Hello parents! My husband and I have a big decision to make and maybe some of you out there have some valuable experience to share. I'm too close to it and struggling. The TLDR is how/if to try to develop bilingual kids with or without a foreign language immersion education. I will try not to give all my personal info away...I'm originally from a foreign country but have been a naturalized US citizen for most my life. I still have family and may some day inherit property "back there" although I only get to return every other year at this point in my life. I suspect I'll never live there again as my life is well anchored in the US but I do want to remain connected to my extended family and to the culture. My husband is American. We have two daughters (3 & 7) with dual citizenship.For the last three years, my eldest had the opportunity to attend a immersion program here (she's now in 2nd grade). The littlest started last year in the preschool. The program runs through eighth grade and follows the IB system. The eldest has made immense strides in her language. And we've done a better job of integrating this language into our home life such that the little one is picking it up nicely too (she understands everything even if she is not yet eager to answer in that language). The classes are small and the teachers attentive. There is an awesome library and many more books/CDs/media at home that I wouldn't know how to source otherwise. The population is fairly international so that's a cool experience too. I get to hang out and speak with people with certain common experiences. And my kids are developing their own social circles.But it's far from home (45min each way) and private so pricey (about $16k per year each). There are very good public schools within walking distance - although their populations are... homogenous. They are 99% people just like us (race and socio-economic status wise) and I value exposure to different lives and cultures.However there's been a financial change that will make it really difficult for us to keep up one or both tuitions next year. If we can just do one, it will probably be the preschooler who stays in the same school since we have to pay for preschool either way. This may be just next year; it may be indefinite; we don't know. So we are looking at bringing the eldest back into the public system, or liquidating some stuff to stay in the same school (probably three more years for the eldest).My husband sees things the same way so there's is no friction there.My anxieties are about whether we can maintain a second language without the immersion program. What can I do besides speak it all the time at home? Is it even realistic to try to produce a bilingual person in the US? It seems like every second generation kid I have met has lost their "mother tongue". Maybe it's a battle not even worth fighting. Have you any success stories? What works?The second big concern is about making new friends. I moved a lot as a kid. I changed schools before 2nd, 5th, and 8th grade. That last move was very difficult, socially, at 13. I think a 7 yo will rebound much better than I did at 13 but I'm still sad that she will most likely lose touch with her small group of friends and have to make new social circles. It's not her strong suit, although it's gotten better. As I write this, I am begging to think I shouldn't worry much about this. Better now than later.So if anyone with relevant experience about trying to maintain another language at home can pipe in with what works and what doesn't, I would be immensely grateful. Right now the thought of changing everything makes me too anxious to think it through rationally.Edit: I very much appreciate everyone's insights. You've helped me refocus and think through this less emotionally. via /r/Parenting http://ift.tt/2pEBgkV
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