As a mom and business owner, my days are a whirlwind of client calls, negotiations with my young kids, and trying to find a quiet moment for myself. The idea of adding one more thing to my plate, like teaching my kids a new language, because raising multilingual kids is a goal of mine, can feel completely overwhelming. I’ve often wondered, “Do I even have the time or energy for that?”

But what if learning a language wasn’t just another task on the to-do list? What if it could be a bridge to deeper connection with your kids, a door to new cultures, and a way to build a bigger vision for your family?

That’s why I was so excited to sit down with Adelaide Olguin, the founder of TalkBox Mom. She’s a homeschooling, world-schooling mom who has figured out how to make language learning a practical and joyful part of her family’s everyday life—all while traveling the globe and running a business.

My conversation with Adelaide was a powerful reminder that you don’t need to be a language expert to give your children this incredible gift. You just need to be willing to start.

Listen to the full episode here:

The Spark Behind TalkBox Mom

Adelaide’s journey didn’t start in a classroom or with a linguistics degree. It started with a personal desire to connect with other cultures and a vision for a family life filled with adventure. She wanted her children to experience the world in a meaningful way, and she knew language was the key.

But she ran into a common problem: traditional methods weren’t working for her family. They were boring, impractical, and didn’t fit into their busy, travel-filled lifestyle. Like so many of us, she needed something that could be woven into daily routines—from making breakfast to playing at the park. This need is what inspired her to create TalkBox Mom, a program designed to empower parents to become their family’s primary language teacher, even if they don’t know the language themselves.

Can Kids Really Learn a Second Language Without Falling Behind?

One of the biggest concerns I hear from moms is whether bilingual education might hinder their child’s progress in other subjects. We worry if they’ll get confused or fall behind in reading or math. Adelaide addressed this head-on, sharing insights from her own family’s experience. The research and her personal story point to a clear answer: not only does learning a second language not hinder development, it often enhances it.

Bilingual children often show improved problem-solving skills, better memory, and increased creativity. They learn to be more flexible thinkers because they’re constantly navigating between different linguistic systems. It’s like a workout for their brain, building cognitive muscles that benefit them across all areas of learning.

Is There a “Right” Age to Start?

We’ve all heard about the “critical period” for language learning—the idea that if you don’t learn a language as a young child, you’ll never achieve true fluency. This can feel discouraging for us as adults, and it puts a lot of pressure on us as parents to start as early as possible.

Adelaide offered a more encouraging perspective. While children’s brains are incredibly adept at absorbing languages, adults can absolutely become fluent with the right methods. The key difference is the approach. Children learn implicitly, through play and immersion. Adults often learn explicitly, by studying grammar rules.

The magic of a program like TalkBox Mom is that it helps the whole family learn together through immersion at home. By using a new language in everyday situations, you create a natural learning environment that benefits both kids and parents. You’re not just a teacher; you’re a fellow student, learning and growing right alongside your children.

Making Language Learning a Part of Your Family’s Life

So, how do you go from wanting to raise multilingual kids to actually doing it? It starts with small, intentional steps.

A Personal Journey with Language Learning

Teaching my girls Spanish has always been close to my heart—especially since my husband is from Colombia and is fluent. I took Spanish for years in school, and while I can read and write it, speaking with confidence was something I’ve always struggled with. When a mutual friend told me about TalkBox Mom last year, I knew I had to give it a try.

Honestly, I hesitated to start right away because I felt intimidated by the idea of finally becoming fluent. I let the TalkBox Mom kit sit for a while and instead, simply put the posters that came inside up on our fridge—just a little step, but an important one. Slowly, I began saying a phrase or two from the poster during our routines. To my surprise, my girls took an interest just by seeing the words on the fridge. They wanted to read them, and that opened the door to us saying phrases together in Spanish.

Our house is now filled with Spanish music, spontaneous Spanish phrases, and—while my girls aren’t fluent yet—they went from resisting Spanish (maybe picking up on my own pressure or nerves) to now joining me in our own blend of Spanglish. It’s not perfect, but it’s progress, and seeing their curiosity grow makes me so happy.

Honestly, inviting Adelaide to be on the podcast felt extra special because she’s built an incredible business as one of the top 1% women-owned businesses in the country—all while homeschooling and teaching her own kids multiple languages using the same TalkBox Mom approach I tried in our home. I feel honored to share her wisdom, and I hope our story encourages you to take those small steps, too.

Raising multilingual kids

Embrace Immersion at Home

You don’t need to move to another country to create an immersive language experience. You can bring it right into your home. The core idea is to use the language in real-life contexts.

  • Label items around your house: Start with simple nouns for furniture, food, and toys.
  • Use simple phrases during daily routines: Incorporate phrases for “good morning,” “let’s eat,” or “it’s time for bed.”
  • Sing songs and read books: Music and stories are powerful tools for language acquisition.

Let Go of Perfection

One of the most liberating things Adelaide shared is that you don’t have to be perfect. You will make mistakes. You will have to look things up. And that’s okay! In fact, it’s good for your kids to see you learning. It teaches them that it’s okay to not know everything and that learning is a lifelong process. Your willingness to try is far more important than your ability to speak flawlessly from day one.

Connect Language to Your Family Vision

For me, everything comes back to vision. Why do you want your children to learn another language?

  • Is it to connect with your family’s heritage?
  • Is it to prepare them for future travel and global opportunities?
  • Is it to foster a sense of empathy and understanding for other cultures?

Get clear on your “why.” When your language learning goals are connected to your deeper family values, it becomes more than just an academic exercise. It becomes a meaningful part of your family’s story and a way to live out the vision you hold for your children’s future. I know for me, I want my girls to remember that their mommy worked hard, honored her dreams, and showed them the world. Language is a beautiful vehicle for that.

Raising multilingual kids with TalkBox Mom.

You Are Your Child’s Best Teacher

The most powerful message from my conversation with Adelaide is this: You are the best person to teach your child a language. You know your child better than anyone. You share daily life with them. That shared context is the perfect foundation for language learning.

This journey is about connection, not perfection. It’s about opening your children’s minds and hearts to the vast, beautiful world around them. And it starts with you, the visionary mom, being brave enough to take the first step.

Connect with Adelaide:

Ready to start your family’s language-learning journey? Adelaide is generously offering a free resource to help you get started! You’ll get access to tools and strategies you can begin using today.