Comments on: “Your sons are killing me” September 08

By: juliloquy

juliloquy — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:04:02 +0000

First, your boys just keep getting cuter. /swoon/ or should I say /foon/?

Second, mmmmm, apple banica. In my experience, anything but the cheese kind is hard to find.

Third, I don’t think I learned how to say “blagodarija” until I had lived in BG about 3 weeks. Alek is a prodigy.

Fourth, it’s really sweet that the boys’ absences make their hearts grow fonder or, at least, less belligerent.

Finally, I hope that, in addition to the boys’ transitions, your own are going OK. It’s a big adjustment for you, too.

By: DarkoV

DarkoV — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:43:32 +0000

Congratulations on the smooth induction for the boys' new lifestyles. Seems that Adam (at least per the pix supplied) has come through with minimal bonks & cvrgve on the head. Sorry! Can't think of the English word for that action schoolboys over in the Balkans wherein their hand soars from on high and flicks their friend's head with the finger shooting action that leaves their friend dazed and confused. Can't wait to see your post where you've got Adam's classroom picture (well, the kids won;t be that old), showing him fully integrated into the Bulgarian way. You and Magda should be thoroughly cheered for their success.

By: simon

simon — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:08:30 +0000

Our girls have dealt with three languages pretty much from the beginning. I can’t imagine how much harder it is to start a new one (and a new home, and a new kindergarten) after four years. Well done him.
How many does he speak now, anyway? English, Polish, Slovene and Bulgarian, right?

By: sgazzetti

sgazzetti — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:12:13 +0000

aquariumdrinker: I think you’re right. A certain amount of the whining and clinging is calculated, and usually he drops the pretense if we make the drop-off briskly enough. But there are also days when I am pretty sure he means it.

Erik: I have no memories of the start of kindergarten being scary, though I have plenty of memories of specific traumatic events after the first day. Magda swears she hated it every day. I think we’ve been giving Adam too little credit, figuring that another language isn’t a big deal for him. I think this is a huge deal for him.

By: Erik R.

Erik R. — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 08:17:04 +0000

Excellent job, A & A! But I think Mama and Papa deserve a little round of applause too. It sounds like the move was very well organized and executed.

I can’t imagine how terrifying kindergarten must be in a foreign country with a foreign language.

By: jane

jane — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 23:00:16 +0000

Sounds like everyone is doing well and adjusting. I’m glad to read it.

By: KP

KP — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 21:53:35 +0000

Congratulations, Adam! Very proud of you, sir. You’ll be translating for your parents in no time.

By: aquariumdrinker

aquariumdrinker — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 14:03:45 +0000

Comparable orifice? Will be on the lookout for the medical journal writeups.

Congrats to all! I’m sure you know it, but part of the fussing when you drop off at kindergarten is probably calculated. From a game theory perspective, Adam would be a fool not to fuss some — the cost is pretty low, and it’s guaranteed to result in some extra parental or teacher attention in a context where that attention translates (more or less) into a display of Adam’s value before his (new) peers. Sg has been going to day care since she was like a zygote or something, and she just learned to fuss a few months ago.

No telling whether Sg will get into Thomas, but if she does I’m sure I’ll forever find “Percy” chuckle-worth thanks to this post!