In the mall today Rose told Steve that he had a mark on his "pants". I told her that she meant trousers. Steve asked Rose what she was going to say when kids in England laugh at her for using pants in that way. He explained it would probably happen every time she said it. I suggested the best way to defuse the situation would be by laughing with people. She agreed that was a good idea.
We then had a funny conversation about our kids' vowel use with them. The difference between saying paaaaaaaants and pants. Josh was practising with the word ants. They sort of know they sound different to English people but none of us really knows what it will be like for them until we return. I'm fairly sure they are going to lose their American accents pretty fast and pick up the local twang but it is something that as a parent concerns me. I remember how hard it was for me and my brother when we moved just in England. But an American accent is not exactly considered a desirable accent in our home country.
We are trying hard to prepare our kids for these differences before we leave so they at least know what reactions they might expect and how they can respond in ways that are positive.
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