Visiting your Chinese in-laws during Chinese New Year can sometimes be a stressful experience. They can be the most friendly people on the planet, but the holiday excitement combined with getting the whole family (cousins, uncles, friends, neighbors) together for an entire week can prove to be a bit much. But if there’s one thing that you don’t have to worry about, it’s the ability of your kids to connect with the grandparents.
It’s not that common to have local grandparents who aren’t fluent in English, but a language barrier is nothing in the face of love.
My adorable little nephew Daniel was born and raised in London and at 2.5 years old, he’s not speaking any language fluently let alone both English and Chinese. He’s still wobbling around the house happily singing “tinkle tinkle eettle star” instead of “twinkle twinkle little star”.
But, just because he can’t speak Chinese (or any language really) yet, doesn’t mean he and his grandma aren’t having the most riveting hour-long chats every single day. “Is he really that interesting?” “Yes! I can’t get enough of him!”, she’d tell me.
Watching grandma listen intently that little munchkin babbling on and on about (what we think) is an update on his day is the epitome of unconditional love. Which brings me back to Chinese New Year.
Going to visit the in-laws and for some parents, introducing their baby to grandma and grandpa for the very first time is going to be one of those “aw” moments to be remembered forever. No matter what HSK level your Chinese is currently at when it comes to family, love transcends any language.
Photos: Apple Jin, unsplash, brightside.com
