As Valentine’s Day rolls in on February 14 every year couples, families, and friends are trying to figure out the best way to say “I love you” to the people they care about most. We find ourselves asking questions like, “Should I buy chocolate?” or “What color roses are the best?” or “Where should I make dinner reservations?” As individuals, we all receive and convey the very important message in different ways. Even if you haven’t read the book, many of you have probably heard or learned about the 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman. This book looks at the different ways each of us show love to others, and how other wish to receive love.
Chapman narrowed it down to these five primary love languages:
1. Words of Affirmation
2. Quality Time
3. Gifts
4. Acts of Service
5. Physical Touch
Learning which love language your spouse or children respond to the most can be extremely beneficial to these relationships. Although it sounds easy enough to do, it can be difficult because most of us try to show others love, especially after an adoption when things are emotions are high, the way that we, ourselves, wish to receive it. But instead of giving you a full lesson on the love languages listed above, I wanted to look at how to say “I love you” in five different languages, from five countries in which we complete adoptions!
Haiti
I love you: mwen renmen w
Bulgaria
I love you: obicham te
Nicaragua
I love you: te quiero
Congo
I love you: Nakupenda (in Swahili)
Ukraine
I love you: ya tebe lyublyu
Have you considered the best way to show the people you care about, that you love them? Whether you’re adopting from Bulgaria or you’re adopting from Africa, it never hurts to tell your children “I LOVE YOU!” each and every day – not just on Valentine’s Day!
Photo Credit: Wes Peck
For more information about MLJ’s international adoption programs, please click here.