Spanish, español

Since I found out Luca was deaf, I made the decision to speak to him only in English while learning some sign language. I had to sacrifice my mother tongue to make sure he could catch up with his schoolmates, so he could be part of this society where we live and so that he could benefit the most from his many speech therapy sessions. The better he became at English, the more I was aware that he needed to start with Spanish. When we go to Spain or when we hang out with my family from Spain, it becomes clear that he is behind and that it is hard to communicate, but it also becomes clear that he can do it, he has the potential and he improves a lot when he is immersed in an environment like that. But I am alone with him, and it is so hard to keep up at it when he doesn't understand me and when he gets frustrated and when I want to get things done, that I eventually end up speaking in English most of the time.

Yesterday I learned that language is best learned when affection is involved, we can easily learn it if we know that the person talking to us loves us, and that person is generally the mother. I am the one in the best position to give this opportunity to Luca. It is harder than being in labor, but it can be done. I realize that if I don't put a big effort into this, it is not going to happen, not at the level that I wish he could reach. The older he gets the harder it becomes, and even though this means we are going to have a lot of discussions and I am going to have to make a great effort to remember this and to be constant and persistent, I need to do it. For his own sake. For my family's sake, to broaden his future, and enrich his life. It takes hard work, but I can do it.

Today I spent most of the day doing that, speaking mostly in Spanish with some translations and gestures here and there for him to catch the meaning. After 2 hours he complained about it and asked me why did I decide to do this, but I just told him that it was so that it becomes easy for him, and he can understand me in Spanish, and anybody else! He was OK with my response. Now I have to keep up at it!

And here is a shot of him working really hard…I know he can do this too...