Meet Our Madres: An Interview with a Bilingual Mom on Balancing Life & Culture
Our community is filled with incredible women navigating the beautiful journey of motherhood, often juggling careers, family, and the rich tapestry of multiple cultures. To celebrate these amazing women, we're thrilled to launch a new community feature series on the blog: "Meet Our Madres." Each month, we'll sit down with a bilingual mom from our community to talk about the joys, challenges, and everyday realities of modern latina motherhood.
For our very first interview, we're so excited to welcome Elena Rodriguez! Elena is a graphic designer, mom of two, and a long-time member of the Casa Bilingüe family.
Q1: Elena, welcome! Tell us a little about your beautiful family.
A: Thank you so much for having me! My husband, Carlos, and I have two kids – Mateo, who is 7, and Sofia, who just turned 4. We live just outside of Austin, Texas. My family is originally from Colombia, and Carlos's family is from Mexico, so our home is a wonderful blend of both cultures. A typical weekday for me involves getting the kids ready for school, juggling my design projects from my home office, somehow getting dinner on the table, and then the beautiful chaos of bedtime routines! It's busy, but full of love.
Q2: What's your favorite part of raising bilingual children?
A: Oh, the joys are endless! Hearing their little minds switch between English and Spanish is incredible. My favorite part is seeing them connect with their abuelos in Spanish. It bridges that generational gap in such a meaningful way. The challenges? Sometimes they mix languages in hilarious ways – Spanglish is definitely a third language in our house! A proud moment was when Mateo confidently ordered our food entirely in Spanish on our last trip to Mexico. My heart swelled!
Q3: How do you keep your culture alive in your modern home?
A: It's all about intention. Food is huge for us – making arepas on Saturday mornings is a non-negotiable tradition from my Colombian side, and Carlos makes amazing tamales for special occasions. Music is always playing, a mix of cumbia, salsa, and modern Latin pop. We also make a big deal out of holidays, celebrating things like Día de las Velitas. And of course, speaking Spanish daily, reading bilingual books, and sharing stories about our families keeps the connection strong.
Q4: We have to ask – what's one Casa Bilingüe item you can't live without?
A: Oh gosh, just one? It has to be the bilingual pantry labels! It might seem small, but they make such a difference. First, they look beautiful and make my pantry feel so organized. But more importantly, they are a constant, subtle language lesson. Mateo helps me put away groceries now, reading the labels for "Arroz" or "Frijoles." Sofia points to them and asks what they say. It integrates Spanish into our daily routine so effortlessly. It’s a perfect example of blending style, function, and culture – which is why I love Casa Bilingüe!
Conclusion: Words of Wisdom
We asked Elena for one final piece of advice for other moms balancing work and family and culture.
A: "Be kind to yourself. Some days you'll feel like you're nailing the bilingual parenting thing, cooking traditional meals, and running your career flawlessly. Other days, it's pizza night and more screen time than you'd like. Both are okay. The most important thing is the love and the intention you bring to your home every day. Just keep showing up."
Thank you so much, Elena! What an inspiring conversation.
Do you know an inspiring madre in our community? Nominate them for a future feature by sending us an email or DM!