Hola! My name is Adriana, and I grew up on the border of Arizona and Mexico in a pre-911 world, where being Mexican was really no different than being a US native. As strange as this sounds, you simply walked across the line through a carnival-like turnstile and said “US Citizen” with nothing more than a wave and a smile. The line, of course, being an international border between two countries.
My husband is Persian-Jewish, and I am entirely Mexican, and together, our families have powerful stories of perseverance and rich cultural heritage.
I knew I wanted to establish a life for my children where they could feel connected to their father and me but also connected to their ancestry and broader family story.
Imagine the challenges, though, of trying to bring up two kids who know and love their Mexican Persian Jewish American story and speak the languages, eat the foods, do the sedars, observe the Shabbat, but also love Easter, and by the way, build ofrendas for Dia de los Muertos. We haven’t even gotten to the intense travel schedule our work requires, making our young daughters accidental jet-setters and homeschooled children.
With everything on my plate as a parent and person, I had to learn to look outward. I keep up with parenting, relationship and self-care experts on podcasts and social media because I honestly don’t have any answers. I just know one thing. I want to enjoy being a parent. I want to enjoy my kids, and I want to enjoy my life. To do that, I don’t take too much too seriously. I go out with friends or cook with my kids or create a sculpture even when I am tired.
Plot twist: I am Always. Tired. Tired but happy.
I use my time teaching my kids all about my favorite hobbies, skills I think would benefit them, helping them develop their own skills and interests, being there for my friends, supporting my husband, and laughing at myself and the many misadventures I rope myself into, both at home in Norwalk, CT, or on my travels.
I worry less about parenting and focus more on being a parent.
If nothing else, I hope reading about how I embrace being a mother with such chaotic ideals will bring you a little joy and perhaps a little comfort, too.
