Men are the ones wearing los pantalones in Latino households, right? Not quite. As much as they love to think so, and even brag about it, there is plenty of proof las mujeres are running it.
In an infamous scene in the 1992 book Like Water for Chocolate, the novel’s main characters Tita and Pedro swear their undying love for each other within minutes of first meeting. Just like that, they experienced love at first sight. Stories all throughout history have detailed the romantic personal experience of an instant and ultimately long-lasting romantic attraction for a stranger upon first sight. But how practical— or even true is that really?
We turned to our FIERCE readers to see just how prevalent this phenomenon is.
In a post to our Instagram page we asked Latinas for their love at first love stories.
And scavenged around Reddit for good measure. Check out what we discovered below!
“Yes. I had briefly met him before but it was the first time I ever really noticed him. We had a whirlwind romance and then he left to take a job in Europe. We kept in touch for a few years but never saw each other again. He is the gold standard I judge men by.” – adorableadelita
“YES with my dog the second I saw him I knew he was the one!! I’ve had him for 17years now and we are happily ever after.”- virgok1
“Yes but I’m just not brave enough to tell them they’re beautiful tho, most incredible smile I’ve ever seen the most captivating set of eyes I’ve ever looked into. But well love from afar right?” –ta_ta1009
“Yes. And it was delicious, I’ll never forget those Tacos dorados. My one and only.”- funkycold___medina
“Yes! I never knew love could fill your heart like that so instantly and so completely! It was the first time I ever saw my niece! Best feeling in the world!”- yesi_lo
“We were both 18 going on 19. He was a second year science student, I was a fresh faced firstie at a brand new University. I was also 95% sure I was lesbian. I saw this goofy ginger at the outdoor movie theatre, he had Styrofoam strapped to his head and declared himself Julius Ceasar, and gave me the biggest and most genuine smile. When he asked my name, it was a genuine want not just a question you ask to fill time. My heart squeezed a bit, and we kept eye contact for a bit too long before we both turned back to the screen. The next day we ended up sitting across from eachother in the cafeteria, and as soon as I saw him sitting there with a grin on his gorgeous face I knew I could love him. We were attached at the hip for at least 8 hours every day for a month, it was like a need to be around eachother, a magnetic pull and attraction. We started dating after a few weeks. We both fell in love quickly. I never believed in love at first sight, but we fit together perfectly in every way and every day, even now as we’re 20 with a lot of growth and ‘relationship strainers’ under our belts there hasn’t been a day that’s gone by where I don’t think of him and fall further in love. We’ve fought a bit, met eachothers families, he’s held my hand in the hospital and I’ve held his. We’ve had the kids talk, marriage talk, finances talk, and we’re moving in together this summer. It’s also pretty great that we have the same taste in women. I have never been happier, and he tells me the same.”-HelloSchrodi
“We met at work, when we both locked eyes we were drawn to each other. After a week of flirting with each other and staring into her beautiful blue eyes, she actually asked ME out. We dated for 8 years and got engaged; being madly in love is perfection. She walked down the aisle about 13 months after she accepted my proposal. She gave birth to her first child 10 months later, and had her second 2 years after that. She’s very happy in her life. Kind of wished she married me instead of the dickhead she met a month after leaving me.” –UrMomLikesMine
“It was a whirlwind. Can’t really explain it. Distance and heavy workloads on both our parts (we couldn’t see each other at all one year) made us end it. Still best friends, still in a sort of a platonic bond. We’ve both seen other people since then (I’ve just had a bad experience), but I don’t think I’ve ever felt that kind of… ease around someone until months have passed. When she moves here in a few years, who knows? She never will, but if she asked me to wait. I’d say yes in a heasrtbeat.” –ionised
“Well for me it wasn’t at first sight. But for him it was. Within the first week he knew I would be the one he was going to marry and spend his life with. My feelings grew quickly also and we knew we had met our soul mate very quickly. We are doing great. He’s saving up for an engagement ring, both support eachother in our respective fields (me in tattoo artistry and him in filmmaking). Once our financial situation is in order we plan to move to Seattle. I have never been so in love and I don’t regret it for a second.”- BigHeroDicks
If you’re here, it means you’ve made the decision to make a bigger step of commitment with your partner and have decided to move in together. For some of you, things are all uphill from the moving in process, for others it will take a lot more hard work and dedication to make things work (if that’s what you choose in the long-haul.) Fortunately, plenty of chicas are familiar with the experience of moving in with a partner and are offering up some insightful advice on how to merge your life with a partner without causing harm and keeping yourself sane.
Recently, we asked our FIERCE readers who have experienced or are currently living with their significant other for some tips.
“Pick your battles. Everyone has their own messes and cleaning styles. Have patience to learn how they do things and for them to see how you do things. It’s also important to make time for yourself by yourself in your own home and for them to do so as well. Communication is key! (But also remember that communication doesn’t mean to fight all the time).” –jenoemi87
“You are not his/her mother. You are not his/her caretaker. You are not his/her personal chef. You are a unit. You are a team. There’s no I in team.” –lisztobombs
“Make sure you have schedules alone time daily or at least weekly👌🏾 it’s so easy to get caught up spending so much time with your person and start to lose yourself. This will only put a strain on your relationship + it’s not worth it. ALWAYS designate time that’s just for you + encourage them to do the same.” –theflowerchildbruja
“Separate bank accounts. Share bills and chores equitably. Maintain individual interests.” –deannavillanuevasaucedo
“Be patient. Not everyone was raised the same way you were.” –alexandriatrece
“Set boundaries!!!!!! Talk about finances openly. Don’t judge each other. Have patience but don’t take anyone’s sh*t.” –lisztobombs
“Get two restrooms!! It might be more money but it’s definitely worth your sanity.” –savannah_smilesssss
“Don’t be so hard on eachother. Don’t have such high expectations from your spouse, make it a point to organize and declutter every month bc most likely you’ll be moving things in the house around a lot. If you’re having issues with your partner holding up their end on chores assign them certain day where you both tackle them. Sometimes it can get overwhelming so it’s okay to walk away and finish things later. Communicate as much as possible if you’re feeling a certain way.” –neomiceleste
“Communicate. Communicate. Communicate. About everything- money, dishes, bills, hygiene regiments, sex, E👏🏼VER👏🏼Y👏🏼THING👏🏼 Trust yourself. And have a backup plan & secret savings because you never know 🤓 breakup or no, things could go south and you’ll need funds.” –alexis_danielle_quiroz
“Make time for yourselves – and also plan out chores, etc ahead of time so neither of you feel like you’re doing more than the other. Team work makes the dream work and that goes with romantic partners and also just friendships in general.” –bperformer
“Remember that you’re a partnership. Partners. That means no one is “helping out around the house” or “covering” for you. That home is yours to both care for, to cook in, clean, decorate, and provide for. Never forget that.” –alicianna88
“People aren’t mind readers so if something is bothering you let them know. Make sure the you have your own space even if it’s a corner of your room that just yours to adorne and feel safe. It can be a vanity, alter, a desk, etc. Understand each other’s love language.” –arcoiris_31
“If you are both working full time, each of you are in charge of dinner every other night. Whether it’s cooking/takeout/paying at a restaurant dinner is the responsibility one of you every other night. If you or your partner don’t know how to cook, learn together to achieve it.” –tarotqween
“Therapy. For each partner or for both. Couples therapy is not for marriages, it’s for people. Getting therapy doesn’t mean your relationship is in bad shape. It means that you value getting help with something you care about but that’s also super complex. Relationships are not easy.” –teresanastasia
“It’s ok to do things with out each other and have your friends and have your own time. Also, money NEEDS to be right. Establish bills and rules right away.” –_gab_a_roni_n_cheese
“Speak about everything and all of it the first day! Or even before! who’s gonna do what and how it’s gonna be done, talk about what your relationship will be like, talk about having people over, talk about who pays what, listen and learn their ways because it’s HARRRRRD to do all this after time has passed and you feel the wrath of not communicating. But most importantly have fun with your new best friend/slumber party partner ! do stuff in the middle of the night, walk around naked (if you can) enjoy each other’s company!” –gold.dayummm
“It’s not easy, communication is the key!!” –pattyporteous
“What do you want out of this relationship? A true partnership or a mother who will cook and pick up after you?”- xochitl1977
“Keep your money separate. This is always, but ESPECIALLY important for the younger set.” –paranormalauren
“Let the little things go and be patient with each other.” –gambitpumpkinpie
“Discuss how they load the toilet paper in the dispenser.-rixflixs
“Separate bank accounts & make a budget of all mutual costs to split evenly down the middle.” –rebelada
“Ask for references from past roommates/live-in partners.” –quezso
“This should be titled what information should each of you reveal to the other before moving in together: credit history, bank statements, pay stubs, retirement accounts. How will you divide bills and home duties?” –latangueranyc
“Live with them for at least a year before you go marrying them lol. People who don’t live together first tend to end up having problems down the road. Get used to each other’s living habits, and routines, or work out new habits and routines together. As long as everyone is happy and things are mostly peaceful.” –october_dreams
“Always keep bank accounts and car leases/ loans separate! Always!!!”-e.d.g626
“Be Respectful Communicators. Remember that not everyone will act, think and do as you. you have to be patient when they can’t reciprocate that and don’t let shit slide either. Set boundaries too because you need to take care of your mental health too. The right ones always respect these basics.” –ferarose_
“Talk finances! Don’t use your name for bills he is responsible for.” –mar_aqui_
“COMPASSION for communication. You are growing as a couple and it may take time to find the right form of communication when being in the same place. Keep yourself independent and have your private time even if it’s under the same roof. Set ground rules before someone gets used to something.” –mariposa.in.action
“You will be sharing your space, make sure you both understand that, it’s no longer just “I” or “mine”.” –ari.r.huichapa
“Never get joint bank accounts. Keep your money separate.” –jayyyyubz
“Communication and patience are essentials. Talk to one another and set the expectations at the beginning about bills, cleanliness of the house/apt. And don’t be afraid to speak up and talk when the expectations aren’t being met. You two should be EQUALS. It’s really easy to fall into stereotypical gender roles, especially coming from a typical Hispanic upbringing.” –21djenne
“Talk about who is going to clean the bathroom, kitchen etc ahead of time.” –offical_hartbreaker
“Invest in some time, it doesn’t have to be a lot of time, each day to be really in each other’s company without electronic interruptions. Whether it be talking, dancing, or just holding each other, give yourselves that time.” –senorita_maketa
