I returned to the US to attend college at the University of Kansas. In the Spanish and Latin American Studies programs, there were many Hispanics and bilingual Americans, so I had plenty of people to talk with who identified with my background. It would have been tougher at a more monocultural school, I think.

Thank you, Roadkill Spatula, I think that when one considers repatriation or going to live in the passport country, much more than language is involved.
Many parents think that if the children know the language (spoken and written) they will easily fit in, but this is not enough. Knowing about the slang, the habits, the preferences, taste in food, clothing etc. is equally important but often neglected. You had the chance to listen to American music, watch movies, read American magazines etc. This already helped you to emphasize with locals once you moved to America. May I ask where you moved to? If the place was more international or more mono-cultural?
I know that the sense of alienation one can experience while repatriating can actually lead to refusing to talk one of the other languages one knows or has learned while living abroad. Just to fit in, children-teens-young adults would do everything necessary. And if this means to drop a language, they’d do…

Dear Ute,

No, you don’t make very much or strange mistakes, and this ONE is also forgivable to you as you speak at least another 5 languages other than English. Am I right? I’d be happy to make just one mistake in such a text in any one of my languages that I “speak” besides Hungarian and English.

As to the kids, you’ve misunderstood me: my son is an adult for a good while now, those I’ve referred to are those of my friends. They are still little, but as we are so close, and my son doesn’t have kids, I consider these two my grandchildren. The only language I can’t really talk to them is my mother tongue, but they understand a couple of phrases anyway. It’s an experience for me, really.

Dear Peter,
thank you so much for your comment and for pointing out my typo/mistake. I make some very strange ones (I’ll once analyze them 😉 )
I hope you’ll find it still useful when your childern will be teenagers.
With very kind regards,
Ute