5 Things Latina Moms Told Us Growing Up

Graphic design featuring a Latina mom with the phrase: "Ponte a limpiar"

Growing up Latina means getting a lot of advice from our mamás. All of their advice, thoughts, and opinions often came unsolicited, but we’re thankful for them and all the wisdom they constantly shared with us growing up.

Here are a few of the things we can now laugh about and even share with our own kids because to be honest, some of these are so true!


Don't walk around the house barefoot because of ‘el piso frío’

latina barefoot at home

Photo by Monstera Production on Pexels

Does anyone know the real repercussions of walking barefoot on cold floors? This might be one of the biggest fights growing up with a Latina mom because they were adamant that you would get sick with bare feet in the house.

Saying you were bored and your mom responded with ‘ponte a limpiar’

latina girl looking bored

Photo by Monstera Production on Pexels

You could NEVER say how bored you were or else your mom would respond telling you to clean. All you wanted was to go hangout with your friends, and now you were stuck cleaning your room.

Asking for food when you’re out and the response was ‘Hay comida en la casa’

Latina mom in her kitchen

Photo by Tobias Gonzales on Unsplash

It was so difficult to convince your parents to take you to McDonald’s after a day of riding around in the car with them running errands. As soon as you said tengo hambre, mom’s response was almost immediately hay comida en la casa.

Hearing the comforting words, ‘Todo a su tiempo, mija’

portrait of a Latina mom and her adult daughter

Photo by Rajiv Perera on Unsplash

Moms have a sense of knowing that things will be okay and their comforting words always help us get through the toughest of times. Perhaps it’s their instinct or all of the challenges they have managed to overcome, but either way we feel at ease every time we hear those words.

¡Mientras vivas en esta casa…! was mom’s favorite saying

Latin mom scolding her teenage daughter

Photo by Monstera Production on Pexels

It didn’t matter if all of your friends were going out, you were not if mom said so. Why? Because under her roof, only her rules applied and it doesn’t matter if you’re 6, 16 or 26. If you’re living with your papás, their rules go!

latina woman kneeling in front of a dry cleaning and laundry business

“Salvadoreña? Like the MS-13?”

My eyes roll to the back of my head as I force a plastered smile explaining (again) that yes, they’re a Salvadorian gang but it was actually formed in the United States. And no, my family isn’t involved.

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a mother talking to her little daughter while the daughter sits in a sofa

First things first: I’m a “mande” girlie. That’s just how my mama raised me, even though I won’t say it’s right.

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Image of Vice President Kamala Harris

Originally published inThe Latino Newsletter–reprinted with permission.

Ever since President Joe Biden announced on Sunday afternoon that he would not seek a second term and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the 2024 Democratic Party nominee, several Latino Democrats and organizations have been sharing statements of support. Here is just a sampling of the Harris endorsements. (FYI, the New York Times has a comprehensive list of all Democratic elected officials who are all in for Harris as of Monday morning. This list is being updated, and other Latino Democrats are on the complete list.)

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