10 Things That Show I Was Raised By A Latina Mom

Nothing like waking up to some revoltillo and Juan Luis Guerra.

Growing up with a Latina mother meant certain things were a staple in the house. For me, that meant some Vicks and Fabuloso in the cabinets and some weekend cleaning while Juan Luis Guerra or Chayanne played in the background. These little things immediately take me back to my childhood, when things were simpler. It might seem stereotypical to think that these things were in every Latin household. Still, I'll tell you that in my experience, most of my friends in Puerto Rico and back in the States who have Latina mothers had similar experiences growing up. Let's see if this list takes you down memory lane.

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1. Early morning cleanings

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As an adult, I never adopted the habit of cleaning my place every Saturday like my mother, but I knew Saturdays were a day for cleaning as a kid. Although I was one of the lucky few who didn't have to partake too often, I could always count on waking up to the sounds of Salsa or Merengue while the smell of Fabuloso would hit my nose as I made my way to the kitchen. Seeing my mom dance around while she cleaned was always a sight to see as a kid since I foolishly thought she genuinely enjoyed cleaning the house on her own. Years later, she informed me that the music made all those mundane chores that much livelier, and now I can't imagine cleaning up my place without at least some music to help keep my mind off scrubbing the toilets. 

2. The threat of the chancla

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Now I'm not condoning hitting your children, but the reality is most of us growing up in a Latin household were at least threatened with a good chancletazo when we weren't behaving. It was the weapon of choice for my mother and many other Latin mothers in my family. In Puerto Rico, it was the footwear of choice, not only for wearing around the house and at the beach but as the kids say these days, "To keep that thing on you," so if I ever spoke out of line or acted a fool my Mom could flip that sandal in the air, catch it one-handed like Randy Moss and with one look straighten me right out. It's a superpower I saw most of the mothers in my family had; they automatically gained the stern, threatening look and the masterful skill of holding a chancla to bring fear to any unruly child. 

3. Spanglish

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Growing up in the States and Puerto Rico, my mom always spoke to me in English and Spanish. Though like many other Latinx mothers, she would also speak Spanglish, which I picked up myself as well. For those unfamiliar, according to Oxford Languages, Spanglish is a hybrid language combining words and idioms from both Spanish and English, especially Spanish speech that uses many English words and expressions. It can also occur from English to Spanish, although nothing beats my mom using Spanish annunciation for English words. For example, she has asked me to get more "paper toilet" for her or find the "control remote" in the couch. She still does these things to this day, and they bring me so much joy. 

4. Empty butter containers as Tupperware

antonio @antoniodelotero

never knowing what container the butter was actually in #GrowingUpHispanic

02:42 AM - 30 Jun 2016

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If you've ever noticed, after an excellent Latinx meal cooked by the house's matriarch, there usually are some leftovers since my mom never knew how to cook just for the two of us. Of course, there was no need for paying for fancy Tupperware with the label and small designs on the side when you had a perfect empty Country Crock container you had just washed out. It did everything Tupperware did but without the added cost. Don't get caught trying to throw that bad boy away, or you were in for a lecture or the threat of a chancletazo the next time around.

5. Fabuloso or Mistolin

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Pepsi or Coke, McDonald's or Burger King, Fabuloso or Mistolin. These two all-purpose cleaners seemed to be the staple for many Latinx households. The smell of "lavender" was always there after floors had been mopped and the house had been cleaned. I remember being a Fabuloso household, but you couldn't go wrong with either one. If you're not sure if this is true, next time you're at your mom's house, check where she keeps her cleaning supplies and if she has one in stock. 

6. A Caldero for all things food-related

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Like the Fabuloso listed before, a caldero is also essential for many Latinx mothers; it is almost sacrilege not to have one in the home for a delicious arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas) meal. Made from usually cast iron or aluminum, this pot serves at times as a family heirloom that gets passed down to the next generation of cooks. Whenever I saw the pot on the stove growing up in any house, whether my own, friends, or family, I knew I was in for a fantastic meal. If you had the family-sized pot, it was a central piece to the table during the dinner, as everybody was vying to get their serving of whatever tasty food was being served. 

7. Vicks VapoRub

Alyssa Limperis @alyssalimp

my mom bringing out the vicks vaporub https://t.co/0gqXmwyiYX

07:56 PM - 08 Oct 2021

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Yet again, we're back to key things many Latinx households have, the magical cure-all Vicks vapor rub. This menthol petroleum that would be slathered all over our bodies as kids by our parents was meant to eliminate any illness, no matter the severity. OK, maybe that's an exaggeration, but I know if I wasn't feeling well, I better be ready to be covered from head to toe in this. It's helped when I had a cold and needed that menthol vapor to open a nostril or two, but there were plenty of times it came at a cost, as sometimes I'd forget I had it on and would end up rubbing my eyes — and well, you can guess how those times went. Still, this is a product that I use on my kids and is something a Latinx household can't seem to go without.

8. When it's time to eat, you eat and you say, "Buen provecho."

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In many cultures, when your mom finishes making a delicious meal for you, you come and eat, but I know with my mother, there was no negotiating. I couldn't say, "I'm not hungry," or, "Can I eat later?" as that act of perceived defiance was usually met with the stern look I feel every mother has mastered, which is the best form of "No." It was a sign of respect and manners to eat with the family, especially in my case with a single mother enlisted in the Air National Guard who would finish working a long shift and took the time to make me something scrumptious to eat. As a kid, I quickly realized that those were the rules in my house and saw that they seemed to be the rule in most Latin households, along with saying "buen provecho." The term "buen provecho" is the Spanish version of "bon appetit." It's a way to tell the people you're sharing a meal with that you hope they enjoy. This is something that I will even say in a bodega in Puerto Rico, passing by people I might make eye contact with to do my part and show my manners — got to make my momma proud. 

9. Bendición

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"Bendición" is one of the first words out of my mouth every time I see my mom — it's a way to give her God's blessing, and show my respect. For somebody who grew up Catholic, this was a must. It's one of those things that at this point comes naturally to me when seeing any Latin elder whether in my family or someone I'm meeting for the first time. Although not religious myself, this show of respect is something that I've always been fond of, it was also a great way to show that your momma ain't raise no fool when meeting the parents of your Latin significant other. 

10. Overhearing el bochinche/chisme

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Now we all know that every family has its fair share of gossip, so I remember as a kid hearing the "bochinche" from time to time whenever my mom would get around certain family members. It's natural, as our family gatherings would always lead to somebody saying, "No me diga," (You don't say) throughout and even when being filled in on the latest tea, as kids say nowadays. The news always ranged from silly to sometimes pretty damn serious, but I was usually kept out of the family gossip, so eavesdropping was the only way to get caught up. This usually led to me being caught and called a "presentao," or as you say in English, a "nosy ass." 

Did you grow up with any of these things on your list? Let us know in the comments below and also let us know any that you experienced in your Latin household.