A New Adventure

Things have been very quiet here on this blog. I have been busy focusing on our sister blog, the Latin Baby Book Club. But what has taken up most of my time lately, has been a new adventure with my children: homeschooling.

The decision to homeschool was a difficult one for me because I had no desire to teach. Unfortunately, the county in which we live has been officially labeled a "failed school district". So for now, because our children's education is so terribly important to us, I have chosen to go the route that seems best for them at this time.

When I began this journey last year, I was frustrated to discover a limited amount of materials and resources available for bilingual or bicultural families. Occasionally, I stumble upon some great resources through my work on the LBBC, but it really has taken a lot of digging to find good information.

As you know from reading this blog, the education of our Latino children is very important to me. I firmly believe in supporting other familias who are dedicated to helping their children excel in school. As I've stated before, parents must take an active role in their child's learning in order for that child to succeed.

So as a result, my latest gift to share with all of you is my new blog, Mommy Maestra, which I officially launch today. The goal of this blog is not how to teach your children Spanish (there are already plenty of blogs and websites for that), but rather to share with you ideas and educational resources in English and Spanish that are available for those of you raising bilingual children.

Regardless of whether or not you are homeschooling your children, I hope that you will find information and ideas that help you to encourage their love of learning or to supplement their education. No one will care more for your children than you will. So take their futures seriously and get involved now!

I hope you will visit me over at Mommy Maestra and share your thoughts and ideas.

Con mucho cariño,

~Monica

Educating our Latino Children

For years, this blog has been encouraging the education of our Latino children. Exposing them new experiences, ideas and opportunities is not only our right as citizens of this amazing country, but it is our responsibility as good parents.

Our job begins at the moment of conception; our bodies are no longer our own and we owe it to our children to eat right, exercise, and get regular check-ups. When our babies are born we must be prepared to provide them with more than just love. We have to arm ourselves with the knowledge on how to care for them physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally. We become consumed with cuddling, feeding, cleaning, doctor's visits, changing, sleeping, and much, much more. We have to become walking dictionaries, artists, nurses, coaches, nutritionists, mathematicians, scientists, fashionistas, mechanics, and audience.

For most Latinas, caring for a baby is second-nature. It's somehow programmed into our genes. Sure there are areas that many of us need to work harder at - like doctor's visits, vaccinations, and nutrition - but for the most part, we are superwomen.

But then the baby years end. And thus begins one area where Latinos are lagging just a bit behind. Latino children are the least likely to be enrolled in Pre-K or Kindergarten. That's not necessarily a bad thing in itself - provided that parents are working hard at home to prepare their children for school. The problem is that  many parents are not aware of  the myriad of ways to introduce their children to literacy, math, colors, shapes, critical thinking, and so much more. There is a growing number of web sites to introduce parents to these concepts, but few Latino parents have access to (or even knowledge of) these sites. For many, the language barrier is a major issue. So the goal of Mi Cielito Lindo for the next six months will be to share many of the resources in English and Spanish for parents seeking to raise curious, intelligent, compassionate, and logical children.

To successfully raise children who enjoy learning and commit to completing a college education, parents must be involved EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.  We are our children's support system and we must learn to encourage, help, explain, cheer and listen. Our child's success is dependent upon us. The alternative is not acceptable.

Along these lines, I am also extremely pleased to pass on that Univision has joined with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to launch Es El Momento, a national campaign to improve academic achievement among K-12 Hispanic students. Special emphasis is being placed on increasing the number of Latino high school graduates and college preparation.

In the words of Melinda French Gates, "A great education is not an honor or privilege—it’s a fundamental civil right. This partnership with Univision will not only inspire Hispanic students and their parents and community to aspire to a college education, it will give them access to the information and tools they need to make their dream a reality. Education is the best way to expand opportunity for all. We can’t think of a better partner to work with on Es El Momento than Univision, which shares this belief in the power of education."

Shopping for Navidad: Culturally-Inspired Gifts

Tostobueno® offers its “Trio” that makes three plantain chips at once. And if you want to make plantain cups to stuff with any filling you can imagine, just flip it over and place the slice in a deep flat bottom mold for three perfect cups every time. This Old Fashioned Plantain Smasher™ will help you get away from boring party food and serve an exotic dish that’s eaten in Latin America and throughout the Caribbean every day. Tostobueno® is the Ultimate Tostonera® because it takes an old fashioned idea and puts a new age spin on it. For more information, visit http://www.tostobueno.com/.

Gregorio Ties is a unique company who specializes in cultural designs on high-quality products. Their stunning handmade 100% silk ties, feature designs that tell a distinct story of Latino culture. Their new collections for Fall 2009 include Guadalupe, Lotería and Duality. This year, they launched their new silk scarf collection for women. "What motivates our Virgin of Guadalupe design is her message of love and compassion, her promise to help and protect all mankind." To learn more about the design, please visit http://www.gregorioties.com/.

Los Pollitos Dicen (The Little Chicks Say) are so cute and reminicent of Latin childhood's that they'll have you singing "Pio, Pio, Pio'' with your little ones.The t-shirts, onesies and hats are 100% cotton, American-made and most are packaged in a wooden keepsake box. It's the perfect new baby gift all year round. Pick up your LPD products at http://www.lospollitosdicen.biz/.

Dr. Pepper Lovers: Your Familia Could Win the Ultimate Family Fiesta!

I don't know about you, but in mi casa, Dr. Pepper reigns supremo! So imagine my joy to find out that Dr Pepper is awarding the ultimate family fiesta to families who live life to the fullest through its Familia23 contest. The contest is part of the Dr Pepper year-long celebration of living "Vida a la 23" -- a flavorful, bicultural life to the "23rd power."

Fans can enter by submitting stories about how they celebrate life as a family along with a photograph of their familias enjoying Dr Pepper. The hottest club on wheels, Club23, will arrive locally and host the ultimate family fiesta. The fully catered affair will be complete with free food, Dr Pepper, games and music entertainment. DJ Nino will spin tunes as the winning family enjoys a lifetime experience to the "23rd power."

"We're offering families an opportunity to celebrate the love they have for each other and show how, even during tough times, they enjoy the good things in life," said Monica Morales, Dr Pepper brand manager, Hispanic market. "Just like the unique 23 flavors of Dr Pepper, our Vida23 program is designed to give consumers more out of every day."

The heart of the Dr Pepper Familia23 campaign taps into the general sense of optimism Latinos have for the future despite a down economy. Research from Experian Simmons and Univision showed that Latinos are more positive about the future of the economy and are shopping more often than the general market. In fact, 29% of Hispanics are more positive about the U.S. economy in the coming 12 months vs. 21% of non-Hispanics.

Visit www.Vida23.com for official rules and learn how your family could win. The contest runs from Sept. 1, 2009 through Oct. 18, 2009. A total of seven families will be awarded the ultimate fiesta in the following cities: LosAngeles, San Antonio, Dallas, Bakersfield, Sacramento, Fresno and Phoenix. The winners will be notified in October, and the ultimate family fiesta will take place in November, 2009.

Dr Pepper's Vida23 embodies the bicultural lifestyle through its Club23 mobile gaming arcade and dance club. As one of the hottest clubs on wheels, consumers can relax by playing games, dancing and sampling different Dr Pepper products. Stop by a Club23 event near you to live life to the "23rd power."

A key component of the Dr Pepper Vida23 program is bicultural music. It launched this year with the introduction of "LA LA LA Life/Vida23," a new song written and performed by Cucu Diamantes and Grammy Award winner Andres Levin, founder of the band Yerba Buena. The song, which can be heard in advertising spots and on the airwaves, is part of the "rock alternative" move. It is a multicultural fusion of reggae, hip-hop, rock and salsa, sprinkled with global beats. Consumers can download the song and ring tones and create a customized re-mix of the song by visiting www.Vida23.com.

Resources for Combatting Obesity Among Hispanic Children

In this year’s June issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, a study was published noting that the "prevalence of overweight in the US population is among the highest in Mexican-American children and adolescents." Among other factors, this figure is attributed to poor diet, sedentary lifestyles, and low socioeconomic status. In a recent (and completely unrelated) news interview (I forget which one) a nutritionist was quoted as saying that grandmothers really did know best when it came to diet and meal planning. She went on to say that any grocery store products with more than five ingredients listed on the label might as well just be chucked in the trash, because those other unpronounceable ingredients tend to be preservatives and/or sugars.

So to help all you mamis out there, I have put together several resources to help you with meal planning….

First of all, if you haven’t read the book, Gordito Doesn’t Mean Healthy, by Claudia González and Lourdes Alcañiz, then you should. It is a wealth of information for parents looking to prevent and manage obesity in their children. Many Latinas have a deeply imbedded belief that a chubby baby is a healthy baby. In all that chubbalicious glory, they see a baby who is well-fed, lavished with love and affection, and a symbol of a mother’s excellent care. But research shows that more children are developing health problems such as diabetes (on average, Hispanic Americans are 1.9 times more likely to have diabetes than non-Hispanic whites of similar age,) high blood pressure, high cholesterol and eating disorders as a result of too much food intake, poor diets, and lack of exercise. This book includes the Latino-Hispanic Food Guide Pyramid (which includes traditional foods like jicama, papayas, corn tortillas and avocado) to guide Latina moms with photos of food portions appropriate for children. It also has a section on Latina mothers and breastfeeding facts that debunks myths. Menu suggestions for newborns to 19-year-olds are also inside. To purchase your copy, check out the Latin Baby boutique here.

Another super resource is the Latino Nutrition Coalition web site. It has recipes, health statistics, and regular updates about health issues affecting Latinos, as well as free education materials in Spanish and English like the downloadable bilingual shopping guide.

Many Latina moms who are second, third and even fourth generation Americans, have the additional challenge in that they have lost family recipes and are less likely to cook traditional wholesome dishes. For those of you looking for more traditional recipes that reflect our cutura, there is a variety of blogs passing along these tasty meals.

One of my personal favorites is A Little Cup of Mexican Hot Chocolate . . . And More: A Girl's Guide to Cooking Mexican Food Just Like Her Abuelita. Whew! A long name for a most delicious blog imparting recipes along with beautiful photographs and witty, charming stories rich in cultura.

The Panama Gourmet, Chef Melissa De Leon, also has a delightful site – www.CookingDiva.net - full of recipes from Latin America. Note of Caution: If you’re like me, you may gain 10 pounds just sitting and reading her oh-so-yummy recipes!

Next is Laylita’s Recipes. Filled with Ecuadorian recipes, her blog will immediately make your stomach growl and your mouth water. Her pictures are divine and entice you to run out and buy ingredients - even if it is 3 am!

Spain-Recipes.com offers a wonderful compilation of recipes from all over Spain and they even categorize them as to the dishes typical to each region. WOW! If you are an Española, get over there now! I almost cried when I found the one for croquetas de jamón…

For some excellent Peruvian dishes, check out Canela y Comino, Fighting Windmills blog and Dawn on the Amazon Captain’s Blog. Some super, wonderful recipes along with great stories.

From Argentina With Love will melt your soul with her Dulce de Leche recipes. Who knew there were so many things you could make with it? Rebecca’s blog is a beautiful thing – I’m not from Argentina, but I sure wish I was after reading it!

For the most sabroso Colombian dishes, be sure to dive into My Colombian Recipes. In addition to her wonderful recipes, Erica also gives you ingredient sources and even vegetarian dishes!

Even though he just started his blog in January, everyone seems to be raving about Eric Rivera’s Cooking Blog… and after looking at his Puerto Rican recipe for mofongo served with a sofrito soup broth, I totally understand. Too much work for me, but easy fun for a 27-year-old Puerto Rican culinary school student, I guess!

New to cyberspace is the Tiki Tiki Blog, written predominantly by four Latina moms. Already the gazpacho, churros and salsa fresca recipes are flying, but you can also find links here to their personal blogs, such as Marta Darby’s My Big Fat Cuban Family, which features a healthy dose of Cuban recipes.

In the next post, I’ll share my list of favorite books and blogs to help get your kids off el sofa and corriendo y brincando, climbing and exploring.

Mundane and Magical

As a "outside the home" working mother of two girls, it's really hard to work in quality time with my daughters, usually I am rushing home thinking about what to cook for dinner and determining what I have in the freezer that can defrost quickly and what vegetable or fruit can I get in the meal so that it's balanced. Then its off to help with homework, coordinate playdates and carpools so that my girls can get to their activities in the event I don't make it out of traffic in time. I rely heavily on my mom friends that work all day at home (and don't get paid) and those that work outside the home and don't get paid what they are worth. They keep me abreast of what's happening in Girl Scouts, who are the better teachers, what happened to the neighbors kids....etc. I mean it....I need them and I try to make sure that I always return the favor.

Tonight was one of those nights, dinner, homework, guitar practice, endless questions and commentaries about subjects that turn my brain into mush and wear my patience thin. However, I bought this awesome book from http://www.scholastic.com/ and it has glow in the dark stars (remember those?) and print outs of the constellations in the sky with binoculars and a booklet with many more details about the planets, stars, meteors and shooting stars. This kit has been sitting on my living room coffee table for about 2 weeks and I still had'nt taken time to share it with them. I wanted some quality time tonight, only because I know that the next 3 days are going to be chaos. So we did, we sat on the rug and identified Casseopeia, Pegasus, Orion and other constellations.

When we went outside, all we could find were the big dipper, little dipper and we think Taurus. My girls were intrigued by the fact that planets are around us and we may be able to see them if we had some tricked out telescope. They wondered if life existed on other planets or maybe even the stars. I tried to incorporate some religious and scientific explanations which may cause them confusion later in life as they attempt to balance the two theories. I don't think that at their ages they can comprehend the vastness of the earth which has so many different people, cultures, languages and traditions, much less the incredible depth of our oceans and the immensity of the universe around them.

I hope to teach them to look at things around them, not just houses, bikes, toys and the color of nail polish. They can look to the sky and be astonished at the magical aspects of the heavens, they can listen to the rustles of leaves and wonder if there truly is a spirit in inanimate objects. One day they may become jaded as knowledge teaches them that there is a logical and scientific explanation for everything. Heck, I am a pretty logical, numbers driven person, believing wholeheartedly in scientifically or numerically supported evidence.

However, I also know that I see magic in the mundane world everyday. I see it in the calm before storms, I see it when birds return to my feeder afterwards, signaling that all is right with the world again. I want them to see the mysterious of their universe, and look for it in the most mundane places. I hope that they will be surprised at the delicate balance that you see in the world, the way the people, places and things all fall into line and support or oppose each other. It may be mundane to write about how other mother's help me and combine it with night viewings of the sky. It's the ole' "it takes a village to raise a child" concept merged with a mama trying to define her version of quality time. But I see it as proof that all is right in the world, it's magical to witness woman supporting each other without trying to define who has the tougher "job". It's mundane to try to teach your kids about the world around them, but it's magical when they connect dots in the sky.

by Limon Partido

Las Misadventuras de una Mamá Adoptiva

Hi, It's JoAnna again from chilly Texas ! Okay, I never thought I'd say that, but it's pretty cold down here... I thought I'd post this week about something I know many have had to go through when they are adopting, just as my husband and I did. You can read more on our adoptions on my website.

Las Misadventuras de una Mamá Adoptiva
The Misadventures of an Adoptive Mommy

Long ago, in a land far away, and after a long and beautiful courtship, Jerry & JoAnna were married in a candlelight ceremony, surrounded by family. This is how the fairy tale began, but the circus that it is today is a different story altogether !

You see, we got married and at the time thought we’d set up the 5 and 10 year plans and all would go according to schedule, and well, there were other plans in store for us.

After trying to conceive for a couple of years, we found we were unable to. Thanks to the grace of God and my “Tia Metíche” (Busybody Aunt) we were given the opportunity to adopt our beautiful baby girl in 2002. Then again my Tia had a hand in 2005 when we brought home 3 gorgeous little brothers.

So we went from being total DINK’s+doggy (dual income NO kids) to a family of 6+3 doggies in a matter of 3 years. As you can imagine the adjustments for all were quite harrowing at times, but the circus that ensued has been just grand !

Here’s the list of things I never imagined would happen, but did !

1. No one prepared me for diaper changes !
I didn’t have the 9 months of becoming a mommy and then about a year of un-stinky baby poop to prepare me for the ugliness that would greet me when I first changed the diaper of our precious 15 month old baby. OH MY GOODNESS – that was really scarry ! My Mom kept telling me that I’d get used to it, but I didn’t and our precious poop monster was potty trained in record time !

2. Never feed a 15 month old an entire granola bar.
Okay, so this one was not my fault… let me explain. We had just adopted our little girl and we were in Mexico City waiting for an appointment at the US Consulate. I had to run and make copies and find a notary while Daddy stayed with the baby for while. When I returned, there was an onslaught of poop and no explanation. 4 diaper changes later, Daddy fessed up and told me he’d given her a granola bar as a snack. We vowed to hold off on granola until the potty training was complete.

3. Their favorite words


Being that we didn’t have children and from one day to the next had a toddler on our hands, the adjustment period for me was shockingly fast. About 3 weeks after bringing our new little one home I found her in front of the TV with a very distinct “chin*%^$” on her lips and pointing the remote all the while. Ooooops ! We quickly explained that that was not a nice word, but it didn’t really matter and it became her favorite. As you can imagine that word made it’s way into conversation just because she felt like it ! Today it has stopped and she regularly corrects me !

4. Toothpaste can be found in the most unusual of places
Everyday I am amazed by the amount and location of toothpaste that we’ve found in our home. From the ceiling fans to the couch, in the DVD player and in their hair, my 3 boys have found new and industrious uses for it and Im sure that one day they’ll find a new and improved use for it that will change history !

5. The forbidden
This one I blame on my family and all the other mothers out there that did NOT tell me that it was a huge no-no to have stickers, markers, stamps, crayons, pencils, clay, sharpies, sticky notes and tape readily available to your children ! “We’ll set up a great craft area for them” I told my husband, at the time I thought was a good idea, but now I understand how crazy I was to allow free access to these goodies. Today our house is colorful and this home is now completely theirs, daddy & I just live in the room downstairs !

6. Heart Attacks will be frequent
Life with our little girl was beautiful, the perfect child who cleaned up after herself and loved helping Mommy. We have a 2 story home and never heard her upstairs at all – life was golden…

Then, the boys came home, they were 3, 4 and 5 when they came to live with us. The very first day we were in our home, I was calling 911 in a panic ! Our 3 year old had found a piece of hard candy and swallowed it whole, next thing I knew the other children were frantically calling me upstairs – I don’t think I’ve ever been faster in all my life. I ran upstairs and tried to dislodge the candy, but it wouldn’t budge. His little eyes were searching for help and all I could hear was this little gasp from time to time.
I put 911 on speakerphone and called for help.
The operator asked me if his lips were turning blue, to which I answered “I can’t tell, he’s too dark!” and then finally she helped me get the candy to make it’s way down his throat. He had a great time when the paramedics got here and loved his new toy – a tongue depressor !

There are so many more stories and things to tell… maybe next time !
I’d love to hear your stories too, Im sure that together we could all compile a great book.
Besitos,
JoAnnahttp://www.vidriosa.com/

Bilingual Families Connect Offers Support

If you are looking for ways to raise a bilingual family, then check out Bilingual Families Connect. This on-line resource has a comprehensive web site that includes articles on the advantages of being bilingual both in adults and children. One page gives a description of the different approaches used for raising bilingual children, and they also have a resource page that lists numerous organizations, radio stations, web sites, literature/magazines and much, much more.

Perhaps the most outstanding feature is a forum where families can share directly with each other their experiences and tips on how to raise bilingual children, or pose questions for other bilingual families.

A wonderful resource for bilingual families! To visit their web site, click here.

Latinas - A Culture Identity Crisis

I recently read a policy brief by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy that came out last July. In it they state that for the first time, Latinas have the highest rates of teen pregnancies and births compared with all other racial groups. To be exact, 53% of Latinas will become pregnant at least once before the age of 20. And when you combine this with the fact that Latinos also have the highest high school dropout rates in the country (12%), then it is certainly no surprise that Latinas between the ages of 12 and 17 also have the highest rates of attempted suicide than any other ethnic group. It is a crisis.

What the heck is going on? An article in the Washington Post states that many Latinas feel trapped between two cultures that oftentimes demand the exact opposite of each other. Laura Sessions Stepp states in her article Crying Out for Help – Suicide Attempts Reveal Strains on Young Latinas, that these young women are "torn between an American popular culture that encourages them to be sexy and assertive, and family expectations that they be modest and submissive." She also quotes Edgardo Menvielle, a psychiatrist at Washington’s Children’s Hospital, who says that the key to a young Latina’s ability to overcome the cultural identity crisis is her relationship with her mother. A supportive mama who listens to her daughter (regardless of whether or not she agrees with her daughter’s choices) is most likely to help her daughter to avoid the depression that stems from feelings of isolation or abusive relationships. The article states that mamás (especially single mothers) are often swept away by the stress of trying to provide for their families, making them less communicative and understanding. Patience is lost somewhere between hitting the alarm clock and brushing our teeth.

If you have any daughters, take a moment to stop and think. After reading this article, I sat back and thought hard about my relationship with my daughter. Granted, she’s only 4, but what kind of groundwork am I laying down? Do I praise her accomplishments enough? Do I stop and listen? Do I take enough time to play with her like she wants me to? Am I really showing her that she is important to me and that I love her? I tell her many times a day how much I do, but do my actions strengthen or weaken her belief in these words?

I’ve always rolled my eyes and clicked my tongue at moms who are so worried about being a friend to their kids that they refuse to discipline their children or deny them anything. I’m always saying "they’ll have plenty of friends over their lifetime, but they’ll only have one mother." But I wonder if I am being too strict and critical. I think that I need to work harder to find a middle ground. I want to be a good advisor, but I don’t want to be telling her what to do all the time. I want her to make her own choices – and hopefully they will be wise ones.

While researching this, I stumbled upon the Circle de Luz Giving Network. It is a wonderful operation that is working to "inspire and empower" young Latinas to pursue higher education by providing scholarship funds. The recipients are selected while they are still in the 7th grade and are awarded scholarship funds to pursue an educational program of their choice. They also enter into a 6-year program that includes "book discussions, cultural and educational events, and reflection groups."

The organization was created by Rosie Molinary, author of the book, Hijas Americanas: Beauty, Body Image, and Growing Up Latina, a collection of commentaries by over 80 Latinas about their experiences of growing up in the U.S. When repeatedly asked what people could do about the problem, Molinary came up with one way for people to help.

Donors may sponsor a young girl by committing to donate a minimum of $90 a year for six years. For those not wanting such a long term commitment, artist Mary Alice Mitchell has designed three different necklaces (one is shown above) whose purchase will benefit Circle de Luz. They are beautiful and each one is priced differently. Click here to take a look.

And if you would like to nominate a school in your area from which the Circle will choose its scholarship recipients, click here for the requirements and directions.

There is so much more I have read and could write on this topic, such as the poverty and dependence that most often results from dropping out of high school. About domestic violence and the importance of self-image. But I better wait and save these for another day.

However, as a Latina mom, I would highly recommend reading the article I mentioned above. You can find it here.

Family Activities to Celebrate Día de Los Niños

The web is filled with wonderful ideas on how to celebrate Día. Remember that the holiday is the culmination of a year full of encouraging bookjoy in children. It is the fostering of love and understanding and acceptance of all cultures and languages. So I have decided to list some ideas for celebrating Día and the web sites from which they have come.

Storytelling is closely tied to this holiday, so why not hand out tablets and pens (or camcorders for older children) and have them interview abuelitas, tíos, neighbors, and friends. Or check with your local senior citizens' center and set up some time for your children (and you!) to sit and record the seniors’ childhood stories. Your children can write up these histories and present them to each of the senior participants in a completed book form. How lovely is this idea? I found it - along with many other activities - on Reforma's official web site. Reforma is an affiliate of the American Library Association. Officially, it is the National Association to Promote Library & Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking. If you'd like to view their web pages on Día de Los Niños/Día de Los Libros, click here.

Or, now that spring is coming, why not get the kids out of the house and plan a giant families-and-books picnic? Fill it with fun activities...maybe each family can bring one of its favorite books and have one area set aside for storytelling. Or get creative and have a bookmark making station where kids can create original artwork to mark their places in their current books. Or how about having a poetry reading? Ask the kids to write poems in the weeks before the picnic and have them read their masterpieces aloud on the actual day. And don't forget to have party favors for each child that attends. To cut the cost you can have each family bring one wrapped favor for each child that they bring to the picnic. At the end, each child can choose one that was brought by someone else. These ideas were based on some mentioned on Pat Mora's site (with a little bit of artistic license on my part!) If you don't already know, Ms. Mora is the founder of Día here in the U.S. and her site has tons of information on the holiday. Check it out here.

As for one of my ideas, why not have a book/movie comparison project? Pick out some books that have been made into movies and read them first. Then plan a movie night in which you watch the movie and then discuss the similarities or differences and which one was better? This could be a family affair or invite friends over and make it a party!

Many more ideas and review to come!

Happy reading, Amigos!

La Cuna Makes a Difference

Before my daughter was born, a friend from our church made us a cradle. It was a beautiful design. Made entirely of wood, it swung gently and quietly in our bedroom at night as I lay sleepily in bed and pushed it with my hand. It even came with a little wooden lock to stop it from rocking if need be. I carefully measured and sewed little bumper pads to line the inside and made a soft slip cover for the mattress.

My point it that a lot of love and work went into making that little cradle, which now sits in my daughter's room and holds all of her dolls. And that little cradle served its purpose well by giving my daughter a warm, soft, quiet, and secure place to sleep and grow.

So I think the word, La Cuna (Spanish for cradle), is the perfect name for a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide safety, shelter and love to Latino children who desperately need all of these and more.

Established in 2003, La Cuna is based in San Diego and has placed over 50 Latino children in foster homes since receiving its license in 2005. Its goals include identifying, recruiting, and training stable Latino or mixed-race couples to become foster parents. The organization believes that Hispanic children who are placed in foster homes with the same culture and language are better able to cope with and overcome the difficult circumstances that landed them there in the first place. It also allows these children (newborns to 5 year olds) to find the right love, support, and bonding that is essential during these critical developmental years.

Potential foster parents undergo an extensive training program and are asked to make a commitment to the foster child placed in their care. Foster children do much better when placed in a single, stable home rather than being shuffled around to two, three or more.


Rachel Humphreys is the founder and director of La Cuna. She states that "94% of our children have remained in a La Cuna home until they were reunified with their family or adopted. These children have avoided typical multiple home placements that threaten their ability to bond and thrive."


On average each placement costs the organization about $10,000. But the cost is worth it if it keeps the children from becoming a statistic. According to the Children's Advocacy Center, more often than not, foster children become caught up in the vicious cycle of homelessness and abuse with 50% becoming homeless within 2 years of leaving the system. These outcomes result "in significant long-term implications for the state due to incarceration, welfare, homelessness, etc." In California, the cost of incarcerating a person for one year is approximately $80,000.


Of course, the ultimate goal is the reunification of foster children with their birth parents, who may take the opportunity to try and regain custody of their children - provided that they can improve their lives (and/or parenting skills) enough to offer a secure and stable home environment. Around 65% of La Cuna placed children are reunited with their parents or immediate family members (i.e., grandparents.) The other 35% are adopted by their foster parents.


If you live in the San Diego area and would like to learn more about becoming a foster parent, please check out their web site here.


Or if you would simply like to donate money, baby items, or time, click here.

Ellaroo Rebozo Wraps Now Available!

Yippee! I am so happy to announce that our rebozo baby carriers from Ellaroo have arrived and are finally for sale at Latin Baby. We have 5 different styles and the colors are super! It is really nice to carry another line of products that supports Latino artisans. All of the Ellaroo Wraps are handwoven by a cooperative of weavers in Guatemala and are 100% cotton.

I am excited about these products for a number of reasons...

1) I so firmly believe in promoting positive, healthy parenting and as many of you know, I am a strong supporter of the practice of attachment parenting. Babywearing is an important aspect of this method of child rearing and I am happy to be able to offer our customers this new product.

2)We are really focusing this year on expanding the number of brands that we carry to make sure we are a one-stop shopping center for Latino families. We added our new layette at the beginning of the year and have now added the baby carriers, too.

3)By covering our basis and offering products for families at different stages, we have seen a jump in our gift registry, which makes me so happy that we are offering the products that you all want.

We have a lot of changes and additions coming to the company. Several projects are in the works with other companies and hopefully will see fruition this year (maybe by the end of the summer!) We are really working hard on our customer service, so please don't hesitate to contact us if you'd like to see us offer a particular product, or even just to let us know what you think of the store. Many of the products and designs we now carry are the result of customer requests. We are listening, Amigas! And we LOVE to hear from you!

If you haven't had a chance to sign up as a Preferred Member (a free subscription), hurry and do so. You can click here for a description of benefits.

Wishing you all a lovely week. ¡Un abrazo a todos!

~Monica

Families in Need Receive Luxury Treatment....

I spent a few days this past week weeding through all the toys and clothes that my kids have outgrown. Most were delegated to the "gently used/donation" pile (but I must admit that I snuck a few straight into the trash or scrap cloths bin, since I would have been ashamed to donate worn out, holey clothing to those in need.)

For the most part, mis niños were sweet enough to help me bag everything to take to our local GCF (there was some occasional bursts of sudden interest in a particular toy.) But after donating the items, I felt mixture of pride over the generous act, hope that the action had contributed to my daughter's education on the topic of thinking of those less fortunate, and relief that I had helped to declutter some of my house!

The first two emotions lead me to the topic of this post. A couple weeks ago, I was excited to read about the Baby Day Luxe program. It is the superbisimo idea by Carol Schiller, owner of Baby Chaleco. Inspired when she was asked to participate in the baby give-away suite at the Golden Globes, Carol decided to team up with Paige Collins - manager of the Providence Regina House - to create a Hollywood-style give-away bash benefitting lower income families.

Regina House is a clothing and food bank that distributes donated items to less fortunate families in the Seattle area. Their regular Baby Day is during the first Saturday of each month and gives out items such as formula, diapers, baby food and clothing.

So this past January, Carol and Paige launched Baby Day Luxe and timed this charity event to coincide with the Golden Globes. Carol approached several of her contacts in the baby business to contribute products, and by the time January rolled around, eight baby companies had signed on. This time, along with the usual necessities, clients of the Providence Regina House received luxurious baby products including, organic baby blankets, footwear, bibs, pacifiers and more.

Baby Day Luxe was a huge success (see picture above) and is now planned as an annual event with ideas for expanding to the East Coast. I for one an looking forward to donating Latin Baby products to next year's event.

So, Amigas, I have to ask...what about ya'll? Is it time to do some Spring Cleaning? Why not spend this next weekend cleaning out your house by gathering all your gently-used clothing and whatnots? Then make a group outing of it and take your stuff to your local clothing bank or community shelter. It is an excellent opportunity for helping out those less fortunate than you and a fantastico way to teach your children the values of compassion, generosity, selflessness and even recycling!

¡Nos Vemos!

It is not easy to find bilingual greeting cards...unless you know where to look! I was fortunate enough to discover Nos Vemos Greetings while I was in Dallas at the Gift Market. They have a fantastic line of greeting cards for all occasions with both English and Spanish translations on the front of the card, making them accessible to everyone.

Lena Hayden is the artistic genius behind the company. Graduating with a double major of Spanish and Graphic Design from Washburn University, the idea for Nos Vemos began after studying abroad in Puebla, Mexico (one of the most beautiful and friendly places in said country, I might add.) She couldn't find any Spanish cards that were trendy enough to send to her Latino friends. Lena is not Hispanic, but her love of the Spanish language and cultura, combined with her American aspirations and business savvy, has resulted in a popular and very marketable product. In only their second year of business, Nos Vemos greeting cards can already be found in nine states.

Naturally, my favorites are those dealing with children and families. But they have cards for every occasion, including a new and absolutely hilarious line for 2008 featuring comedian Jade Esteban Estrada (Comedy Central.)

To take a look at all of their products, click here.

Worth a Thousand Words...

Since they were born, I have spent a small fortune on pictures of my children. It has gotten a lot cheaper since I got a digital camera. Though, I'm completely uninhibited now that I know I can erase inferior quality shots at the touch of a button. But every now and then, I like to have some professional ones taken. Hire someone with a keener, more artistic eye who can capture the images of mis niños in a beautiful, well-composed photograph.

For those of you looking to find a great photographer to snap some beautiful memories, check out Monika Elena Kost's beautiful portfolio on her website, Monika Elena Photography. What I love about it is that each photo feels so intimate. She captures loving moments between friends and family... secrets shared... joyful interactions. I don't know any of the people in Monika's portfolio, but I enjoy looking at each one. I love the richness of color in the photographs as well as the perspective. But most of all, I like the innocence and sweetness of the children. It makes me want to snuggle my own. And makes me just a little bit sad that their childhood seems to be flying by so quickly.

It makes me want to pick up a camera.

So if you are in the San Francisco or DC area, give Monika Elena a call and set up an appointment. To explore here website, click here.

For Little Spanish Bloggers...

Back to the topic of raising bilingual kids...

It really amazes me what people can do when they work together. There are so many collaborative projects that make a big difference in the world, if only because of the talented force behind them. I am always excited and happy to work on a project with someone, rather than by myself, because I love the challenge and exchange of ideas.

I was recently told about this really neat blog called Los Bloguitos. It is run by a very creative group of Hispanic illustrators, poets, writers. Los Bloguitos is aimed at children who speak and read Spanish, but it is a great tool for parents who are trying to raise bilingual children. The posts are a mixture of short stories, poems, riddles, pictures and more. A super cool site that is very kid friendly and a great resource for Spanish speaking families.

One of my favorite posts is titled Haciendo un libro para niños and includes a video of the stages involved in illustrating a children's book. But there are so many other neat and wonderful contributions to this blog by a pretty big group of talented people that it is hard to choose just one.

To check out this really neat blog, click aqui.

Encouraging Bilingual Families

Last month I found a wonderful resource for bilingual families. Geared for children ages 7 to 12, Iguana Magazine is the only Spanish language magazine for children here in the U.S. Christianne Meneses Jacobs is the founder and publisher of the magazine which she created with her husband, Marc, as a way to help their daughters retain their Spanish language and appreciate their Latino heritage.

Christianne sent me some samples of the magazine and I LOVE them! The magazine is rich with stories, poems, fun facts, scientific experiments, historical anecdotes, interviews, recipes, crafts and much, much more. The illustrations are fun, colorful and entertaining for los niños. Overall, it is one of the best magazines for children that I've seen. So give your children a birthday gift this year that will challenge their minds the whole year through.

Thank you, Christianne! You have done a wonderful job giving life to your dream and it is making a real difference in this world!

To check the Iguana web site, click here.

Para Español, aqui.

Pies Calentitas....

Few things bring back the memory of mi 'buelita faster than the sharp, clear smell from a jar of Vicks. For the last week, I have been battling The Flu. Both mis niños have been hit hard (possibly with 2 strains, I am told) as has my husband. My youngest has had it the worst with several fever spikes up to 105 degrees. Cold showers were becoming a routine for him, but finally the antibiotics and the antiviral meds have kicked in and we have not had a fever now for almost 48 hours. Hallelujah!

But now The Flu is fighting back with a severe case of coughing. Nights are the hardest. Despite various props (extra pillows, blankets under one end of the mattress, etc), my kids insist on laying flat. The first night, after an hour of non-stop coughing, I finally cracked out my 'buelita's secret weapon...an nice blue bottle of Vicks Vaporub. I can't figure out how this stuff works so well, but a little dab on the bottom of each foot followed by some nice comfy calcetines and...tada!

Buenas noches, mi'jitos!

"Gordito" Doesn't Mean Healthy...

It is no secret that the number of obese children in the U.S. has tripled in recent years. However, what alarms me (as a Latina mother) is that statistics show that Latino children are the most obese of all. I come from a family that loves to eat. In fact, mi 'buelita even opened her own restaurant in Dallas many years ago. It was a family-operated business. I think that many of us whose families originally came from areas that were not so - shall I say affluent? - have a deeply imbedded belief that a chubby baby is a well-fed one. Their mother is taking good care of them, keeping them properly nourished and lavished with love. I remember that whenever I finished a nice, big, "healthy" portion of food on my plate, my mamá would smile and say "Mi'ja está comiendo bien!" Of course, back then I would probably spend the rest of the afternoon or evening playing outside in my 'buelita's garden.

Times change. Lifestyles change. But sometimes our beliefs are a little slower to adapt.

Fortunately for us, Claudia González and Lourdes Alcañiz have a book and web site out to help us. "Gordito Doesn't Mean Healthy" gives us information, strategies and tools to prevent and manage obesity in our children. The web site has some valuable tools including a Body Mass Index Calculator to tell us if our children are overweight and a Latino Food Pyramid to help us make better food choices. The book offers healthy Latino menus for children - from newborns to adolescents.

To check out the English web site, click here.

To check out the Spanish web site, click aqui.

On a side note, I'd like to point out that, in general, breastfed babies tend to have less body fat. They are leaner, healthier and less likely to be overweight toddlers/children. Not to mention all the wonderful nutrients and immunities they get from breast milk, too. Perhaps my next few posts will be on the topic of nursing...

Holiday Gifts from Children

Well, a quick post tonight on where to find some great ideas for gifts that children can make and give this holiday. Meg McElwee posts one of my favorite blogs, Montessori by Hand. She is a teacher in Chihuahua, Mexico and has some wonderful ideas and stories from the children in her class. She also has her own website with a couple of sewing patterns for those of you who would like to make some gifts and are wondering what to do.

Anyhow, if you are looking for a way to keep los niños busy and help them find a way to contribute and appreciate their own hard work, click here.