Inspiring Latinos You Should Know

As a Latina mom, it upsets me that history books rarely discuss Latinos who have had an impact on our society. In fact, when I set out to research this for my own children, I was surprised at how many I knew nothing about. I have talked a number of times on this blog about the crisis that young Latinos and Latinas are experiencing in this country. They are in desperate need of inspiration and guidance. They are bombarded daily by media images that insist that Latinas must be sexy and wanton, which conflicts with their family’s more conservative values. One of the major factors identified in the success of young Latinas is their relationship with their mother: Latinitas with mamís that listen – even if they don’t agree – are far more likely to succeed and grow up to be healthy and happy adults.

A recent study by researchers at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill has shown that "Latino adolescents in the U.S. who maintain ties to their culture of origin are more likely to develop healthy behaviors than their peers who do not. Latino adolescents with strong awareness of their family’s culture reported higher self esteem, fewer social problems and less hopelessness, aggression and substance abuse."

So the question is: How do we engender in our children a respect and pride for our culture? Wow. This could take a LONG time to discuss. I think that it is never too early to show our children the beauty of our Latino culture. Exposing them to the elements of our heritage includes the language, food, dance, music, and HISTORY. Which brings me to the point of this particular post: It is so important to give our children role models with whom they can relate. There are so many inspirational Latinos out there that I could start an entire blog simply featuring them. (Hmmmm….) But for now, I thought I would share with you some of the stories and on-line resources for learning more about significant figures in our cultures. Here are a few that I thought would be great to get you started on the track of exposing your children to positive Latino role models. Some are well known, while others are not. But either way, their stories are moving and inspiring.

Gabriela Mistral - The Chilean born poet who began teaching at the young age of 15 and subsequently traveled all over the world in an effort to improve schools. She was inspired by her travels and wrote many stories during this time. Gabriela Mistral is her nom de plume. She was actually born Lucila de María del Perpetuo Socorro Godoy Alcayaga – Whew! Mistral is a wonderful role model for young children because she was so passionate about learning and writing. She is noted for the many contributions she made to the education system of Latin America. Mistral finally received the recognition she so richly deserved in 1945 when she became the first Latin American writer to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. A prolific writer, she published more than 30 collections of poetry during her lifetime.
My Name is Gabriela/Me llamo Gabriela: The Life of Gabriela Mistral/la vida de Gabriela Mistral by Monica Brown
Nobel Prize Biographies

Poet Seers: Gabriela Mistral

César Chávez –Mexican American farm worker and founder of the United Farm Workers. This civil rights activist fought for the rights of migrant workers, including better pay and safer working conditions. He is noted for his nonviolent outlook and protests including strikes, pickets, fasting and a 300+ mile march. Though he never earned more than 5,000 a year in his life, he is remembered by millions for his determination to bring recognition and dignity to farm workers.
For more information about César Chávez, check out these books & websites:
Cesar: Si, Se Puede! / Yes, We Can! by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand
Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez by Kathleen Krull

The Fight in the Fields: Cesar Chavez and the Farmworkers Movement by Susan Ferriss and Ricardo Sandoval
The Cesar E Chavez Foundation

Las Culturas: The Story of Cesar Chavez

Celia Cruz – Cuban "Queen of Salsa." Originally studied to become a literature teacher, only to interrupt her studies to pursue singing opportunities that eventually led to stardom. She has become beloved by generations all over the world for her operatic voice, flamboyant costumes and intimate relation to the music of Salsa.
For more information about Celia Cruz, check out these books & websites:

Celia Cruz, Queen of Salsa by Veronica Chambers

My Name is Celia/Me llamo Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz/la vida de Celia Cruz by Monica Brown

Celia: Mi Vida (Spanish Edition) by Celia Cruz and Ana Cristina Reymundo
Biggest Stars: Celia Cruz

Roberto Clemente – Puerto Rican baseball legend who transcended his reputation as a professional athlete to humanitarian and philanthropist. He is remembered for his efforts towards the recognition of his fellow Latino baseball players and for helping people in need across the United States and Central America. Clemente also held free baseball clinics for children in his homeland and created programs to help disadvantaged youth develop athletic skills and prevent illegal drug use. Clemente died in a plane crash while attempting to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.
For more information about Roberto Clemente, check out these books & websites:
Beyond Baseball: The Life of Roberto Clemente
American Experience: Roberto Clemente

Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates by Jonah Winter

María, María, How does your Garden Grow?

I heard the other day on some morning program, that due to the struggling economy and the First Lady’s example, everyone is now planting a vegetable garden. Over the past 9 years or so, my husband and I have made an annual attempt at planting a garden – not always with much success. Rabbits, deer, drought, flood, and an occasional feral hog(!) are but a few of the anti-veggie garden challenges we have encountered.

And yet, we keep trying.

¡Oralé! This year, we said, things will be different. Since moving to NC 2 years ago, we are finally in our own home and actually have the acreage to plant a sizeable garden. My industrious husband and daughter carefully enclosed our side porch and converted it into their personal greenhouse. As if by magic, seed trays, potting soil, watering cans and fluorescent lights suddenly appeared. Trips to Lowe’s began to center around the seed section and I started finding seed packets in the dining room, kitchen and my daughter’s bed. Plant catalogs started multiplying next to the couch in the living room. And lately, every evening brings eager whispering floating into the house from the side porch as they monitor the seedlings’ growth.

Regardless of whether or not we actually successfully grow a single vegetable, this year is different. It is the first time both our kids have had the actual experience of "farming." Maybe not on a big scale, but they are learning about starting a project and following it through. The last few weeks has found them out in the garden picking out the roots, sticks and rocks as Daddy goes around with the tiller. My kids are fascinated by the differences in the seeds. Tiny, big, pointy, flat, round...seeds come in so many shapes and sizes. They’ve been learning about the effects of light, water, temperature on one little seed. The biology lesson is immense!

And today, for me, was the best day of all. Today we actually sewed seeds in straight(ish) little lines. Okra, gourds, tomatoes, corn, bell peppers, carrots – all planted in carefully marked rows. There is just something innately satisfying in feeling the dirt between your fingers. Watching mis niños staring intently into a hole, their tiny hands carefully dropping in a seed and then covering it up, brought such a feeling of satisfaction and contentment.

It reminds me of my abuelita, who used to plant rows of corn in the backyard of her Dallas home. Tomates y chiles of every shape and color tumbled out of pots scattered around her back porch. Roses, irises, canas and a variety of other flowering plants were there, too. But it is the corn that made the biggest impression on me. Probably because I spent hours sitting in the middle of the rows, staring up at the sky, their towering stalks like a green wall between me and the rest of the world.

How many of you, I wonder will be planting a garden this year? Why? To save money? To eat healthy? To teach your children? Maybe, for the sheer enjoyment?

Warning: Embarassing Material to Follow...

Is it just me, or do gringos have a lot of hang-ups about toilet privacy?
Situation A:
My husband's in the shower and nature comes a callin'. I don't think twice about walking in for a quick tinkle. Unfortunately, it never fails that every time this happens, my shout of "Don't mind me, I just gotta pee" is met by strangled gurgles behind the shower curtain and a series of complaints. I think that if he could reach the door from the shower to slam it behind me after I'm done, he would.
Situation B:
I'm in a hurry and run into the bathroom for a quick tinkle. Hubby happens to go walking by (or maybe nature is calling him, too) when his footsteps suddenly stop, he clicks his tongue and his laments of "why can't you shut the door?" fade into the distance as his footsteps beat a hasty retreat.
At first, I thought it was just being a mom, but then thinking back on it, I can remember how growing up, if someone had to do their business, they didn't always shut the bathroom door. Maybe we'd sort of shut it - the halfway-closed kinda thing, you know? I'm mostly talking about the females in my family, of course, which leads me to the question: is it being a mom, a woman, or a Latina that makes using the potty no big deal?
Of course, I mean among familia only! I really wouldn't go to my husband's bosses house for a dinner party and just go use their bathroom without shutting the door! Obviously, there would be more than a little shock and embarrassment involved there. And come to think of it, I wouldn't do that at my in-laws, either. Just at home.
But seriously, at home, who cares? Everybody's gotta pee, no? What's the big deal? Maybe part of my deal is that our bathroom has a little wall that runs perpedicular to the door and hides the toilet. Anyone walking by can see my legs, but it's not like they can actually see me doing anything. That is, until my kids come barrelling in arguing and complaining about one another. Sometimes I'm yelling, "chihuahua, get outta here, can't a mami have a little privacy?!?"
But sometimes, in the early morning moments, when the whisper of tired, little feet come dragging quietly in, I'll admit, that on occasion, I have been known to give in and pick up a tiny body and hold it in my lap as they sleepily beg to be held and snuggled.
So, que? What do you think? Is it just me? Would you be embarrassed to death or could you not care less? Do you think it is being a woman? A mom? Or a Latina? I'm curious....
~Monica

Latino Designers Find Fame in First Lady

What a day! I don't know how many of you were able to watch this mornings inaugural events, but my little familia and I were glued to the tube. Well, okay, I was glued, the kids were a little too young to realize the significance of the whole thing. And regardless of what party you are with or who you voted for, don't you think it is wonderful tht we are able to live in a country where the people's voice can completely change the direction of their nation's government? It really overwhelms me to see all those people standing out there in the frigid cold, cheering at the top of their longs, waving their little flags. This little sea of humanity - the emotion is almost too much for me to fathom.

And can I just say how touched I was when the Obamas arrived at the White House? I think George and Laura, but especially George, were so very warm, welcoming - real Southern hospitality, I guess? I don't know, maybe he was just like "Hallelujah! Get me outta here!" but I thought they were so gracious. And how classy was it of Michelle to bring a gift?

And on a side note, I was really proud to see that Michelle chose to wear a design by Cuban-American designer Isabel Toledo! Hooray! In fact, when looking at the list of designers that Michelle has chosen before - including Narciso Rodriguez, Zero and Maria Cornejo and Chicago designer Maria Pinto - this could be an unexpected bonus for Latino designers! She did look very sophisticated, yet classically simple today, didn't she?

So in parting....Bien hecho, America! Land of opportunity, determination, freedom and dreams....

~Monica

Nostalgic Holidays

WOOOSH!

That is the sound my body made when my eyes opened on January 1st. As enjoyable as they were, it is nice to have the holidays over with, so that things can return to "normal." I'm still tired from all the visiting, eating, laughing, shopping, and driving. I spent Friday cleaning my house which had greatly suffered from neglect during the last couple of weeks. It is terribly satisfying to restore order where there once was chaos.

Despite the merriment and the joy I received over seeing my children squealing gleefully over their gifts from Santa (this was the first year that they were both old enough to really "get it,") I was really sad to be far away from family. For some reason, this year was especially hard during the holidays because I really missed experiencing some of the traditions from my childhood.

I missed helping my 'Buelita in the kitchen. Surrounded by ollas filled with pork, chicken, and beans, the smell alone was thick enough to fill my stomach. I remember her hands quickly, but rhythmically, swishing back and forth as she spread the masa onto corn husks. Her gray hair would be pulled up tight into a little bun at the base of her head, perfectly neat except for a few little strays that escaped around her temples and curled slightly in the steamy kitchen. Glasses perched on her nose, her old, sweet, wrinkled face would be flushed just a bit from the warmth of the stove and her own labor. A smile, never far from her lips, would spring up everytime she talked. And a little, white apron would rest on her plump, huggable body with little smears of pork or masa as decoration. She's been gone since I was 12 years old. And it surprises me a little just how much I miss her laugh, her voice, her happy spirit. How very, very sad that my children do not get to know her, laugh with her, love her as I did.

And I really miss the posadas. Dressing up and visiting with friends, our voices raised in song. The warmth of our host's home, the food, the visiting, the twinkle of Christmas lights and the carefully arranged nativities.

I miss Christmas sitting around a huge table with mama, nanita, grand daddy, 'buelita, tias, tios, primos, and friends. Noisy but happy, you know?

I think the best but saddest moment for me was when the phone rang VERY early on my birthday a few weeks ago. My dad calling from Spain to wish me un feliz cumpleaños, who then passed it to his sister, who passed it to her other brother, who passed it to their other brother, who passed it to their other brother! They all sounded so happy and I missed them so much. But it was certainly the best birthday wake-up I'd had in many years.

So many traditions. So much work for such a brief moment - but, ay! ¿Es un momento magnifico, no? One that forever remains in our hearts and minds.

I would love to know about your family traditions and hope some of you will share.

And here are a few of my favorite blogeras sharing theirs:
I greatly enjoyed reading Multi-Culti Mami's (Violeta's) latest contribution to Literary Mama and am happy to share it with you here.
And here is Floresita's post that shares some of her family traditions, as well.
And be sure to check out Carrie's fantastic collection of Latino holiday music here.

Angelito Ornaments

This week has been a busy one at our casa, just as it probably is at yours. My oldest finished off her preschool week with a Christmas performance that I gleefully video taped. Of course, every breathing moment leading up to that was pure, frantic chaos. She worked hard to memorize the Christmas poem she had to stand up and recite, while I fretted over what she should wear and how to arrange her hair. My eyes were bloodshot from staying up WAY too late trying to finish making the felt angelito ornaments that I made for each of her teachers (there are four.) I was more or less happy with the finished pieces and have decided to make more for us and others as Christmas gifts. Here's a picture of what they looked like before I put them in their individual gift bags.

Now the Christmas break is here, so it is a good thing I finished shopping for the kids because between now and Christmas, I will not get to enjoy a single moment without one of them in tow. It is fine, though, provided I schedule my time wisely. For instance, I still have a few more presents to get, but shopping times will have to be planned for the early mornings as afternoons equal naptime and without naptime, shopping is hell. Actually, it is not that bad if you enjoy a crying, frothing, screaming two year old who wants to have everything in the store while the four year old keeps crawling out of the cart in a mad attempt to touch everything she sees in Tar-jay.

Morning shopping equals two docile little lambs who sweetly ask if we can get this toy or that toy, and barely blink an eye when I say "maybe" or "put it on your Christmas list." Much less stressful. I wonder about you, dear readers. Do you shop alone or with kids? or with kids and an adult backup?

Abuelitas Deserve a Lot of Love

Mi mamá leaves us tomorrow after 10 days of shopping, merriment and planning. I've spent almost all the money I had saved up for the holidays, and at least have my kids' presents taken care of and my office space better organized. I'll truly miss all the help she gives me with mis niños - feeding them breakfast, reading them to sleep, changing diapers, and so much more. Does she let them watch too much television when I'm not looking? Absolutely. But she also showers them with kisses and hugs and buys them (and me) the things that we need and I can't afford.

This afternoon was the best gift - a much needed nap for me! I've been fighting a sinus infection for almost 3 weeks now and it seems to be getting the better of me. The nap was such a blessing.

And, of course, let's not forget the night off I got to actually go somewhere without a child in tow! The movie, Australia, was magnifico! I'm not a big fan of Nicole Kidman, but she did a great acting job. And now I can see what all the fuss is about Hugh Jackman! Man alive, let me just say, Sisters, it's a good thing for him that I'm married or he'd be in trouble! I think my hubby had to shut my mouth for me during the scene where Jackman is soaping up his magnifico torso. Ay, dios mio. I really owe my mami something special this Christmas!

So the point of all this is...have you got someone special in your life who helps you with the little things? Maybe it's your mami, or your tia, or your sister, or your best friend. Despite this holiday's economic crunch, why not do something really special to show your appreciation? Give them something you made yourself, or bought just for them. Make them their favorite meal, knit them a scarf with your own hands, get them the softest pajamas you can find. But remember - don't forget the card! And take the time to write down how much they mean to you.

Thank you, Mami.

Serenity Now...

So this afternoon was a rough one at home. When picking up my eldest child at school, I was met by the teacher who told me that the morning had not gone well. In a nutshell, my child did not behave today. She was inattentive, rough-housing and not following directions. I thought I would die from the vergüenza. I mean, I knew other kids behaved this way, but not my kid. The final straw was when I asked my daughter on the way home if she had sat in the "thinking chair" (which has never happened before) and she held up two fingers and said, "but only two times!"

She knew she was in trouble.

Later, - much, much later - after I was able to calm down and think about the situation, I realized that things are not as bad as they seem. How often have I read the blogs of mis amigas describing similar behavior breakdowns in their kids? And it occurred to me that it is not too late and my daughter is not on the road to self-destruction with a straw/spoon/fork (or whatever they use nowadays) up her nose wearing black nail polish, chains and leather, screaming "It’s all your fault! Why didn’t you color with me?"

I was able to assess the situation in a more rational way by the afternoon and realized that a) she had gone to bed WAY too late the night before (9 pm is ususal curfew, but I could still hear her up in her room at 10:30) and had skimped on breakfast (usually oatmeal, yogurt and a full glass of milk or OJ, but this morning she had barely finished the oatmeal.) In addition, I am generally somewhat of an anti-TV mom. I think it is unhealthy and inhibits mental growth. But for a number of reasons that I won’t mention here (but basically equal laziness on my part and letting myself get too disorganized in the way I schedule my family time and my work time,) there has been a little too much television watching in this household.

No, I am not making excuses. I am just trying to understand what is going on.

SO, needless to say, I have made un cambio grande in the house. Disciplining la niña includes absolutely no tv for the rest of the week, and even then, only one show in the evening (I’m a sucker for Word Girl) and ONLY if she earns it back. In addition, I am throwing the breaks on the whole daily routine (or lack thereof) and reorganizing our schedules. Being a work from home mom sort of sucks every once in a while because it is such a big balancing routine and if you’re not careful, one thing suddenly starts to shift and then it’s all plftht!

Another change we made this afternoon, was creating and implementing a "Chore Chart." To give her more responsibility and help her focus on following direction. So for those of you with 2 to 6 year olds, I thought I would share ours and maybe give you some ideas of things to list should you decide to create a chart of your own.

Ours lists the normal things like clean your room, make your bed, brush your teeth, set the table, etc. But it also lists a few unique to us, but I think are equally possible like, help mami sort the laundry, put away your clean clothes, clean toys off the stairs, sweep the kitchen, pick up pinecones, feed the chickens/puppy, help carry in the groceries, pick up daddy's dirty calcetines off the living room floor (ewww).... The possibilities are endless once you think of all the things our little "helpers" already try to help us do everyday.

Make the chart fun by adding little pictures next to each chore. Maybe you can make it bilingual to help their Spanish skills (hacer la cama, barrer la cocina, recoger las piñas, etc) And keep a special set of stickers to mark each box and keep track of their achievements. We also personalized ours by having my daughter write her name across the top.

I hope you all find this helpful! Mi niña is already excited about it and was extremely helpful this afternoon and evening. She even made her bed before she put on her pajamas.

Next post will discuss rewards….

Ramblings

¡Híjole! What a hectic month. Finally, though, the light at the end of the tunnel is here. You all know that I have been working on a little project for the holiday shopping season. With great relief I can now say that it is more or less complete. I will have a nice announcement for you all within a few days.

So I apologize that the posts have been a little scarce lately. It is hard juggling three blogs, a business, two websites (three if you include etsy), a puppy, too many chickens to count, 2 donkeys, a cow, a mule, two kids, a husband, and a new (old) house with a variety of "fix-it" jobs. It took me four months just to peel the wallpaper in the hallway, only to have my husband say "maybe we should tear out that wall and make the bedroom bigger." I wisely kept my mouth shut for fear of the expletives that were lurking inside.

Don't get me wrong. I absolutely LOVE our new house. It is just suffering a bit of neglect. Or maybe I should say "we" are suffering it's neglect. Since moving in we've had to fix the washing machine drain line, fix the oven, fix the central heat, and replace the septic line. That's just for starters. Thank goodness my hubby is a jack-of-all-trades because I shudder to think of the expense all this would be if we had to actually pay for labor as well as supplies.

And let me tell ya, sisters, NOTHING spells stress like a toilet that won't flush and house of 3 and a half people (I say half, because my youngest is just starting potty training.) Especially when company is coming to stay.

Today was unusually warm, so to celebrate my freedom from the computer, I spent the afternoon outside with my family making a new flower bed. Created just for the hummingbirds and butterflies that will swarm our house next year, we planted several salvias and asters next to a beautiful flowering camelia, with plenty of room left over for more avian friendly plants. We even set up a nice heavy duty metal bird feeder on a post and filled it with black sunflower seeds - every little birdie's favorite type of feed because it is so high in fat. Perfect for the cold winter months.

Anyway, dear Amigas, hopefully I will be back on track now and able to post with a little more regularity. I have several artists whose work I have stumbled upon and fallen in love with, so during the next few weeks I hope to share them with you.
With warmest wishes to all,

Alma Awards Create Emotional Upheaval

So I just finished watching the Alma Awards.

Am I the only one who was clapping and cheering most of the way through? (aside from my kids - who didn't have a clue who they were clapping and cheering for!) I doubt it. I mean seriously, I was impressed by Shakira (more about her later,) ecstatic for Jorge (GO LOST!!!) and crying during Linda Ronstadt's tribute. Man! Those songs bring back a LOT of memories, Amigas! The whole thing made me so terribly, terribly homesick for TX and Latino culture. Especially when mariachis were up there singing one from "Canciones de Mi Padre." Boo-hooo! - pasa me un Kleenex, por favor!!

How many of you out there are like me - removed from your hometown, separated from your familia and cultura? Struggling to pass on your native language, family traditions and favorite memories and to your children? I am a fourth generation Hispanic American. And as we all know, the Spanish language often disappears by the third, second (or sadly even the first) generation. I was fortunate to have spent most of my childhood with my great-grandmother, who spoke very little English. Yet, while I understand it perfectly, having spent the last 20 (more or less) years in mostly white neighborhoods and private schools, college and career choice, my ability to speak it fluidly has been severely hampered. After spending some time talking with amigas or familia, or when traveling to Spanish-speaking countries, my Spanish improves dramatically. But I'm a bit rusty from lack of practice. So with all this said, I was really glad to see Jessica Alba up presenting an award. She has gotten a lot of flack for not having learned Spanish as a kid (parents' fault!), but does not speaking the language make you any less Latino? If you were born in Italy to Italian parents, but didn't speak Italian, would you then not be one either? Bah! Let me make it clear here: all parents should do all that they can to encourage their children to learn a second language. The benefits are astronomical. But just because a person might not understand or speak a native language (in this instance Spanish) does not make them any less a Latino/a. And we shouldn't be made to feel ashamed or embarassed.

So back to the topic at hand - I was awash in tears and sentimental longing after many of these presentations.

But then, of course, I was giggling through Cheech and Chong's brief reunion. Did he really say they were going to go on tour? And I just finished reviewing one of Cheech Marin's children's books for the Latin Baby Book Club. I have to say, that I'm beginning to like him more and more the older I get.

And I was so excited I almost fainted when they announced Sergio Mendez for the final act. But, to be honest, the Brazil '66 version of "Mas Que Nada" was much, much better, if you ask me. (no, I am not fluent in Portuguese, though I do know a fair amount of French!)

Right, enough of my rambling and soapbox rants.

At any rate, if you missed it, these were just a few of the highlights from the show. If you want to see who all was nominated and for what, as well as who won, visit the Alma Awards website here.

In the News...

I am on cloud nine. Both Latin Baby and the new book club have been in the news quite a lot lately. I thought I would just share a couple of the feature articles done recently.

First of all, a big, giant thanks to Fashion Mannuscript for the wonderful article. It came out really well and I appreciate the opportunity. This magazine really is a wealth of information and I have a few leads for some upcoming posts on Mi Cielito Lindo. So stay tuned!

And thanks to a certain amiga (you know who you are) for thinking of me and suggesting my name. I hope I can return the favor someday.

Second of all, muchisimas gracias to Marisa Treviño from Latina Lista, for not one, but two posts. And they came out magnifico! You work so hard - and it shows. And thanks for the information about issues affecting Latino families that you occasionally write about. I reference it a lot!

With a big, fat, giant abrazo to everyone,

Are You Famous?

First of all... Carla? Are you out there? You are the winner of the De Colores book by Jose-Luis Orozco! Send me an email (admin at latinbabyusa dot com) with your shipping info so I can send it out asap! And thanks for reading!
Busy, busy, busy! I'm exhausted physically, but my mind can't shut down. It is already thinking about next week, and the week after that. Does this sound familiar?
Carrie has hit it on the head about mamas trying to do a hundred things at once every day of the week. We really do need to slow it down and enjoy el momento - especially me. I rarely sit down long enough to watch a show on tv, but the other night there was a program on PBS about fame (a hilarious program hosted by John Cleese.) In it, they discussed (among other things) how parents are the famous people in a child's life. The first people our children draw are their family members.
Anyhow, I started thinking about my favorite art piece given to me by my daughter. Created of construction paper, markers, googly eyes and macaroni, it is a picture of both my face and my husband's. I had it hanging up in our bedroom before we moved and now it is in a box in our new one. In it, we are both smiling...and I was so relieved to remember that fact the other night while watching this show, because I think that lately, I have spent a lot of time frowning and regañando the kids. It scares me because I want my children's memory of me to be one of how much I love them - not how I was constantly criticising or disapproving. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for discipline and not being afraid to say "no." I think our kids need to learn self-control and not just indulge themselves whenever they want. But I do believe it can be done firmly and lovingly without anger and impatience. ¡Ay! Do I need to listen to myself!
I know that I have way too much on my plate which is making me tired and irritable. It is time to slow down and relax and enjoy playing with my kids. It is not too late to change things.
I strongly suspect that there are a lot of hard-working mamás out there who can relate to this post. So today and tomorrow and the day after that, take a little time to snuggle your child. Start with 5 minutes and you'll be surprised how quickly it becomes 10 then 15. Or sit down and read a book, watch a family movie, play a game that THEY want to play, or make a cake. Whatever. It seems so simple, but the rewards are so very, very great.
Stop and think about it...Are YOU famous? And if so, what kind of face would your child draw?

Latin Baby Book Club Sneak Preview

Caramba! Has it really been three weeks since I have posted? Time really flies when you're... moving! The last month has been a complete blur for me. All within a few days of our first real family vacation since moving to NC, we suddenly had the opportunity to buy some property that seemed to fit our little familia perfectly. Throw in last minute wholesale orders that came in two days before we left and you can imagine my hysteria. Paperwork (and most of our dinero) started flying everywhere and we closed during the second week of June and had all of 5 days to move everything into our new house before we took off on our ridiculously long road trip to TX followed by another 14 hr trip to NM for a week of camping with family and friends (I would, by the way, HIGHLY recommend Quemado Lake in the Gila National Forest for anyone looking to do a little camp out this summer.) Anyhoooo, we returned happy, but totally exhausted (and anti long-term car rides) to a wonderful new house stacked full of boxes. My new home looks like a packaging company threw up, but I am ecstatic as our new place has several buildings on it including barns, a guest house and a separate space for Latin Baby offices and product storage! Woohoo!

To celebrate all the great things that have happened (despite the insane scheduling) I am happy to grant my loyal readers a sneak peak of the official Latin Baby Book Club that will launch on August 1st. A little brainstorm that arose after reading mi amiga's blog - I don't think I overlapped any of her recommendations, but be sure to check out her favorites here.

To add to the festivities, I am going to giveaway a copy of the very popular De Colores and other Latin-American Folk Songs for Children by José-Luis Orozco. So leave me a comment or drop me an email, Sisters! I always love to hear from you.

Thanks to all of you who have posted comments or sent emails. I will try to respond when time permits. It's great to be back in the madness!

Los Pollitos Dicen...or Not?

Well, Amigas, I have to say that the past week has been full. Full of work, anticipation, activities, stress, concern, disbelief and outrage. Some of this was related to my daughter's last days of classes and our excitement that summer has arrived with new opportunities. The stress was mostly mine - worry over how to keep my kids busy and enriched. But I am looking forward to some of the neat ideas we have had (more in a later post.)

Unfortunately, the latter emotions in the above list revolve around one of my friends and a colleague in the Latin baby business world.

I have been in the business of designer children's wear for Hispanic families for about three and a half years now. Those of us who are forging a path through this relatively untapped market know each other or are, at least, aware of each other's existence and are familiar with their products. I like to think that most of us are willing to collaborate and help each other out from time to time, and I have worked together with many of my fellow business women. And I am happy to say that I am even pretty good friends with one in particular.

Carrie Ferguson Weir is the co-owner of Los Pollitos Dicen (The Little Chicks Say), a beautiful designer line of children's T-shirts. Her line is based on the Latino nursery rhyme of the same name and perfectly captures the essence of Hispanic childhood with its adorable designs. Carrie and Oscar, who also started their line about three years ago, have worked tremendously hard to create a high-quality and ORIGINAL product that is a big hit with Latino families. In fact, I am hoping to carry LPD in my boutique this summer.

We chat or email weekly (at least) and have even collaborated on a few projects. I am extremely fond of Carrie and I respect her greatly because I know the struggles and challenges she goes through as an entrepreneurial mom. I was not surprised when she wrote to tell me of another line of baby tees that has suddenly appeared on the market. However, I was completely aghast when I saw the products, because, with the exception of a few minor details, they look exactly like LPD. From a distance, the colors and even the design appear to be the same. Upon closer examination, however, the similarities and differences are obvious. The artwork is not on the same level, and instead of little chicks, the theme is some other type of baby bird. But a few of the designs are remarkably similar to LPD's. Even the font is the same (Seriously, sister, even the font??)

The other crazy thing is that Carrie finds out about this copycat from the other vendors and visitors at the Cuba Nostalgia in Miami. Within a matter of hours, she is getting text messages, emails and calls of alarm. Friends and customers wanting to express their outrage and warning LPD about the imposter. The past two years, Carrie has set up a booth at Cuba Nostalgia, but decided not to this year. Does she regret it? Probably!

Now, I don't know about you, but I would certainly be embarrassed to death if the whole world knew I had copied someone else's idea - que vergüenza! -even if it was accidental. And this was no accident. From various reports, the owner seemed completely aware of LPD and showed no remorse or embarassment. But who on earth would steal someone's idea and then set up a booth at THE SAME festival?!?

Only a quackpot.

They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery (which is what I told Carrie), but this whole thing makes me really sad because I so strongly believe in supporting other female entrepreneurs - especially Latinas. I try not to worry too much about other Spanish baby businesses that seem to be popping up out of the woodwork lately. It's a huge country with hundreds of thousands of Latinos in it. I don't expect to corner the market or monopolize the country with my fantastico line of baby products (although it is magnifico!), and I doubt they will either. However, I do expect all the players to ethically play the game and respect each other's ideas and hard work. Am I being unreasonable?

So don't be scammed, Amigas! And if you want to show your support or are simply looking for an ORIGINAL piece of quality, designer's children's wear, visit Los Pollitos Dicen here. Or you can wait and buy some of their great products from Latin Baby later this summer (wink!)

Hopefully, this will be my one and only negative posting on Mi Cielito Lindo - though certainly well deserved.

Un abrazo fuerte a todos --- and have a great Memorial Day!

Computer Woes...

AARG! It has been a long week for me and I apologize for the lack of postings. But thanks to the weird goings-on at our local electric company, my computer's motherboard got fried sometime in the middle of the night last week and I have been struggling to get it fixed. I finally gave up and bought a new computer. Patooee on emachines from now on! All I can say is VIVA HP! I still have a lot of stuff to transfer and install and all the trial junk to uninstall from this new computer, but overall, I should be back in full swing within the next few days!
Thanks to all of you for hanging in there with me!
Ciao for now,
~Monica

It's your right!!!

WOW! I just saw the greatest story on ABC evening news (can I just ask...is there a Charles Gibson fan club? 'Cause I want in!) talking about the huge number of Latinos turning out to vote! YEA!!! They were saying that in one county in southern TX, where the Latino turn out is usually only about 15% has had record numbers with OVER 60% turning out so far! HURRAH! I was jumping up and down in my living room, hands over my head like Sylvester Stallone, shouting and trying not to cry with joy and pride in my peeps.

So, brief but sweet...I don't care who you vote for (well, actually, I do, but I refuse to get on my political soap box with anyone other than my family), just GET OUT THERE AND VOTE, SISTERS! It's your right as a citizen and as a person to have a say in who you think deserves to lead your country.

So GO, GO, GO, GO!!!!!

The End of the Waiting...

You guys know by now that I don't normally "dish" on celebrities. There are plenty of other blogs and what-have-yous that focus on that. However, I must admit that this morning brought a satisfying end to The Waiting.

It has been a big year for Latinas - with regards to having families. I know I am not the only Latina who has been eagerly awaiting the transitions of Salma Hayek, Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Lopez from celebrities to first time mamis. And I sit and ask myself - why do I care? Why is this so fascinating and, yes, even exciting?

I think that for me (and probably so many others) these women sort of symbolize so much of what we grew up thinking a Latina should be...strong-willed, intelligent, opinionated, talented, successful, beautiful, passionate. We admire them for their achievements in a world that is sometimes a little too white and not very supportive of Hispanics and their dreams. They are what I want to be - strong. But at the same time soft and sexy. I want to have that stubborn persistence that it takes to make my dreams a reality without being labeled aggressive and "pesada."

Take Salma with her ability to stay true to her roots and "make it" in the business. She isn't ashamed of her heritage, in fact, she is quick to make movies and TV shows that portray it both seriously and with laughter. She has catapulted Latinas to the front of the line, showing how they are both smart and beautiful.

Or Christina, with her fantastic voice, she is making it to the top of the music industry - without psychiatric interventions. Despite all the fame, she seems to be a rather level-headed woman who is able to manage her affairs without scandal. She doesn't make a big deal about her Latin heritage, but she doesn't shun it either.

And then there's Jennifer. The wealthiest Latina in Hollywood (according to Forbes anyway). She has talent coming out of her ears (and other parts). Yet, despite all the glamour, fame and riches, she has shown us that happiness doesn't always come from money. And she reminds us just how important la familia really is.

So the long wait has come to an end. I have cheered for Salma, clapped and shouted for Christina, and now I have smiled and rejoiced for Jennifer.

Why is this such a big deal? Because now, these women join us. They are no longer celebrities... they are now mamás. Like us, they will now experience joy, sadness, worry, confusion, wonder, amusement and so much more over their children.

And despite all their accomplishments, now they begin what will be (possibly) their most important job in this life - raising a child...molding a life.

Felicidades... and welcome to The Mamihood!