Keep your culture alive

It takes consistency, creativity, and an open mind. [Parents]( [Creating Cultural Connections]( Hi, all! I’m Grace Bastidas, editor in chief of Parents, mom of two, and a proud Latina. I often joke that the secret to my marriage is that my husband hasn’t understood a word I’ve said for the last 10 years. And while that isn’t entirely the case, it is true that the minute my oldest daughter, Eva, was born in 2013 I started speaking Spanish at home. The shift was sudden, but I was determined to connect her (and later, her sister) to my family’s heritage before it could slip away. Not an easy feat. Unlike them, I was born into my cultural identity, having been raised by immigrants that surrounded me in a bubble of Colombian culture. Everything from the music that moved us to the dishes we devoured could be traced back to my parents’ little corner of South America. Like most of my friends at school, I was a first-gen kid tethered to a faraway land I loved visiting during summer break. So, I never questioned my heritage. My daughters’ experience is much different. They interact with lots of cultures daily in our Brooklyn, New York, neighborhood. And because we're raising them in a diverse community surrounded by family and friends from all walks of life, they can appreciate where we come from without letting it entirely define who they are. And that’s ok. Gen Z has proven that identity is nuanced and subject to change. I’m sure that as my Gen Alpha children become their own people, they will pick and choose what serves them best, even if that means switching out the lens by which they see themselves. My goal is to pass on my traditions and heritage to them, so that they have plenty to anchor them as they navigate the world. So, as we close out Latinx Heritage Month (September 15 through October 15), I can report that we continue to speak Spanish at home, but Spanglish, too. While I believe in preserving the language, I don’t want it to become a barrier when I’m trying to effectively communicate with my daughters, especially as they grow up and their lives become more complex. I’ve also learned that there are many other ways to celebrate culture, no matter where you’re from. Best part? It doesn’t have to be confined to just one month, as some of my colleagues attest below. “The tunes at my son’s daycare can’t compete with the champeta music he’s been hearing since he was born. His Afro-Colombian roots are deeply embedded in the slang and cultural references.” –Sahara Borja, Visuals Manager “My family is from South Asian descent, so family movie night is all about getting cozy on the couch and watching a fun Bollywood film together.” –Sona Charaipotra, Senior Editor. “Whenever I hear my mom tell stories about spending time on her family’s farm in Guatemala, I love watching my sons’ eyes get big, just like mine did as a kid.” –Kaity Velez, Associate Editorial Director, Special Projects. “Black American culture is American culture. My child witnesses her heritage every time she dances to an R&B song, uses a wide-toothed comb, or eats ice cream.” –Celeste Little, Senior Editor and Kindred Editorial Lead “I like to recreate my family’s Argentine empanadas with my son. To me, those tasty turnovers represent warmth and home.” –Sugey Palomares, Senior Social Media Editor How do you honor your culture? I would love to hear from you! Sincerely, Grace grace.bastidas@parents.com [@brooklynwriter]( [Two Words: Soul Food]( [READ MORE]( [In Celebration of Tías (or Aunties)]( [READ MORE]( [Time to Rewatch ‘Turning Red’]( [READ MORE]( [One Family Cherishes Being Black in a Diverse Community]( [READ MORE]( [Postpartum Cultural Rituals That Nurture]( [READ MORE]( [Facebook]( [Pinterest]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. [Unsubscribe from Membership Updates]( This email was sent to {EMAIL} | Was this email forwarded to you? [Subscribe here]( Dotdash Meredith, 225 Liberty St, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10281 ©2023. All Rights Reserved. [Privacy Policy]( | [Terms of Service](