Nick’s very favourite part of school is PE. But he also likes library day, and bringing home a new book to read at bed time each week. This week he brought home The Golden Kangaroo.
In the book it mentions that The Golden Kangaroo is an “Aussie through and through.” As I read this part, I was surprised to hear, “Mum, what’s an Aussie?” I have failed my child! I have failed my country!
“You’re an Aussie!” I said. “No I not,” was the reply. I had to think for a second, before explaining to him what an Aussie was. “You were born in Australia, that makes you an Aussie.” Sorry, it was the best I could do on the spot. “Oh,” he said. “Ok.”
As I sit here, wondering what to blog about this week, I hear The Mechanic in the next room, reading The Golden Kangaroo to Nick. And I hear, loudly and proudly, “I’m an Aussie!”
I’m glad we’ve cleared that up. Now I just have to try and explain to him that he’s also an American without confusing the poor child. Any tips?
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Colours of Sunset 
LOL – that is so cute !!!! K was a little confused after we got her because she knew we were South African. Then we became Australians – now we are true blue Aussies and wouldn’t change it for the world !
Have the best week my friend and take care !
Me
lol that’s a very different sentence when you miss an “e” off “here”! I was so confused “when you got her!?!? where did you get her!?!?!?” Glad you guys are proud Aussies now! 😉
Ha!! My kids are aussies with a pommie mum!! I will let that part slide until they are older to understand more!!
Yes well Nick told his daddy (American) “You’re an Aussie too daddy!” He said “No I’m not” and so starts the confusion! Probably best left til they’re a bit older.
Naw that is cute!
Now he’s telling everyone they’re Aussies! 🙂 bless his little heart.
How funny, I guess it’s not something that comes up in conversation much. The explanation part I mean.
I have that same issue, hubby is American. 2 of the boys have their SS numbers and USA passports too.
Oh you guys are organised! We took Nick to the US when he was 11 months old and they told us at immigration we could get a passport for him, we just haven’t gotten around to it?
I am an Aussie, but also British. Hubby is an Aussie but also Irish. Dex is an Aussie who is also British with the ability to also be Irish if he so chooses and multiple citizenship is still allowed by all three at the time… add in the fact that his grandmother is Polish and that one is going to be fun to explain too 🙂
We have Polish on my husbands side also. He does know his daddy was born in Detroit, but he doesn’t understand yet that he’s not an Aussie! Must be very confusing for them when they’re so young!
When I was a kid, I used to tell people I was half Australian, a quarter English and a quarter American. My thought was mum was Australian and I was born here so that makes half, Dad was English and my step dad was American so there were my quarters. It never occured to me that step dads heritage doesn’t count!
awwww but nice that you liked your step father enough to think it DID count! ha ha! Glad you went the full half Aussie and split the others up tho!
I remember being about nine years old and very patriotic and telling my English grandfather that as an Aussie I was far better than poor old pommie him and didn’t he wish he was an Aussie like me!
Ooooh ha ha ha! I bet your grandfather had to leave the room so as not to go ape poo over that comment! ha ha!!
That’s a cute story. I must be a difficult concept to grasp for littlies.
Yes I think it is. My son is still arguing with me that A is a consonant, not a vowel. Baby steps…he’ll understand it all eventually! ha ha ha
Kids ask the funniest questions. Sometimes its a shock what they dont quite grasp! Good luck with your explanations!! x
Thanks! We’ll just keep telling him until he gets it – or at least memorizes it, even if he doesn’t completely understand!
Aroha, this is a tough one! How do I explain to my boys that they are Aussie, Maltese, Greek and Hungarian? When you work it out – can you let us know? xx
Oh man, if I figure it out I’ll let you know, and vice versa!
According to my MIL, my husband (as a young child) asked why everyone at his school called him an ‘Aussie Bushwhacker’. Because you are, she replied. He was fine with it. 😉
hahahaha there’s a term I haven’t heard in AAAAGES! A bushwhacker! Glad he took it on the chin.
Hee hee that is awesome – so our babies are Aussies with Kiwis as parents, grandparents on both sides and aunties etc! I do feel a little sad they will grow up learning about the history they don’t really have – if that makes sense. xx
It’s alright, they’ve got a better history! 😉 Lucky kids to be born here. he he, ok I’ll stop now.
Such a common question these days with our multicultural society isn’t it? We’ve always told Bell she’s Chinesian, John’s Chinese and i’m Aussie. She’s proud of both cultures and especially happy about all the lovely Chinese food we always have at celebrations LOL xx
I think it’s lovely for kids to have different cultures to learn about and celebrate and be proud of. Especially 2 as different as Aussie and Chinese. Aussie and American is not that different – although different histories, etc. the cultures are very similar now!
I’m an Aussie, but I also was proud that my Dad is Scottish, I think kids actually like being able to say they are something else as well. I can just imagine Ezra when he is older proudly saying that he is half American too haha!
It seems everyone is a bit Irish when St. Patty’s Day comes around! I think we all like to be able to claim somewhere else as a part of ourselves. Makes us a bit more exotic, maybe? ha
Hahaha! I can just imagine myself, one day, talking with my children about their origins! I think you gave him the right answer: simple and clear, this is all what he need for the moment in my opinion.
you’re right, that is all he needed…until he told my (American) husband that he too was Aussie, and he said, “no I’m not.” We had to go a bit deeper then!
I just asked the Big Sister – she didn’t think she was an Aussie, but she know’s she’s Australian!
Ok, well that’s a good start! now just to get her going with Aussie Aussie Aussie, OI OI OI! 🙂
That’s just too cute!
At the daycare the boys were taught to answer “Australia” when asked “Where are you from?”
Now they say, “Australia and Indonesian…” Technically correct. Grammatically? Not so much 🙂
awww close enough! 🙂 that’s so cute!
Oh that’s cute! Our kids are Aussie through and through, so we won’t have that issue, but ever since we’ve been back from our holidays, Ava asks ‘are we still in Darwin? ‘ 🙂
lol!!
the kid makes me LOL on a daily basis. I’m the luckiest mum.
Haha… kids are great. I’d just wait a few more years before confusing him further! 😛
yeah I think I’ll give it a couple of years. Although it may come up sooner rather than later, as they’re already talking at school about where their parents and grandparents come from!