The Importance of Zebra

Today I think I made a significant step. It may sound silly to you, it may seem unnecessary, but I gave my children permission to speak "American". Actually, I think it was more giving yself permission to let go of something I have been holding on to too long and too hard.

When we knew we were going to raise a family here, we knew they would imbibe a large part of American culture as well as some Filipino and we were OK with that - it goes with the territory of being here and we think that is the place we should be. However, I think I have struggled with this more than I thought I would. Today Rose asked me whether zebra is pronounced zebra or zeebra. I told her British people said zebra, Americans say zeebra and she could choose whatever she wanted. Funnily, she then said zebra! But the point was I realised it doesn't matter how she says it or whether she says it the same as I do. Most of my friends pronounce it zeebra and it doesn't bother me. It's not going to affect the essence of who she is which is beyond any culture or way of pronunciation. And that's much more important to me.