It's fun learning 3 languages......

So my trilingual toddler and I seem to be having a bit of difficulty with our communication skills. I'm trying to make an effort to strictly speak Spanish to her but sometimes my Spanglish-Croatian gets the best of me. Today our dialogue went something like this:

Me: "Beli vamos a comer." (let's eat)

Beli: "no quieres!" ( she doesn't want to ....but what she means to say is I don't want to)

Me: "porque no?" ( why not)

Beli: "No quieres!" (She doesn't want to)

Me: "let's eat papa, y eggs y jugo!" (let's eat potatoes, eggs and juice)

Beli: " jaja mama" (not ja-ja in Spanish like haha it's funny!....but ya-ya meaning.. eggs)

After breakfast, we folded the laundry, read books and learned how to put our shoes on. She wanted to do everything Sama (alone). "Bela sama," she said. And while we are on the topic of being independent let me share my little nervous breakdown I had earlier today.

The same overwhelming feelings I felt when preparing for the Naplex Board Exam 5 years ago were back. I felt nervous, anxious, scared! I'm worried I won't pass my Level II Croatian language class. Most of what I have learned was lost on transit to America. It's important for me to do well because learning the language will be the bridge that connects me to my Husband's family, to his country. I don't want to be left behind in the conversations amongst my daughter and hubby or with the grandparents. And then I remembered a discussion my friend Nando and I had earlier in the week, "You are not Superwoman, so don't put that pressure on yourself,"he said in reference to my wanting to be 'perfect' in every aspect of my life. And he is right, I need to find balance in everything I do.

So I picked up my camera and focused on my daughter. I looked at her little hands and thought, " so tiny and yet so powerful." Then my fears faded away. "It's going to be ok," I told myself. How do you find balance in your life?

Hubby and Beli walking from the beach.

Marjan Hill located near the Diocletian Palace will be the meeting point for my friends and I tomorrow at 9am for our morning walk. Want to join us? Afterwards we will be drinking coffee and reviewing for our exam next week. Then later in the afternoon Hubby, Beli and I will be driving to Bribir (where his grandparents live) for an evening under the stars. Saturday we'll be visiting Skradin and Sibenik. Busy weekend! What are your plans?

And here are a few lovely blogs from around the world.

It's a Bilingual Carnival.

Get your cup of expresso and enjoy this view in Italy.

I dream of Spain.

Another Atlanta weekend.

Saying goodbye is part of being an Expat.

Something to think about, The Gore Effect.

A great story.

Traveling, writing, living in a boat in England