"Vovô"

My son married a woman from Ohio, and my grandson is being raised speaking English. I was born in Brazil, and I worried he would never speak my language. I decided to try anyway.

Every Sunday, when they visit, I speak only Portuguese to him. I read him the books my mother read to me. I sing him the songs I sang to his father. I point at everything. "Cachorro," for the dog. "Bola," for the ball. "Pão," for the bread. He just looked at me and laughed.

For a year, he said nothing in Portuguese. Then, in September, he climbed up onto my lap, put both his little hands on my face and said, very clearly, "Vovô." Grandpa.

I couldn't speak. My son was filming. My daughter-in-law was clapping. My grandson looked very pleased with himself and said it again, louder. "VOVÔ!"

Now he says "bola" and "água" and "obrigado." He calls the dog "cachorro." I've never been so happy to hear my own language.