Accents and the Stories they tell!

We were in Montreal over the weekend with my brother and his wife. Like camping, a weekend in Montreal is fast becoming a summer family tradition!

Our primary reason for visiting Montreal is ASid who is in a French immersion program. We believe it is a wonderful opportunity for him to practice his French. As a parent, it is also a means to find out if he has really learned the language!

This time around, I actually took a trip down memory lane to the time ASid first started communicating with us. At that time, I was adamant he would speak NO other language than English. I was afraid he might have an accent like me!

There would be days where I would be reading a book to ASid and would want to skip pronouncing a certain sound since I got it wrong every time...I did not grow up with that sound! There would be days I would wait for Craigley to get home so he could read a book and impart the correct pronunciation to our child.

Now, all that seems excessively unnecessary! Recently, ASid said that something seemed "pho-rein" to him...a few seconds later it hit me that he meant "foreign"! And all those years ago, the lengths I went to get this child to speak proper English - Canadian English...and he speaks it really strangely! At least, he is truly bilingual in a very Canadian sense of the word :)

We will be back in Montreal next summer but I may never know how many words in French ASid is mispronouncing!

Notable Note 1: In the car, ASid complained that his brother “scrinched” him. Apparently, a “scrinch” is a pinch with nails instead of fingers! This pinch has been named “scrinch” since it leaves a scratch afterwards. I actually googled to see if such a word exists and I found “scrinchables”…interesting…

Notable Note 2: In Montreal, twice we came across pianos that have been seemingly abandoned. The first time, we saw such a piano – ASid actually played some music! Only the second time in 2 months…at least, he was inspired at that moment in time. That is probably the point of the seemingly abandoned pianos. I like that!

 

One dozen years

ASid is 12! The day he was born, I looked at him and told myself that I have a good 18 years with him. It has been a glorious dozen years. I hope ASid has enjoyed them as much as I have. Someone once told me that a first child is an experiment for the parents and hence, those children carry the scars of their parents' mistakes. Given that, ASid has never complained about the injustices meted out to him...at least, not yet :) He still gives his Momley a hug at the end of the day.

 

What can I say on this milestone birthday? Well kid, continue to be your awesome self. No matter what, I am proud of you. Never forget that!

 

Happy Birthday!

Love,

Momley

 

Gifts of 3 Magi

Note: No Biblical allusions intended; if anything, I am alluding to one of my favourite short stories.

Another Note: Realized that Momley is a family name! Not very common though. Hopefully, there should be no disputes or issues in the future! As if!!

 

I invited a third friend to read the blog. He will be called "Sir B". Sir B is my brother's best friend. He quit a desirable and stable career to pursue the Fine Arts. In my eyes, he is very brave. He now has a career in the Film Industry and doing quite well for a late entrant. Let me be clear that I have NO aspirations to join the said industry. The reason behind this invitation is the following story.

 

4 and half years ago, during one March Break, Craigley announced a Family Short Story Contest. It involved only 3 contestants – ASid, Craigley and yours truly. 2 judges were recruited – my brother and Sir B. Of course, I totally expected ASid to win the contest…with a maternal uncle and an honourary uncle involved, what else can one expect? What I did NOT expect was to come third in the contest! Both the judges deemed my short story to be incomplete and “invalid” as it did not comply with the conventions of a short story. I was so dejected that I did not attempt to write anything since then (except for this blog; which is less structured and more forgiving).

 

Recently, Sir B sent a birthday email in which he wondered if I have been writing…so I sent him a link to my blog. Perhaps there is still a need for approval; I don’t know.

 

On the other hand, when I mentioned my blog to my friend Smoggy; he sent me a link to a YouTube video on Julia Childs that was hilarious. Smoggy never gives feedback unless I ask him to; he just makes sure I giggle like a little girl, smile like the world belongs to me and laugh out loud like no one is watching me :) He is my best friend and I haven't seen him in over 4 years...life sure does get in the way!

 

Then there is my friend KPF who checks in once in a while; he is my one and only loyal reader. Thanks to his encouragement, I continue to write. Thanks to his kindness, my boys will have a place to visit to "see" their Momley...long long after...

 

 

What does God look like?

The following poignant conversation started off when Hans was playing with the faucet...turning it on and off, and driving me crazy! I don't know why; I said, "God will be mad at you as you are wasting water!" As usual, there was a quick response, "I don't see God anywhere...he is invisible...he is nobody!”

Then a pause later, "Have you seen God, Momley?" I answered rather diplomatically, "Some see God as a woman; some see God as Jesus Christ and some see God as Ganesha...different people see God differently…”

Before I could finish, "I see God as Spiderman, Superman and all superheroes mashed up together!"

That's how my 5 year old sees God and I am OK with it.