In my Latino world, it’s universally understood that from the time we’re born, our lives will revolve around mama.  Oh papi matters too, sure – sorta, maybe, sometimes – but mama?  Well, in general, mama is our Goddess, lo maximo y los mãs profundo de nuestra vida.  (Mama is the max and the most profound part of our life).

EXPECTATIONS ARE ALL ON MAMA

My culture’s reverence for mom stems from the universal influence of Catholicism in Latin America.  For centuries Mary, earthly mother of Jesus or heavenly mother of God, (depending on your beliefs) has been the archetype by which most Latina moms are measured and measure up, even when they don’t intend to.

This has not been bad for us but the flip side is that Latino fathers don’t influence families and children as much as I think they should.  In some ways I even think it’s unfair to Latina moms because they shoulder a bigger responsibility (the hard part of the cultural reverence they get) and it also sets men up to not be as accountable as they ought to be as fathers. (more…)