¡Hola!
Christmas is over! Did el niñito Jesús bring you everything you asked for?
I’m hosting my family for New Years Eve and I’m working on putting together my menu for the night.
I’ll be roasting a chicken, barbecuing some ribs, making mashed potatoes, gravy, and for dessert I’m making my Coconut Rum Tres Leches, and we’re washing it down with wine and piña coladas. –I know what you’re thinking pero, this is what my Mom requested.
My mom loves piña coladas, and she orders them every.single.time we go out to to eat somewhere–so we’re making those today!
My mom and I (aka baby potato with a head of hair) in Colima MX
When I turned 21, I was finally able to be a sponsor for my parents and they were finally able to receive their green cards. When they came in, I was so relieved.
It just felt like I had all these worries lifted off my shoulders because they could have easily been taken away from my siblings and I at any moment.
A green card meant that my parents could finally obtain a drivers license, legally work in the U.S. and they could finally be able to visit their family back in Mexico that they hadn’t seen for years.
I grew up in Santa Ana, a predominantly “Hispanic” city in Orange County, where the threat of La Migra was very real. ICE routinely conducted raids in our neighborhoods and I can still remember how scared I would be when my mom would go to the Laundromat or the Supermarket by herself because I never knew if she’d make it back home.
A few weeks ago, Santa Ana’s City Council unanimously voted to declare the city a sanctuary city, to protect undocumented immigrants and it makes me super happy to see the city I grew up in stand up for them and actually recognize them as human beings. #They’re Not Rapists #They’re Not Drug Dealers
I have an immense amount of respect for my mom because I know it has been quite the turbulent journey for her and I didn’t make it any easier for her when I came out to her as queer. La aprecio mucho because she has learned to ask questions, and she has learned that it is okay to challenge our cultura machista, so whenever she asks for a piña colada I am more than happy to whip one up for her.
Did any of you have any similar experiences growing up with undocumented parents/family members? Feel free to share any thoughts/stories!
Cheers!
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