10 Things Only First-Generation Latinas Will Understand

Hey girl! If you’re a first-generation Latina, you already know what a wild ride it is. Growing up is full of ups and downs, but for first-generation Latinas, those ups and downs look very different. Here are 10 things that only first-generation Latinas will understand. So get ready for a trip down memory lane!

You took on the translator role

Photo by Tiger Lily

Remember growing up and always having to translate for your parents? Whether it was at parent-teacher conferences, doctor's appointments, or dealing with government forms, you were the go-to translator. There was nothing you couldn’t translate at a moment’s notice, even if it meant getting creative with terms you didn’t even fully understand yourself.

You experienced lunchbox envy

Photo by Gustavo Fring

Oh, the lunchbox envy! While all the other kids had PB&J sandwiches with the crusts cut off, you were rocking homemade dishes like arroz con pollo, empanadas, or tamales. As a kid, you might have felt a bit left out or experienced a little envy, wishing for those simple sandwiches, but now you look back and realize you had gourmet meals every day. Those other kids’ lunchboxes had nothing on you, they were missing out all along.

The expectations were high

Photo by August de Richelieu

Getting straight A’s in school wasn’t always something to celebrate—it was expected. Once college applications rolled around, your parents probably nudged you towards careers in law, medicine, or engineering. Want to major in creative writing? Ha! That was a cute joke to them. The pressure was intense, but it also pushed you to achieve things you never thought possible and it empowered you to find your own way.

You were shocked when your white friends talked back to their parents

Photo by Mary Taylor

You never talked back to your parents, ever. It was unthinkable to you, so watching friends who sassed their parents without any repercussion was nothing short of surprising. Sassing your own parents was never an option and you knew better than to even try. The respect was real, and sometimes, there was a little fear mixed into it. Let’s be honest with ourselves!

You had to deal with “Where are you really from?”

Photo by Yaroslav Shuraev

In the U.S., people don’t always see you as American if you don’t look like them. You may patiently explain that you were born here, but they still ask, “But where are you really from?” It’s a question that never seems to go away, no matter how many times you answer it. It can be passive-aggressive, for sure, but rising above it and asserting your dual identity sure feels good.

You understood how hard life was for your parents

Photo by RDNE Stock project

Your parents never hesitated to remind you how hard life was back home. You appreciate their sacrifices, of course, but you could recite their stories by heart. Their tales of hardship and perseverance are part of what drives you to succeed, even if you want to roll your eyes when you hear them for the hundredth time. Be patient with your parents though; their trauma is real.

You were angry about the no-sleepover rule

Photo by Monstera Production

Sleepovers? Forget about it. Asking to go to a sleepover was a lost cause. It didn’t matter how much you begged or promised to behave; sleepovers were just off the table. If you did get to experience them, you’re part of a minority. That said, chances are that if you’re a parent now yourself, you probably understand why your parents were so hesitant to trust their child to strangers. It kinda goes against your parental instinct!

Dating was difficult

Photo by Júlia Silva

Dating was another minefield when you were young. You couldn’t date until you were at least 16 (maybe 18, depending on how strict your parents were). And when you finally did start dating, your parents had to meet and interrogate your date before you were allowed to leave the house. How they answered questions about their family determined their fate in your parents' eyes, it was very intense.

You had to deal with fashion police at home

Photo by Monstera Production

We bet your mom was the fashion police. She would try to throw out or hide any clothing she didn’t like, and red lipstick or nail polish? No way. You weren’t grounded because you weren’t allowed to leave the house looking “like a grown-up” in the first place. It was all about preserving your innocence for as long as possible, so it made it very difficult for you to jump into fashion trends.

You appreciate your cultural mash-up

Photo by Los Muertos Crew

You embody a mash-up of cultures, and it’s simultaneously hilarious, weird, and the best thing ever. Maybe you speak Portuguese with your father, Spanish with your mom, and English with your siblings. Things get lost in translation, but your multi-cultural upbringing has shaped who you are. You get the best of all worlds, and it’s a gift you wouldn’t trade for anything.