Mother Tongues

Our understanding grows from the base of our mother tongues, and the context that provides as a foundation. Memory works by having somewhere to put things. Meaning hooks which place, and interpret what we take in. 

Imagine being a baby again where you have no context. Your wide eyes stare, looking for patterns and repetition. Everything is fascinating. Everything you get wrong is a learning experience, if you even know enough to know you got it wrong. Which must be traumatic. 

This is why kids go from emotional extremes of frustratedly losing their temper, to rapturous joy. Living in a world where everything is unexpected and chaotic. We talk about kids learning fast. That is not really my experience. We are just nicer to kids. They take ages to learn. When you speak to a 6- or 10-year-old, we are amazed partly because we want to be amazed. 

Would you be amazed by an adult with that proficiency after a decade of study? We allow children space and time to carry on learning. 

Once we are adults, we start judging more harshly the slightest mistake. Someone who speaks four or five languages might struggle to get promotions because of their English grammar, or ability to paint a vivid picture in their fifth language. 

To develop a habit of lifelong learning, you need to maintain childlike curiosity, but also parentlike kindness. You have to be a good parent to yourself, and hold space for discomfort and celebration.

Somewhere to place Memories