other parents that are going through the same situation. Any advice will be deeply appreciated!

Thanks a lot for reading

naughty naughty!

Oh dear, maybe I'm too tired but I don't know what you mean, Portofino You mean the approach?

I think I might know what you meant, Portofino. Was it because of another thread? Sorry, I hadn't seen it when I posted this morning although I can understand why you maybe thought it was not good MN netiquette, don't worry. My doubt was/is genuine, though

It's ok, I've read part of the thread and have found some tips/advice that might help, especially as there is another poster who feels exactly the same I feel when we're out or in playgroups etc.

Thank you anyway

Well I'm not sure I can give you any advice but I certainly can relate. I am Venezuelan and hubby is English. When our daughter was born 5 years ago, I insisted on speaking to her only in Spanish no matter where we were. In the beginning she did pick a few words. I think the problem arose because hubby only speaks English and that's the language we use to speak between ourselves. In spite of all the books and people who say the contrary, exposing her to both languages did not gave way to a bilingual child, but a child who hardly spoke at all and then created her own language by the time she was three.

Still, I insisted with Spanish. Untill two years ago when my baby and I when to Canada to visit my sister. For some reason the custom officer would not believe she was my child and when she asked the girl, well, nobody understood what she said --not even me, the "alleged" mother! It took a lot of explainig, beggin and crying for them not to take her away from me.

After that I decided that,at the end of the day, my daughter was British and as much as I would love for her to speak Spanish, English should be her mother tongue. So I switch to English and in no time my baby was speaking non-stop A year ago we re-introduce Spanish as a FL and although she has yet to speak in full sentences, she understands most of what I tell her and can answer simple questions. It may bot be perfect, but it's working for us.