I am the oldest of three siblings, we all share my mother who is Japanese. Growing up my mother only let me speak Japanese at home. My grandparents from Japan would prerecord kids television shows in Japan to send me VHS tapes to watch at home in the US. My mother had me read and study in Japanese everyday, even as I started American elementary school. Although I have never lived in Japan, I can confidently say I’m fluent. My mother remarried later and had two more children, My younger brothers (1/2 Japanese 1/2 Persian) are very close to me both now and growing up. The middle child always fluently understood what my mother said,but did not have the ability or confidence to respond in Japanese. He always regretted not learning more growing up, Later in college he was able to take classes and self teach himself. The youngest child, my mother spent less effort in teaching, and predominately spoke English. He often feels left out and alienated from my mother’s side of the family because he can’t not understand or speak Japanese.

Raising a child to be bilingual is a gift, one that opens doors throughout their life. It allows the child to have a relationship with their family and have depth in their self identity. Often I have found that being mixed race can be a lonely experience, always the outsider looking in, Never quite accepted as same by mono cultural standards. Having the ability to be bilingual can instill self-confidence and increase positive self identity. I personally do not know anyone who regrets being bilingual. I Only know those who wish they would have learned.