Mi Vida as a Planner

As a mom to a 10-year-old boy, I can’t help but think how different things were when I was his age in the 80’s. I am constantly taken aback by the generational differences in everyday things like attitude, food, entertainment, school, play, safety, health, and general well-being. I think we all agree that life was simpler then, which begs the question: has the proliferation of technology and all the advancements made parenting and childhood more complicated? I’m a Gen-X’er and proud of it. We didn’t have the iPads, the iPhones, the iAnythings. What we did have was the iSelf, nothing more, nothing less. We had to figure out what to do with ourselves. In my case, it was fervently finishing my homework after school so that I could get outside to play with my best friend until dinner-time. I had no one watching over me and we would literally wander off far from home…gasp!   Those outings were basically the beacon of my childhood. At home, my mom was super doting, always making...

I love this time of the year! I welcome fresh starts, new beginnings, new dreams, and the exciting feeling of a brand new year. It’s like a blank book waiting to be filled out. You hold the pen in your hand and the future is at your disposal. What would our lives be like without dreams to pursue, regardless whether it’s a new year or not? I’m thankful for all the dreams my parents had and the sacrifices they made embarking in a new country when I was very young. It’s their dreams and perseverance that got me to where I am today. When my parents first arrived to the U.S., (at the beginning of a new year coincidentally), they aimed to fulfill the “American Dream.” For them (and most Latin American immigrants), the American Dream consisted of learning English, having a steady, long-term job, buying a big house and a car, saving money, and ensuring their kids were safe and able to obtain a quality education.   Fortunately, they were able to achieve all those dreams through...

There is no better time to be a Latino in the U.S. than during the holidays. Oh my, the food, the drinks, the different customs, the singing, the parties, all overloading my senses and filling my stomach and soul.   Latino parties are big, loud and just keep going and going, sometimes until El Día de los Reyes Magos (The day of the Three Wise Men).   Having family and friends from all over Latin America means that most of my weekends during December are booked solid. Being part of different holiday traditions, rituals, and customs is a true celebration of Latin American diversity.    A Posada celebration one day, a Novena and villancicos the next, an Argentine asado with pan dulce another day, and a parranda Boricua style the next. In a span of just a few days, we go from a mix of Cumbia, Salsa, Tango, Bomba, Gaita, Plena, Son, Merengue and more…whoosh…no resting for us! While traditions vary from country to country, and even home-to-home, Christmas is t...

I feel like a different person when I speak in Spanish then when I speak in English. Being a child raised in both Latin America and the U.S., both languages have always been a central part of my life and my identity. Spanish ruled my life during my early, formative years, while English was at the forefront during my later, school years. It wasn’t always easy or as simple as it is now to switch from Spanish to English. As a young child, I would commonly mix Spanish and English to form new words like “glasso” (glass in English and vaso in Spanish) or start my sentence in Spanish only to finish it in English. But one thing that has always been clear is that Spanish is the language of home, of family, of love.   English is the language I learned outside of the home, taught to me by others. As a result, my Spanish self has always been more passionate, more spontaneous, more earnest, and more alive. Spanish is the language that comes more natural when I’m overcome by excitemen...

During this time of the year, Halloween always steals the show. Horror movies dominate the entertainment industry and consumers go all out with decorations, candies, gory costumes, and Halloween parties. But one tradition that goes more unperceived is Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a Mexican holiday celebrated from October 31 st   to November 2 nd every year, and acknowledged around the world in many cultures. I love Día de los Muertos and have a deep respect for the tradition. In my eyes, it is a love story about those that are no longer with us but live on in our hearts. It is a celebration of their lives and all the happy memories they have left us with. The idea being that our deceased would not be thrilled with the mourning, the tears, the gloom, the sadness that comes along with death but would much rather prefer a celebration of who they were and everything and everyone they loved. The celebration is full of life indeed, with vibrant colors, papel picado...