When it comes to strength and parenting, we all know that Latina mamas have it on lock. The best of our parents teach us how to be fully functional and kind human beings. Who are also capable, strong and eager to give back to the world and our own communities. Full of gratitude for the mother figures in our lives, Latinos on Twitter are already showing their love for their mamas and abuelas almost a full month before Mother’s Day! Now that’s enthusiasm.
Check out some of their experiences and words of praise below!
Because so many of us could sing the praises of the women who raised us.
Thanking god for the strength he gave my mother. She came to America not speaking English, managed to find work and kept the lights on and food in the mouths of 6 children and at one point two grand children. I’m a proud son always of an immigrant woman. I can’t ever take it easy
And it takes a lot of strength to me a mother, particularly one who is an immigrant.
Personally, I am inspired by the strength of my mother–a Filipino immigrant–who has fought with both solid determination and softness of compassion for a home and a better life for herself and her family. She is a woman who sees no obstacle she cannot overcome.
There’s a lot to love about our abuelas too. Because whether they are with us physically or in spirit– feel their presence.
I was always disconnected from my extended family, never having met my abuelos in Mexico and being raised here, but my brother found this pic of them from their youth. It’s comforting. I never met her but I know my abuela Carmela met me and watches me, always, and loves me still. pic.twitter.com/ffwWmr2vDk
Happy 90th birthday to my baby, my abuela 😂. She is basically my second mother. She raised me and took care of me my whole life. She is one of the most important people in my life, including my abuelo. My biggest… https://t.co/acj8tJEfAL
At some time or another everyone struggles with their mental health. These days, with the world in lockdown and so many of our human interactions limited, things can feel at best bleak and at worst a complete nightmare. This truth can be doubly true for women who are in the throes of a postpartum.
“We must be more open to being supportive instead of telling us things like “querías niños no??”. ” This is what u signed up for”. I never received the support from family and when shit finally hit the fan I was judged for my extreme actions. My attempts and self harm were seen as attention seeking.” –flor___venenosa
“This is so cultural. I am so sorry you went through this. It’s no wonder we don’t seek help, we are ridiculed for it.”- mrs_tori_rose@flor___venenosa
“I think I had PPD when I talked to my mom about it she brushed it off and til this when she brings it up in front of others saying, “I thought she didn’t love her daughter. She kept crying and saying how hard it was. It’s not hard I really thought you didn’t want your daughter.” It is so hurtful every time she makes those comments and really makes me angry. Because it’s not that I didn’t love my baby I was having a hard time adjusting to motherhood. I need to figure out a way to tell to stop saying or making those comments because they aren’t helpful. For me it lasted for about a year. It got better as time went on. I was scared to talk to my doctor about it and was never on medication or anything.” –poncigue
“Did you know even when women finally speak up and say I THINK I HAVE POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION THAT THERES IS NO REAL HELP? You can google all you want and call all the hotlines you want but if you don’t have insurance- you are getting much help.” –90dayfrump
“I did after my daughter was born. I couldn’t figure out why I was so angry & sad when it should’ve been one of the happiest times in my life. This lasted for about a year & half for me.” –dee_mahree
“It would have been so helpful to have known this. My first year of motherhood was so challenging; I had no idea how depressed I was until I went to therapy.” –gg_luv
“I had PPD after my three pregnancies. During the third one I also had perinatal depression which is even less talked about. Like a lot of mental health issues I think it’s hard for people to understand especially when you are expected to be happy all the time because you have a bebé.” –piraguadeframbuesa
“I can believe this because I had postpartum depression with my first pregnancy for 9 months.” –mjtobeone
“I was just talking about this last night on how I didn’t get any help from anyone around me I still had to do everything! And I would forget to eat! To feed my new born baby I was detached and I would scream and I hit my 3yr old and still crying right now because my family still tries to throw it in my face that I was a bad mom! I said with people like you around me yes now I regret not leaving when I could I probably would of been better off for my kids and especially for my self I hardly smile now, I’m bitter, I try to make things better but I can’t take back what I did.” –ambelly11212
“I ‘m still surprise on how I made so much profit after seeing many people complains of being scammed this is just amazing am still shocked thanks.” –investor_with_johnw22
In 2001, the Wall Street Journal wrote a piece about plastic slipcovers. The headline? Plastic Slipcovers Are the Clear Choice For Immigrants — and Trend-Setters. The piece examined the reasons why immigrants in particular use plastic slipcovers. Of course, as children of immigrants and immigrants ourselves, we don’t need A Wall Street Journal article from the early aughts to tell us why they come in handy. Furthermore, why they’ve proven to be a household essential amongst our families. For so many Latino households, slipcovers have been used as protective devices. Things to preserve our furniture for special occasions years and years down the line like if the President or Jesus ever come around. In short, the slipcovers only come off for very special occasions.
One abuela recently decided that she was done waiting for special occasions and stripped the covers off.
In a recent post to a user’s Twitter page, an abuela can be seen carefully doing away with a slipcover she’d been using for 30 years.
In a post to Twitter, a user known as @TheTaeWae shared a video of her great aunt peeling a very old and yellowed slipcover off of her fancy couch. “Y’all my great aunt took the plastic off of her chair for the first time in 30 some years,” she shared in the post.
The great abuela is not the only one pumped though. Users on Twitter cannot get enough of it.
Did anyone have to clean the plastic with windex and then dust the edges of the seat cushions with baby powder so they wouldn’t get stuck? Love your Auntie! Memories 😊
Literally the video is the sweetest thing because the user’s great aunt is so clearly excited to have a chance to sit down on the fancy fabric of the chair.
Fans were super excited to see what the rest of this woman’s house looks likes.
In about 15 years, she might gon’ ahead and set those figurines in the viewing case free. lol. She is too cute.
