I’ve had a cold this week, which is perhaps unsurprising given that Bryan and I spent a large part of last week in a theatre with well over 100 children. Someone was bound to be ill, and it was going to happen that I caught the virus going round.
Of course, I dealt with my cold with dignity and … Oh, I can’t keep up the pretence. I whinged about it to anyone who would listen, which wasn’t that many people. I even caught Bryan rolling his eyes at me once or twice. Poetic justice now that he has come down with the same cold. I‘ve been an empathetic dad and have avoided rolling my eyes at him.
I now have an entire week off work. I’ll still find time to write, though. I couldn’t imagine a day without writing something. It’s going to be lovely to spend time with Bryan. We do that every day, of course, but that’s often taken up with school, and work, and his dance lessons, and … and … and … well, you get the picture. Having a week off, away from the regular routine, is going to be nice. He’s not as much of a shadow to me as he once was (I didn’t realise how much I’d miss that when it happened), but he’s still willing to spend time with me, which is brilliant.
We’re going to be visiting his siblings for a couple of days next week, which will be a lovely visit. They’re not too far away, which means we can get there in a good time on the train, and just enjoy their company. Other than that, I’ve deliberately not organised too much “stuff” – I want to spend some of the week freewheeling. We can decide on the day what we want to do; there’s the Folk Week procession next Saturday we might go to, and the Monster Truck Event out at Quex on Sunday. We went last year, and it was a bit of fun. I could be talked into going again, believe me.
Who is interested in other languages? Bryan seems to have an aptitude for language. He’s learning Spanish at school and is picking it up well. He uses Duolingo at home to brush up on what he’s learning in the classroom, and I’ve been convinced to learn French through the app. I’m not a natural like he is, but I’ve picked up a few of the basics; ask me about my family, my neighbours, or colours, and I’d be able to throw a few sentences together. But Bryan has picked up on Spanish like a genuine natural.
I wish I knew the science behind the process in a person’s brain as they learn a language – how some people can just flow so naturally, and others struggle. When I was learning sign language a decade or more ago, we were a mixed ability class – and I can’t pretend that I was very capable. I had to work hard to pick up the basic grammar concepts, and when I watched people sign fluently, I realised that I was just dipping my toe onto a sea of language that it would take me a lifetime to appreciate. I’ve forgotten a lot of what I learnt now, I’m sad to say, because I just don’t use it.
But I’m ready to down tools now. Bryan is currently looking for some Spanish videos to watch, and then he’s going to try and teach me a few basic words. It’s going to be embarrassing and awkward … for him, as I won’t know what I sound like. I might even play up to my lack of ability and see how far I can push it. These moments make parenthood even more fun, I assure you.
