Hi beautiful birdy (and a wave to all),
Thank you so much for contributing here and sharing some your partner’s personal experiences with us :) It means a lot....
My heart breaks for your partner’s loss of language, which is such an important part of culture. It’s not everything of course, but I feel it’s a key element. Perhaps I’m projecting slightly because I realise that “could have been me”, so I feel a certain sense sadness for her.
I don’t know how your partner feels about it, and you/her don’t have to answer, but do you think she wants to maybe start practicing Spanish more and re-learn/re-visit some of it? Just a thought.
Sometimes, sadly children (and even adults) target “otherness” when they see “difference.” It’s sad, but in the case of children, I wonder if some of it could be prevented if cultural acceptance/understanding and mutual respect was taught more both in the home and at school.
I must say that I smiled at your comment about how your lovely partner would try to hide her lunch. I suspect that this is fairly common amongst children from CALD backgrounds. I used to also try to plead for sandwiches in a bid to be “accepted” at school....
I can’t imagine how difficult and painful it must have been for you to have felt like you needed to hide who you were (are), in order to fit in to our heteronormative society. I think it’s really hurtful, sad, and unfair that society tries to tell people, either directly or indirectly, that who they are attracted to (and who they love) is “wrong” or “shameful” or “less than.” This must hurt so many people...
I am very aware that I, as a heterosexual woman, get to take certain privileges for granted. No one is going to debate my “right” to marriage. No one is going to debate my hypothetical “fitness” to parent. Etc, etc. If you ever want to (no pressure or obligation) talk about your personal experiences/struggles that you face as a lesbian, we are listening. We care very much.
On a more personal note, I have for a long time, or as much as someone who isn’t directly part of the LGBTI+ community can anyway, felt a deep sense of compassion for that community. Although I realise it’s not the same, I feel my personal experiences pertaining to “otherness” gives me a certain awareness (even if it’s very limited in many ways) xoxox
If anyone else would like to share their personal experience with culture and identity and what that personally means to you, you are very welcome here :)