Esto es para mis familias latinas…
I did it once, and I will never do it again.
As a teenager, I committed a grievous sin in Latino culture- I talked back to my mother.
She paused for a moment, and I saw anger in her face. She didn’t yell at me nor did she hit me. She grabbed my arm, looked me in the eye and in a stern voice said, “You will NEVER disrespect me like that again.” I was then escorted to my room to begin what would be a very long punishment phase.
Respect for parents and elders is important to Latinos. It’s not oppression or a dominance issue; it’s just the way things are.
Get the full story from an op-ed I wrote for Fox News Latino.
See related Roadkill Goldfish post: My experience as a white Hispanic
My parents were very strict on respect when my sisters and I were growing up and I think as a parent you have to be or kids learn very quickly they can walk all over you. There’s such a lack of respect from this generation it’s not funny and I don’t agree with adults earning children’s respect, I’m your mother do as I say or cop the punishment. That’s the way I grew up and is the way I bring my children up, all six of them…. xo
Six? Girl, you are speaking from experience! Thanks for your feedback.