Raising a bilingual family is a joy but a challenge. Eight years into this journey, I can say that Maya and Mateo are both bilingual (they can speak two languages) and biliterate (they can read two languages.) The journey has been both joyous and arduous, but also advantageous, and it is my goal as a language development coach to help other families in their own process of raising emerging bilinguals.  It feels like we have experienced it all, from curious stares, to appreciative comments, to micro-agressions (both kids and adults have told us to "Speak English!") So if it’s so hard, why do we do it? Well, growing is hard and that’s ok . And as a bicultural family, I could not imagine a life for my children in which they would not be able to communicate with both my husband’s family and my family fluently.  Raising bilingual children has so many benefits. It can improve communication and bonds in your immediate family, maintain heritage language, and improve your child’s abi...