Episode 14 – What Grandparents Teach Us About Language, Love, and Legacy

Today’s episode is a little different and one that’s been on my heart for a long time.

It’s both a tribute and a reminder.

A tribute to my dad, who has played a huge role in my life and in my children’s lives, and a heartfelt celebration of grandparents and the beautiful, often overlooked role they play in raising bilingual children.

It’s also a gentle reminder to all of us:
Grandparents matter more than we realize… especially in our bilingual journey.

We’ll explore the unique ways they shape language, culture, and connection — and why their presence, even from far away, can make a big difference.
You may think bilingual parenting is all about you… but what if grandparents are actually a  missing link?

Whether you’re a parent, a grandparent, or somewhere in between, this episode is an invitation to reflect, reconnect, and celebrate the imperfect, meaningful moments that create lasting bilingual bonds.

Inside This Episode:

• A personal story of how my dad helped me learn English in Colombia
• How he later became a language mentor and joy-bringer for my children
• Why time with grandparents doesn’t have to be long to be meaningful
• How their presence supports language, culture, and emotional growth
• What to do if grandparents live far away — or are no longer here
• Overcoming resistance from family members who don’t yet understand your “why”
• How to gently include grandparents in your bilingual journey
• 3 reflection questions to help you reconnect and reimagine the role of elders
• A powerful reminder: “What doesn’t get scheduled, doesn’t happen.”
• A simple idea to try this week: record a grandparent reading a story
• A special teaser for next week’s episode: my dad reading We Are All Connected

Reflection Questions:

1. How have the grandparents in your life influenced your child — emotionally, culturally, or linguistically?
2. What stories, songs, or traditions could your child learn from a grandparent that no book or app could ever teach?
3. When was the last time you intentionally created space for your child and their grandparent to connect — even for a few minutes?

Coming Next:
A bilingual book reading, “We Are All Connected / Todos Estamos Conectados”, read by my dad.
This simple recording became a beautiful shared memory — and I can’t wait to share it with you.

An Invitation:  If you’re a parent or an adult beginning your Spanish learning journey…  I’ll soon be opening the doors to Transforma, my signature program for adults learning Spanish with clarity, heart, and support.

✨ I’m inviting just 10 founding members for this special first round.
It’s designed for real beginners — no pressure, no perfection — just a path that actually works.

Details will follow in the coming weeks, but if you’d like to be on the priority list,
send me an email at info@jencova.com.

 Stick around in the next episodes a few bloopers from our recording session because life’s happiest moments are often found in the imperfect ones.

When things don’t go as planned...
 When we mispronounce a word...
 When we laugh at the same line over and over again...

That’s where the real joy is.
Perfectly imperfect — just like family.

Thank you for being here.
 ¡Hasta la próxima! I can’t wait until we meet again. 💛