lost in translation

While I am recovering from surgery, Lola2Amara is staying at the Yellow House to help Dad2Amara with household chores and to keep Amara in check.

But there was one point last night that I wished my mom was not staying at our house. She actually caused me pain. Physical, excruciating pain.

It's no secret that I want Amara to learn Tagalog.

My family tries to sprinkle our conversations with her with my parents' native tongue so she can pick up a phrase or two.

Lola2Amara wanted to teach Amara yesterday "mother" and "father."

Nanay -- the Filipino word for "mother" -- was a cinch for Amara.

Tatay -- the word for "father" -- was not as simple.

The word is pronounced {tah-tie}.

So at first Amara was saying Popeye. As in the sailor man. As in the spinach lover. As in the husband of Olive Oyl.

I had visions of Dad2Amara with a pipe, anchor tattoos, and bulging biceps.

And I couldn't stop laughing.

So Lola2Amara tried to correct Amara. But she still didn't get it.

She ended up calling Dad2Amara patay -- the Tagalog adjective for "dead."

I was laughing so hard, I had tears in my eyes from the pain it brought. And that only made me laugh harder.

Hopefully today Lola2Amara will take a break from her Tagalog lessons.

There seems to be something lost in translation...

Cross posted on Filipina Moms

to a preschooler, it's all black and white

When a mom's out for the count, a mom's out for the count.

And kids just seem to know when to kick us when we're down.

I had a bazillion appointments yesterday. And all I wanted to do is go home and hug my daughter.

And hug her I did.

Then, out of nowhere, she says, "Mom, why do people have different skin?"

Different skin?

"Amara, what do you mean?" I questioned.

She explained that there's a girl at her school with skin that's a different color.

I sighed. I never thought I'd get hit with the race question this early in childhood.

How would I answer? My head hurt as it was. I couldn't think of a good answer that a four year old would comprehend.

Then eureka!

"Amara," I began. "We are Filipino. So you and Mommy have a different colored skin than Daddy because he's German. God made us all different so we can learn about each other."

"Ohhhhh. That's why there's girl at school with brown skin," she responded.

"Just like you, Amara."

"Nooooo! Mommy, I'm white."

I stopped dead in my tracks. Those words hit me like a dagger to the heart. Like I wasn't having a bad day as it was.

I have no problems with Amara being half German and half Filipino. But when she has to check off a box on a government form, she has to cross off Asian.

And when people meet her, even though I think Amara looks like Dad2Amara, everyone laments how she looks like me, a Filipino.

She has gorgeous thick black dark brown hair. Her skin is olive. And she loves her rice!

She is not white.

She's brown like me.

And with that I started beating myself up, thinking I was some sort of racist.

But I just want Amara to be proud of her heritage!

Then I realized that to Amara - it is solely about black and white. Skin color is such a cut and dry issue for kids.

But I know it won't always be the case.

How do you describe other ethnicities to your kids? How do you instill pride in their heritage?

cross posted on Filipina Moms

can I get some cheese?

Because my Monday has been filled already with whine.

Nope, can't blame my preschooler and her first day of school. It's Mom2Amara needing a good spanking.

Oh, where to begin...

It's back to the daily grind for me. And that means heading into work. Can I tell you how badly my feet hurt right now? After two weeks away from the office, I'm just not accustomed to wearing heels. And to think I lived in heels BA (before Amara).

Finding the right shade of foundation is a struggle for me. I can never find a match for my Filipina skin. So just imagine how difficult it was this morning, trying to cover up my Florida tan and my raccoon eyes! My sunglasses left horrible tan lines!

And now I'm going through over 500 emails that need attention.

What joys.

today's good: Well, I choose yesterday to restart my running program. It was gorgeous out -- temps in the 70's. And I felt great after my 20 minute run. Not bad for my first time out in months.

today's bad: Need I say raccoon eyes again?

EDIT: I forgot to mention I have a new post up at Filipina Moms. Take a look if you have a sec!

computer's tied up

So see you all tomorrow!

But if you can't wait that long, go and see my first post over at Filipina Moms

today's good: I'm leaving the house for the first time in 48 hours. Wheee!

today's bad: So much to do, so little time! Wish us luck as we run pre-Disney errands today!