I am the semi-neurotic mother of three kids, ages 18, 8 and 5. My oldest is off to college and my youngest just started school. I’ve been the single mom, divorced mom, married mom, young mom, old mom, career mom, and attends school-at-night mom. I’ve worked in the IT world for almost two decades, but still shy from programming cell phones. I have no free time, but when I do…I write or read or plan our next vacation or holler at whomever to give me some PEACE AND QUIET.
Lost in Translation
My cell phone died today. I called my phone provider, in hopes that it was covered by a warranty. I was transferred to someone in India, reading from a script, who said things like ‘I appreciate your concern(s), Madame’, ‘I’m troubled by your issues’, and so on. I have to say it made me laugh as it was so obvious that there wasn’t any form of comprehension behind the English words he was saying.
I know it’s hard to understand another language-especially its nuances and ‘slang’, which seems to be all we speak anymore. When I visited France and Spain last year with my son, every day I was emotionally exhausted by the demands of translations (not just language, but time, distance, currency and what the heck is the metric system again??).
I’ve determined that there is a universal language: The language between kids and parents. My Indian co-worker tells me about his 4-year-old daughter’s annoying habit of plucking the keys off of his laptop keyboard. A Scottish friend relays frustrations about her 9-year-old daughter’s ‘teen’ attitude. A Chinese friend complains about her kids constant fighting.
During the abovementioned trip to France and Spain I heard ‘Be Quiet’ and ‘Stop It’ in at least a half-dozen languages. Even if I didn’t know Russian, Italian, or German, it wasn’t hard to figure it out: “GUNTHER!!! Stoppen Sie dass dieser AUGENBLICK!” and then an embarrassed grin from the harrassed mom.
I hear ya, sister. And understand.
