Grateful | A French American Life

I’m grateful for my family, who know the true meaning of unconditional love. My mom, who I can talk to at anytime, about anything, and know I will have her support and loving, wise advice when I need it. My dad, who has never left me with any doubt that he loves me and would do anything for me. My brother, who can make me belly laugh like no other person I’ve ever known. My kids, whose mischievous smiles keep me on my toes, and whose hugs make the rest of the world melt away. My grandparents, who have been so lovingly involved in my life, and still are here, with us. My aunts, uncles, and many cousins who I always enjoy seeing. And of course, my husband – for the solid, unwavering love he gives me, for his gentle smile, for the safe haven he has been for me since the day I met him.

I’m grateful for my friends; a diverse mix of people who fill my life with joy and help me to remember what is most important and what isn’t worth worrying about.

I’m grateful that I have seen so much of this world, that I have been able to immerse myself in different cultures and gaze upon some of the most stunning places in existence.

I’m grateful for good health; my own and my family’s. I used to scoff at this, even think it was trite. Yeah, yeah, health, blah blah blah. No. So many struggle with health, or watch helplessly as those they love struggle. Good health is an amazing blessing.

I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to get a college degree, then a doctorate, in a field where there is rarely a shortage of jobs.

I’m grateful that I can step away from my career and stay home for these precious years with my two young children.

I’m grateful that I will eat a yummy meal on Thanksgiving, and that I never have had to question whether or not there will be food on my table.

I know I am a lucky woman, to have what I have, to do what I do, and to be where I am today. For this, I give thanks.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all. May you, too, find much to be thankful for on this day.

Carnival time sneaks up on me each month! This month, the Raising Multilingual Children Blogging Carnival is hosted by Sarah (my new neighbor – yay!) over at Bringing up Baby Bilingual.

It never crossed my mind growing up that I’d be part of a bilingual, bicultural family. Dreams of the future were hazy at best; I tended to dream big yet not concretely. But wow – I cannot imagine life any other way.

I’m grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to take, resources for, and access to French lessons both in the U.S. and in France, so I can help my children to learn a second language while learning it (struggling with it) myself.

I’m grateful to Amazon.fr and Amazon.ca for all the great books I’ve had delivered to my doorstep.

I’m grateful to have lived in San Diego and to have sent our daughter to the San Diego French American School. What a remarkable school and community of people.

I’m grateful that I’ve been able to spend so much time in France, and that we are able to take our kids there and share the French language and culture with them.

I’m grateful that my husband has such a fabulous sense of humor about the French language and culture, so that when I’m feeling exasperated, rather than take offense, he laughs and makes a few jokes about the “ridiculous French.” (Say this with a thick French accent and you’ll appreciate it, too.)

I’m grateful for YouTube and Roku, where we find movies (La Maison de Mickey) and all sorts of French music videos to sing and dance to in our living room.

I’m grateful that right now, my daughter still thinks it’s pretty cool to speak French.

I’m grateful that I, with a few minor exceptions, have had kind, patient, and encouraging French teachers that have made learning the language more akin to an imagined vacation overseas than the stereotypical browbeating, you’re-not-worthy treatment that makes for great stories down the road but aren’t all that fun in the moment.

I’m grateful for Sarah at Bringing Up Baby Bilingual and this page of hers that has made finding French in Colorado so easy for us.

I’m grateful for the community of bloggers I have found that help keep me motivated and inspired about this often difficult journey of raising children bilingually.

Most of all, I’m grateful for the world that being a bilingual family has opened to us. I’m a better, more tolerant, more open-minded, more patient, and I think more interesting person after learning how different languages, cultures, and families can be.

I love that we are a bilingual, bicultural family. I wouldn’t want it any other way.