Right now, it goes like this:

6 year old: thinks I’m a bit stupid because I constantly get words wrong – all the time. Especially when I call trousers pants and trainers sneakers. Well what can I say? I’m hard-wired American! He also thinks I’m sort of an alien because I hail from another ‘world’ and he can never remember what that ‘other world’ is called but likes the sound of it. He can’t recall visiting Florida or going to Disney but he loves looking at the photos. Chats non stop to his American Grandmother over the phone and Skype. Unfortunately, she can’t understand a word he says.

12 year old: Gives me pathetic looks when I say things like play clothes and other Americanisms such as Math and suppertime. Has very fond memories of Florida, especially the neighbors she made friends with, the climate and the culture. Understands many of the cultural differences between the two countries and likes to talk about it with me. Sometimes mixes up American pronunciation and spellings with her native British way of saying and spelling words. When this happens at school she is mortified and her friends laugh at her (hopefully in a friendly way). Is incredibly reserved and very British by nature but is interested in my background, her American grandparents and likes the idea of America. Loves peanut butter instead of marmite. That is definitely my fault!

Almost 14 year old (his birthday is July 2nd, Whoop whoop!): Loves all things American especially food such as Kraft Macaroni Cheese, chocolate chip cookies, brownies, Mountain Dew, iced tea, real lemonade, Cheetos and American candy. Loves America and wants to go there on his own when he’s older to travel and to work. Games with American kids online and calls me ‘retarded’ when I suggest that he tell them he’s half American. Actually he calls me ‘retarded’ quite often these days, doesn’t really matter much what I say. I think that must be a teenager thing rather than a cultural thing. Loves to shop online with me for American food-stuffs and treats. Buys me stuff when he’s out and about and sees something that I will love like Cheetos or Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Fields lots of questions from his friends such as ‘why do all Americans have guns?’ and ‘Is it true that Americans eat hamburgers everyday?’ Knows who George Washington and Abraham Lincoln are and what they did, the significance of Thanksgiving and the 4th of July and can’t wait to visit America again.

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Meghan Peterson Fenn is the author of Bringing Up Brits and co-author of Inspiring Global Entrepreneurs with Heidi Mulligan Walker. Meghan is also the Director and Chief Designer at her own design company, White Ochre Design Ltd. And, she is an award winning expat blogger.

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The post The older they get…. my three cross cultural kids appeared first on Bringing Up Brits.

I didn’t think I could join in with this one as both my home country and my expat country speak English. However, my kids make fun of me all the time because of my accent and because of the different words I say. So, I’ve turned this blog post on its head. Is this allowed?? No idea, just thought I’d throw it out there….

5 Reasons WHY I WISH my Children WOULD Speak American English along with their British English

1. They constantly make fun of my accent and the words I use. I get ‘told off’ by them for saying pants instead of trousers and laughed at for saying gas instead of petrol. I do try and use British English most of the time, but some things just don’t stick. And when I’m tired, my accent reverts to Southern American. It does provide some good entertainment for them – at my expense!

2. They bust out laughing every time I say the word ‘ramp.’ They think my pronunciation of this word is hilarious and makes me sound like an ignorant hill billy. To be fair, it was their father who first started to make fun of the way I pronounce certain words. Not in a horrible way, in a funny way (I say funny through gritted teeth). ‘Pie’ is another one they find hilarious. We often have ‘mock the American’ nights when no matter what I say or how I say it, everyone ends up laughing.

3. They are mortified when I use American terms in front of their friends. They are even more mortified when I try and explain these American terms to their friends.

4. They think I’m stupid when I say Math. Especially in front of their teachers. I do make a real effort to say ‘Maths’ when in the presence of British people (which is all the time) especially their teachers so as not to appear stupid.

5. Sometimes I have no idea what my children are saying to me. Seriously. No idea.

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Meghan Fenn is the author of Bringing Up Brits and co-author of Inspiring Global Entrepreneurs with Heidi Mulligan Walker. Meghan is also the Director and Chief Designer at her own design company, White Ochre Design Ltd.  And, she is an award winning expat blogger.

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The post 5 Reasons I’m Glad my Children Speak British English and American English appeared first on Bringing Up Brits.