Getting Bilingual Children to Speak: Family Language Goals This Year

January 20, 2014 by Michele Cherie in French Language Learning, Teaching French

When I think about my family's bilingual progress over the past few years, I realize that I've gotten too comfortable with our path. I've been consistent in speaking only French with my children, and we read many books and magazines in the target language, but that's all of our minority language input. Living in America, this adds up to children who understand French but reply only in English. So my language goals for this year are largely focused on encouraging my children to speak French rather than simply comprehending it. Here's how I hope to do this:

C'est le Weekend: Links You'll Like

January 17, 2014 by Michele Cherie in Weekend Links

The weekend is here! We had a busy day at the Children's Museum today (pictured above), but I'm thinking of taking my children to see the Rose City Classic Dog Show here in Portland tomorrow. (I've never owned a dog, nor do we have enough room for one, but my children would love the show!) If we go, I'll try to post a photo or two on my Instagram account. In the meantime, enjoy these links I've collected for you!

Living Without A Microwave Oven: Why?

January 17, 2014 by Michele Cherie in Home Management

Living in America means that I have a very comfortable life. However, my family and I also live a fairly unconventional life for Americans, considering some of our lifestyle choices. So today I'm launching a series of blog posts highlighting some of the items that we don't own or use, and why we've chosen to live that way.

In 2006, I read a Pew Research study stating that 68% of Americans considered a microwave oven an essential item, compared with just 32% of Americans ten years earlier. Apparently my mindset matched the cultural shift, because at that time I couldn't imagine getting by without a microwave.

Freedom to Play: A Childhood Outdoors

January 15, 2014 by Michele Cherie in Reflections on Parenting

The best stay-at-home mama moments are often the hours spent with my children outside. Today my daughter begged to find an indoor play area, but ultimately we went to a tiny park where my children left the play structure to climb a nearby ridge. The ridge led into an undeveloped housing project of paved streets and empty lots. I followed my children up the hillside and we squatted to inspect mushrooms, then smiled at a terrier and his owner. Our amble led us to another small park where eight young boys played informal football with no adults in sight. I was glad to see them outside.

In his book Last Child in the Woods (which I reviewed here), author Richard Louv highlights how seldom children play in nature anymore, and how structured playgrounds do not provide the same kind of learning and stimulation as a natural environment.

Practical Preparation for Motherhood: 5 Things Magazines Won't Tell You

January 14, 2014 by Michele Cherie in Reflections on Parenting

Having a baby is a bit like wedding planning: a lot of thought goes into the details of the big event, but hardly any effort goes towards making sure the "ever after" part goes as smoothly as possible. As a pregnant woman, I spent a lot of time flipping through Pottery Barn Kids' nursery catalogs and arranging tiny layette items, but I wasn't exactly sure how to prepare for the transition to motherhood. Based on what I've learned from other mamas and from my two births, here are five actions to help prepare you for life after baby's arrival:

Womanhood: Reflecting on our Source of Fulfillment

January 10, 2014 by Michele Cherie in Contentment

Yesterday I was able to hear Joy Forney speak to mamas at Good Shepherd Church here in Oregon. (Joy is a well-known Christian blogger, wife of a missionary pilot, and mama of five). She talked about the way in which we mamas tend to dwell on our failures or, alternatively, rest in the pride of in our choices (breastfeeding, homeschooling, etc.). Yet regardless of our choices, the state of our household, or the appearance of our family, we are loved by God.

Our Bilingual Journey: An Update

January 08, 2014 by Michele Cherie in French Language Learning

My daughter was listening to a French music CD she got in her Christmas stocking when she suddenly asked me, "Why can I understand French?" It was a good question, coming from an American five-year-old who doesn't know many other people who understand it. "Because I've been speaking it with you since you were born," I reminded her in French.

Today is Epiphany: Three Kings Day in France

January 06, 2014 by Michele Cherie in Cultural Reflections

At this point in January, most Americans consider the holidays to be over, but in many countries, the final holiday of the season occurs this month: Epiphany. In France, January 6th marks l'Epiphanie--also known as Three Kings' Day. Why January 6th? It's the twelfth day after Christmas, and historically Christians celebrated the Christmas season for twelve days. Historic Tidbits: Shakespeare's Twelfth Night refers to the festival tied to Epiphany. And the three kings is a reference to the magi or wise men who followed the star to find baby Jesus.