Keeping up with the Tanakas

We checked out Shel Silverstein's A Light in the Attic from the library yesterday. I was reading the poems to Mina before going to sleep last night. We came to "Rock 'N' Roll Band."

If we were a rock 'n' roll band,
We'd travel all over the land.
We'd play and we'd sing and wear spangly things,
If we were a rock 'n' roll band.

At the end of the poem, I asked Mina if that sounded like fun. She replied, "I don't know because I don't know what a rock 'n' roll band is." Oh, how I hurt when I think of the gaps in her language and cultural exposure. I am her primary source of English language input. I am failing her. Toshi tries his best and her grandfather is always asking her to say things in English and praising her pronunciation, but these two are not going to enrich her vocabulary. I have to make more of a conscientious effort to help her become fluent and literate.

Poor Sam is even worse off than Mina. The other day we were looking at a picture book of animals. "Ooh, look, a gorilla!" I said. "Go Ri Ra!" Sam says with impeccable Japanese intonation. Okay, how about the name of Mina's stuffed horse, "Lily?" "RU RI!" HUH?!?!?! Okay, say "Grandpa Larry." "GRANDPA BEAR!!!"

My poor children. We are spending the summer in Japan this year and I think we will be playing school a lot.