I've been thinking about what it means to raise a bilingual baby.
Not only is he the product of a teacher/panda/pendeja + teacher/poet/vagabond, he also has to grapple with the fact that he comes from perfection. I am what you would call Mexican-American--a Chicana while my husband is Argentine-American--Argentino by way of Miami.
You could say that Baby B is a true Americano. I mean, my familia has been part of the Americas since my tatara-abuelos 5x removed came over from Espana and hooked up with my Indio counterparts. My husband's familia can trace its' roots back to Quechua speaking peeps and he's also Italian/Lebanese. So what is Baby B going to say he is?
I'll tell him he's the real thing. His roots have been here for hundreds of years. Plus he represents the North and the South, what son! I'm teaching him to throw his N and S signs right now.
Will he identify with other Latino kids? What unites us here in the U.S.? What makes us "hispanic" or "latino"? I've made a short list of ideas...
Chanclaphobia? Everyone who's crossed their mamacita the wrong way know the wrath of the chancla. However, my husband and I have a NO Spanking policy since graduating from the Harlem Children's Zone's Baby College. Plus I want Baby B to know that I am the boss without having to exert any effort--just a look or an eyebrow raising.
Familia-itis? Part of my husband's familia lives in Miami but the majority of my husband's family lives in Argentina. So the only flare up of famila-itis that he may encounter is from my side. I'm an only child but I have enough tias, tios, primos and primas to fill a mariachi festival. (Familia-itis does not include an endless love of and devotion to LA ABUELA)
El cucuy? Now this one if definitely someone that NO baby in el norte or sur de america will mess with. Misbehave and the boogeyman is going to come get you.
Ritmo--Rhythm? I don't know the exact figures, but I think it would be safe to say that at least 90% of latinos can dance. I know that every familia latina has at least one rogue family member that can't dance. The odds of Baby B being rhythmless are very slim. Both my husband and I have been known to start a conga-line, dance-off, or soul train line so I think my son is in the clear.
This list is endless, but I know that raising a bilingual baby of Mexican and Argentine descent is something special. Hopefully Baby B will learn about where he comes from and say it with orgullo.
He's an Americano Verdadero.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Capitulo 2 / Chapter 2 Baby B's Midday Buffet
As we speak I am feeding my baby and typing with one hand. Baby B was born almost 6 weeks ago and I relish the hours between 1am and 4am because it is the longest stretch we will sleep in 24 hours.
I decided to breast feed for many reasons. 1) Healthy for Baby B and me. 2) Bonding 3) Portability 4) It's GRATIS. I am finally in the groove with nighttime feedings and poopings that come at 4am. But let's address an issue that has come to light--my Baby B is an addict. Adicto a la leche.
His addiction did not surface until after my husband and I recognized the leche adicto's pattern. He loves, can't get enough, can't stop won't stop for the MLB--and it's not baseball.
What is MLB? It's the Midday Leche Buffet. Baby B will feed 4-5 times in a 2 hour span. I read about it in La Leche League's The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and they call it "cluster feeding". I call it addiction and my little panzón is on his way to bigger pants. Sometimes I think he's faking. Other times he falls asleep with a smile. Most of the time his muffin-top makes his newborn t-shirt turn into a mid drift top. These trips to the buffet are promptly followed by the midday SIESTA.
I'm only able to write this posting right now because of my favorite mom liberator--my MOBY Wrap. This modern day reboso is just a flexible fabric that wraps all around you and helps you hold your baby and have a life. I boosted my Moby wrap wearing confidence by going to a free sling clinic at the Pump Station in Santa Monica. I highly recommend this place if you live on the Westside.
If your bebe has is an adicto or you want to reach out and take him to an Leche Addicts anonymous meeting, send a message my way.
Pandita.
I decided to breast feed for many reasons. 1) Healthy for Baby B and me. 2) Bonding 3) Portability 4) It's GRATIS. I am finally in the groove with nighttime feedings and poopings that come at 4am. But let's address an issue that has come to light--my Baby B is an addict. Adicto a la leche.
His addiction did not surface until after my husband and I recognized the leche adicto's pattern. He loves, can't get enough, can't stop won't stop for the MLB--and it's not baseball.
What is MLB? It's the Midday Leche Buffet. Baby B will feed 4-5 times in a 2 hour span. I read about it in La Leche League's The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and they call it "cluster feeding". I call it addiction and my little panzón is on his way to bigger pants. Sometimes I think he's faking. Other times he falls asleep with a smile. Most of the time his muffin-top makes his newborn t-shirt turn into a mid drift top. These trips to the buffet are promptly followed by the midday SIESTA.
I'm only able to write this posting right now because of my favorite mom liberator--my MOBY Wrap. This modern day reboso is just a flexible fabric that wraps all around you and helps you hold your baby and have a life. I boosted my Moby wrap wearing confidence by going to a free sling clinic at the Pump Station in Santa Monica. I highly recommend this place if you live on the Westside.
If your bebe has is an adicto or you want to reach out and take him to an Leche Addicts anonymous meeting, send a message my way.
Pandita.
Capítulo 1/ Chapter 1
¡Hola!
Let me introduce myself--I'm Pandita. A former NYC high school teacher turned full time mom. I'm dedicating a year of my life to my son, Baby B, and staying home to mold him into the most fabuloso baby since Little Ricky on I Love Lucy.
My poet husband and I both speak English and Spanish--somos nativos. He's an Argentino from Brooklyn/Miami and I'm a Chicana from L.A.
We are both teachers by trade and recognize the importance of literacy in a baby's life. I taught Spanish and he taught English in the NYC school system for 9 years collectively. We plan on passing on our linguistic herencia to our babe, thus we have started a strict regiment with Baby B already.
His first outing was to the Santa Monica Public Library and our daily routine includes libros, Wee baby flashcards, canciones, and mental lagartijas (push-ups) in both English and Spanish. Dora la Exploradora's got nothing on Baby B.
This blog will document my experiences involving motherhood, marriage, and being a Chicana mom in L.A. Maybe we'll even get some exposure because I couldn't find any gente de color on any mommy blogger sites.
Follow along and enjoy this bilingual baby bonanza. ¡Orale!
Pandita
Let me introduce myself--I'm Pandita. A former NYC high school teacher turned full time mom. I'm dedicating a year of my life to my son, Baby B, and staying home to mold him into the most fabuloso baby since Little Ricky on I Love Lucy.
My poet husband and I both speak English and Spanish--somos nativos. He's an Argentino from Brooklyn/Miami and I'm a Chicana from L.A.
We are both teachers by trade and recognize the importance of literacy in a baby's life. I taught Spanish and he taught English in the NYC school system for 9 years collectively. We plan on passing on our linguistic herencia to our babe, thus we have started a strict regiment with Baby B already.
His first outing was to the Santa Monica Public Library and our daily routine includes libros, Wee baby flashcards, canciones, and mental lagartijas (push-ups) in both English and Spanish. Dora la Exploradora's got nothing on Baby B.
This blog will document my experiences involving motherhood, marriage, and being a Chicana mom in L.A. Maybe we'll even get some exposure because I couldn't find any gente de color on any mommy blogger sites.
Follow along and enjoy this bilingual baby bonanza. ¡Orale!
Pandita
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)