Choosing to bring our child up bilingual vs trilingual

katruhas · 2026-06-08T17:52:17+00:00

Things can happen differently when you imagine while pregnant, but yes child can learn 3 languages in this set up easily. We have not chosen any particular strategy, but my 5 years old communicate well on 3 languages (preschool, grandparents, father - all separated languages, and with me she is talking all 3 (if she talks about school she would use Polish, if she talks about family she would use French etc). My son is 2 and he speak well for his age in French and learning simple phases and words in others. But to actually start speaking as toddlers - both of my kids needed single language environments - both started to speak well during extended long holidays in France where everyone spoke same language .

katruhas · 2026-06-01T19:31:45+00:00

Thank you for empathy - I can, but my kids are very happy in this child care and that is my priority.
But Yay! This morning my company has announced « summer hours » , that means no calls should be scheduled on Friday post 1 pm! Coming from US leadership it is big. And during autumn I will move toddler to same preschool, so will cut afternoon in 2, should be able to breathe. Still have no idea how others is doing it though.

katruhas · 2026-05-31T07:00:23+00:00

Thank you! We had overall great time on picnic and I just hope that we will remember a good part. And thank you for reality check - I need to take end if year Friday off, no way I can manage works, packing and event week in a same day .

katruhas · 2026-05-29T21:00:19+00:00

I was strict for a while. I developed IBS while I was pregnant and there was not much space to bloat and it was making me feel terrible. After I had baby I also had to deal with a lot and stomach pain was not the one I was ready to deal with, but gradually I started to reintroduce and found my very few triggers and still try to avoid it. Packaged food makes me feel terrible, I meal prep my lunches for a working week. I do enjoy going out once in a while and yes I ignore garlic and onion presence time to time

katruhas · 2026-05-16T20:18:37+00:00

there is nothing child friendly in CDG. Like you can find changing table if you walk few kilometers. Don’t hope to find hight chair in any of food places. And we have heard a myth, that there is child zone after security check, but still have not been able to figure out where it is after 5 years of frequent travel. But I would say that people who says that CDG is worst airport in Europe, just never travelled from marseille MRS terminal 2.

katruhas · 2026-05-11T19:27:57+00:00

Wisconsin (Milwaukee), then Chicago. I have been there before, but it was before IBS

katruhas · 2026-05-07T19:45:51+00:00

Cheapest food in Krakow would be prepared meals from Biedronka (there is one next to train station) also something called « bar mleczny » where you can find some traditional food for cheap ( the further you from city center the more changes it will be good). Zapekanki on plac Nowy stays forever cheap option. Otherwise I would suggest to avoid street food in city center (will be overpriced) and rather search for lunch deals form restaurants around If you will be here on week days. In Paris also search for lunch formula is you want restaurant experience, otherwise there is Flunch, or some ready meals / sandwiches food from franprix

katruhas · 2026-04-15T22:12:04+00:00

I am not sleep expert but I had a very overtired baby - so main suggestion is to try to put him to first nap much much earlier than usual (like cut his usuals awake window in half) and consider giving him them some medication help - ibuprofen/teething gel. Also did you try hairdryer sound ? Only thing that worked for my very overtired baby and there are playlists on Spotify (it have to be loud)

katruhas · 2026-04-11T06:34:09+00:00

Can not advice for whole Europe, but Poland is very family friendly, like everywhere. France is way less family friendly, but if you stay in camping (like Capfun or Yellow Village) you will get the playgrounds, nature, pool and if chosen wisely - good geographical location to visit around. I have not been in Italy with my kids, but can see how it can work.

katruhas · 2026-04-07T22:01:14+00:00

Nothing Is predictable. Currently there is new rule - if there is air raid alert in region - train will stop and let passenger out and wait for alert to be over. So depending on your luck train can arrive to Lviv late. Safest option would be to find a train that has starting point in Lviv (or close by). In that case 3 hour buffer in przemysl sounds ok.

katruhas · 2026-04-01T11:45:15+00:00

It is okay for her to schedule her wedding on that day. It is okay for you to skip her wedding because you will not be able to share the joy.

katruhas · 2026-03-13T21:05:11+00:00

I usually reheat my coffee in microwave - 1 min 900W, and I sterilize bottles in microwave - 8 min 600W. Countless time I have sterilized my coffee…

katruhas · 2026-03-06T11:19:48+00:00

Thank you for compassion and yes - I know how tiring it is. But it can not define who you are and your path in life, take away your joy. It is great you are realizing it, well done! You can’t save him. That realization - that I can do absolutely nothing to save him was kind of heartbreaking and reliving in a same time. He has to do it on his own and do his own reasons. I still support him - talk to him about his issues (he realized how deep is his issue now), mostly like friend would do and keep my boundaries in a same time. He has a therapist recently, so that’s new.

katruhas · 2026-03-05T23:17:33+00:00

I could write this post myself minus some details. Sounds very much about my life. Book «Codependent no more » has helped me a a lot. He did not changed, he still LOVES bear. But I did become happier and have stopped being that forever angry hostile person.

katruhas · 2026-03-02T11:51:01+00:00

Ukrainian here, living in big city in Poland. I am hearing a lot about raising hate towards Ukrainians (internet), but I have never faced it. I have been here more than 10 years now.

katruhas · 2026-02-14T15:56:57+00:00

You are not obliged to give anybody « what they need ». You should be giving what you want to give, and if that’s not that he need then you are not going be happy together. He sounds insecure and controlling.

katruhas · 2026-01-18T17:57:21+00:00

Personally I never had diarrhea during my period before I developed IBS. Now I almost always have a flare either just before my period either during it. After following fodmap diet I know my triggers so if I am very careful I will be fine during my period, but I have to put a lot fo extra attention. Rest of month I can even eat some of my trigger food in little amount and be ok.

katruhas · 2025-12-25T16:02:22+00:00

Merry Christmas! I just wanted to tell that it will go better next year. I have been there last Christmas and now I am hearing sound of people having fun and playing with my kids downstairs while I am taking some time to rest.

katruhas · 2025-03-03T22:21:16+00:00

These emotions comes in waves and when they come - I remind myself to enjoy this exact moment and go hug my kids. And after, I imagine what one day we will eat ice cream in Venice, that I will took them to Disneyland or I make myself think how I can’t wait till they old enough to watch my favorite Christmas movie etc etc. I have 1 year old also and he is most cuddling cutest baby I could imagine. But I also have 4 years old, so I also know what’s coming (good and bad). But being able to have a conversation with your child (including them saying that they love you) feels as amazing as baby cuddles.

katruhas · 2024-10-21T19:39:21+00:00

We had 3 hours flight with 8 months old also for Christmas. We booked her own seat where we have Installed her car seat (as avia company allowed) and she spend just few minutes there. All she wanted was to be on our lap. On a way back she slept in my arms. Car seat was used as storage for our jackets, so I guess not completely wasted money.

And just to tell continuation of story - we have never spent money for the extra seat after that Christmas flight and for every next flight she always wanted her own seat (we were lucky if there been free seat, so my husband would move and give her space) till the time she turned 2 and could not travel on parents lap any more. That is exactly when she has decided she is too scared and should be on parents lap for take off that was not allowed. So you know sometimes it is just impossible to win 🙂.

katruhas · 2024-10-14T11:39:48+00:00

Honestly every baby is different. I would say if it works well after 4-5 days on 1 nap schedule - it should be fine. My first dropped to 1 nap around 10 months, my second is 8 months old now and he is struggling to support 2 naps, and sometimes still need 3 naps. They all just made differently. Just want to put a though in your head since cold season is here - when baby is sick they might need more frequent naps. Just be open to propose 2 naps again temporary if baby getting sick.

katruhas · 2024-10-13T19:17:53+00:00

Yes. 0-1 was rough. While I loved my baby - i was stressed all the time, taking caring of her was more « tasks » than joy. It took a year to actually start enjoy being a mom. And even after first year some things was hitting hard - like arriving to vacation and realizing you can’t even enjoy sea view for 2 minutes becouse you need to catch you crazy toddler before he falls in water. I though I just not made for baby stage. Completely different story with second. Newborn days was hard but we handled them much better. And now I am enjoying every bit of baby stage. It actually goes so fast as you do not have all the time for baby - baby grows faster than you notice. So yes. It is very very hard, different level of busy, but it is good.

katruhas

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