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Thursday, April 18, 2019

Parenthood: some English words and expressions that you will use if you've become a parent

Dear all,
by now most of you must know the breaking news: I have recently become a parent. In fact, I made my debut as a father on Father's Day (last 19th March). Can you believe it? What are the odds? My wife delivered my best gift ever!Well, today I'm going to share with you some words or expressions related to parenthood that you may use at some point, especially in the event of becoming a parent. 

1) Like father, like son: This expression is used to indicate that a given son behaves just like his father does, for example, both of them sleep long hours. There's another variant: like mother, like daughter. In Spanish, this idiom is represented with a stick and a splinter of wood. 
Image result for like father, like son
From: https://www.123rf.com/photo_36629360_stock-vector-like-father-like-son.html

2) The apple never falls far from the tree: Similar expression to the previous one. It indicates that  certain traits and characteristics are passed on to the offspring, that is, that your child will inherit some traits from you. For example, both of them are reckless. You know, the apple never falls far from the tree. 
Image result for the apple never falls far from the tree
From: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Proverb-Saying-Quote-APPLE-Magnet/dp/B003W2DPP0
3) To be the apple of my eye / to be the blue-eyed boy: If someone is the apple of your eye, it means that it's your favourite person in the whole world. By and large, baby girls are the apple of the father's eye. In fact, this is exactly what the idiom says in Spanish.
Image result for the apple of my eye
From: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/520939881891304508/

4) To be born with a silver spoon in one's mouth: This is said of a baby born in a wealthy family or in a well-off background. In Spanish we are a bit more modest and we refer to this expression as "be born with a bread under one's arm". That indicates the rate of poverty Spain is going through he he he. 
Image result for to be born with a silver spoon in one's mouth
From: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/413346072035905606/


5) Smooth as a baby's bottom: This simile doesn't need an explanation, does it? We all know how cute and soft babies' bottoms are, he he he. 
Image result for smooth as a baby's bottom
From: https://www.joelsartore.com/peo024-00019/

6. Like two peas in a pod: When two people are like two peas in a pod, they are very similar. Normally parents and children are like two peas in a pod. In Spanish, we refer to this as being like two droplets of water. This means that two people resemble each other, or simple that the child takes after their parents. 
Image result for like two peas in a pod
From: https://notonlygrammar.com/2016/05/17/two-peas-in-a-pod/
7. It takes a village to raise a child: A self-explanatory sentence to indicate that raising a child is hard work and requires the involvement of a great deal of people and caretakers. 

Image result for it takes a village to raise a child
From: https://www.amazon.com/Takes-Whole-Village-African-Proverb/dp/B0794P8NKV

8. Mamma's boy: If someone is mamma's boy, that means he is a bit clingy and overly attached to his mother and, therefore, less independent than other children at his age. 
9. Helicopter parenting: Helicopter parenting is a modern trend nowadays. If your parents are controlling and they are always watching you, that means they are helicopter parents. 

10. The shoemaker's son always goes barefoot: This idiom refers to the fact that when a family of a skilled person never benefits from the family's work. In Spanish, this saying is expressed by saying:" in the locksmith's house, iron knife". 

Image result for the shoemaker's son always goes barefoot
From: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/555561304016166504/

Which of these expressions have you used? Which one is your favourite? Post it in a comment!.
P.S. If you are interested in this issue, revisit my entry on baby's vocab.

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