Reflections on Mother's Day El día de las Madres

BY CHRISTY MARTINEZ-GARCIA LATINO LUBBOCK MAGAZINE

While we may refer to our mothers differently, one thing that is the same among Hispanic families is our high regard for our mothers.

The American Community Survey finds that, in 2019, the majority (56%) of Latino children lived with two married parents. The remainder lived in families with a single parent (29%), with unmarried cohabiting parents (11%), or with no parents (4%).

Latinoa children (ages 18 and under) numbered 18.6 million in 2019, making up 26 percent of the nation’s total child population. While Latino children disproportionately reside in the Southwest, they comprise a sizeable share of the child population in all 50 states—and at least 25 percent of the child population in 12 states.

It is because of this growth and for the sanctity of sustaining a family that we thank Latinas and why Día de las Madres should be celebrated wholeheartedly and enthusiastically.

On this day we celebrate our mothers by giving them beautiful flowers, little recuerdos, or remembrances of our appreciation, and coordinating a special day with the familia.

As a Latina, one of the most charming customs that I treasure of all is the singing of Las Mañanitas. While it is puzzling that mothers take delight in being roused from sleep at such an ungodly hour. I have since come to appreciate the beauty and romanticism of the traditional serenade known as “el gallo” (the rooster) or “Las mañanitas” (little mornings).

For generations of Latinos, especially Mexicanos, this is part of the emotional landscape in a cultura distinguished by its warm, demonstrative people.

With vicarious pleasures of the sidewalk concert, I recall the mariachis waking neighborhoods to sing and perform to mothers and grandmothers. Soon all the mothers would come out to peak and see who was getting serenaded. Eventually, the mariachis would perform a sidewalk concert for all the moms that came out. Even more touching to me was when my own mother coordinated friends and family to go sing to her mother.

Cut short, soon many mothers retreat to the bed, to snuggle under the covers while the family prepares for her big day.