thebajarunner - 7-28-2007 at 02:18 PM
Having raised four boys from a Baja orphanage, along with my two Gringa daughters.
And having a Jalisco born wife.....
Well, the following is sooooooo true it is amazing.
Enjoy!!
American Kids: Move out when they're 18 with the full support of their parents.
Hispanic Kids: Move out when they're 28-38, may have saved for an apartment and are a week away from getting married . unless the bride just moves in.
American Kids: When their Mom visits them she brings a nice bundt cake and you sip coffee and chat.
Hispanic Kids: When their Mom visits them she brings 3 days worth of food, a pot of menudo and immediately begins to tidy up, dust & do the
laundry.
American Kids: Their dads always call before they come over to visit them and its usually only on special occasions.
Hispanic Kids: Are not at all fazed when their dads come over, unannounced, on a Saturday morning at 8:00 and starts pruning the lemon trees and
fixing the leaking faucet.
American Parents: You can leave your kids with them and you always worry if everything is going to be ok and have to keep calling plus you have to
feed them after you pick them up.
Hispanic Parents: No problem, leave your kids there and if they get out of line your parents can set them straight .. plus they get bathed, fed and
get told stories of when you were young and if your drinking don’t even try coming back for them til the next day!
American Kids: Always pay retail and look in the yellow pages when they need something done.
Hispanic Kids: Just call their dad or uncle and ask for a neighbor’s or nino’s phone number to get it done - cash deal.
American Kids: Rarely have company without complete planning and table seating weeks in advance.
Hispanic Kids: Invite everyone over the morning of and tell them each what to bring to make up the makeshift meal that comes out tasting awesome.
American Kids: Will come over to visit their parents and get only cake and coffee, no more.
Hispanic Kids: Will come over to visit their parents and get Carnitas, carne asada , mexican rice , beans, chips & salsa, Tortillas, sodas,
Cool-aid or some drinks just so your willing to wait until 8 or 9 to eat.
American Kids: Think that being Latino is a great thing,
Hispanic Kids: Know that being Latino es toda madre,
American Kids: Never ask the reason you have no food.
Hispanic Kids: Are the reason you have no food.
American Kids: Will say 'hello" but are hesitant to hug.
Hispanic Kids: Will give you a big hug and a kiss, and great big hand shake and pat you on the back.
American Kids: Have never seen you cry.
Hispanic Kids: Cry with you.
American Kids: Will eat at your dinner table and leave.
Hispanic Kids: Will spend hours there, talking, laughing and just being together.
American Kids: Borrow your stuff for a few days then give it back.
Hispanic Kids: Keep your stuff so long they forget it's yours.
American Kids: Know a few things about you.
Hispanic Kids: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.
American Kids: Will leave their parents behind.
Hispanic Kids: Will hang out with their parents.
American Kids: Would knock on your door.
Hispanic Kids: Walk right in and say, "I'm home, what’s to eat!"
American Kids: Around when it’s convenient.
Hispanic Kids: Won’t get out of your hair for nothing.
American Kids: Will ignore this.
Hispanic Kids: Will forward this.
Al G - 7-28-2007 at 03:20 PM
I love it...in the 50's we were like the Hispanic kids...except for wanting to earn my on money, and you had to leave home to keep it.
bajalera - 7-28-2007 at 05:44 PM
Runner, you've been paying attention. That'a good one!
Sallysouth - 7-28-2007 at 07:12 PM
I am a California born woman, but have spent many years of my life in Baja, along with my daughters (one born in Mex.).When I read this post I
realized that my family fits the B.Rs' description of the Hispanic people. Not EVEN close to the "other"!! Guess we aren't all to be sterotyped, eh?
Tomas Tierra - 7-29-2007 at 12:07 AM
And here I thougth I was raising American kids.....
nobaddays - 7-29-2007 at 06:59 AM
I found your story funny yet generalizing. Though I do understand this is only from your view of life. Good luck.