Lily the Bilingual Girl

When I went to college I was surprised at how much I was judged for being Hispanic but not being able to speak Spanish.  I took several classes in High School and even more in college but learning a  language was hard for me.  I was never Hispanic enough because I didn't speak Spanish.

I didn't want my children to grow up with the same struggle and insecurities I did.  I wanted them to embrace the language and feel comfortable using it.

Cariña started school in 1st grade in a Spanish bilingual school.  The opportunity was exciting for me.

One thing I learned as I have been trying to teach my children Spanish is how hard and frustrating it is for them.  I found my daughter very defensive and  REFUSED to speak Spanish.  She didn't want to be different and trying to understand something that was so foreign to her put her in refusal mode.

I tried any Spanish opportunity, activity, or game that I could get my hands on and it was a fight.  I felt like I was going around in circles in a boxing ring.  Cariña and I both had our fists up ready to fight!

As a mother I have ample amounts of time to think.  Doing dishes, picking up, vacuuming, or so many other chores allows me time to think. I come up with some pretty good ideas, if I do say so myself.  I could solve all the world problems if leaders would just consult me. But they don't!  Anyway I did come up with an activity that I thought would work to learn Spanish.  I just didn't have enough faith in myself to make it a reality!

Mothers are designed to help their children reach their potentials.  Well that is exactly what my mother did.  She told me to do it.  I said, I can't.  She said, Why not?  I said, I don't know how to draw!  She said, I can and I will send you some sketches.  Once she did I had no excuse not to try.  So I did.  I improved the sketches and then colored them.  I did all the computer work, which is much harder and takes so much more time then expected but in the end I got all the art work done.

One of the first sketches

In-laws are designed to fill in all the gaps where your own families lack.  That is what mine did.  They own a sign shop, A Banner Company.  I went to them to find all my printing options that I needed to know.  They had the knowledge of all the material I could print on and the ability to print them.  Just as I couldn't have done it with out my mother's sketches, I couldn't have done it without my in-laws helping with the printing!

I tried to get my dolls done before we moved but having a baby and moving didn't allow my to finish the product.  So March 2014 I entered a craft show to try and sell them.  I was forced to finish the dolls by then and I did.  But after that things got a little bit tough.  I tried to get a web page, but found that it was more difficult than I could manage.  Then life got more difficult and the dolls stayed in hiding.

Finally I decided that I had to get them out.  So my goal was to get them on Etsy on cyber Monday 2015!  I did it.  But this online selling is way harder that I expected.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/255912023/lily-the-bilingual-girl-language?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=bilingual%20dolls&ref=sr_gallery_1

I have had some really good experiences, like an article that was printed in the local paper!  I did make a sell from that article.  I have had a couple of teachers REALLY like them and tell me that they would be willing to help advertise for me.

I am on the front page, no not the article but it tells you what is in the newspaper.

It is a third of the page.

You can read it if you would like.

Another thing that really let me know that the activity set can work was when taking pictures for  Etsy. I went to a friends house.  Her children were there and her eldest boy (9 yrs old), asked what we were doing as we were laying out the dolls on the table.  I told him that I wanted to take pictures of my dolls.  His response was, Yuck I hate dolls.  He then sat down, without being asked, and played with the dolls for about 40 minutes before I finally had to send away all the children.

The kids, including the boy that hates dolls, playing.

The only troubles I have are that I am pretty much an anti-seller, and hate social media.  I don't mean to be outdated, but I am.  Maybe it is because I don't have enough confidence in myself, but I find my self telling people not to buy it. :) OOPS! Probably not the best selling technique.

I know it works.  When I first tested it on Cariña she played and played with it.  I talked to her in Spanish and for the first time she answered in Spanish.  She learned all the clothing words and their definite articles within an hour.  She, all the sudden, liked Spanish.  It took away her insecurities by putting words that she knew and could relate to.  She then felt comfortable enough to use them. I think she felt confidant enough for the first time to try.  It was wonderful.

Cariña making a living room.

It can be used in several different ways.  One, the person can play quietly by themselves and they will learn the words.  It is also great for teachers/parents to establish conversations.  Because of the many options things can be changed and the objects can be talked about easily.  Even adults enjoy playing with it.  I catch myself wanting to move the furniture around. There are only great things about it! (wait am I learning how to sell? :))

Someone making a kitchen.