I was raised in a bilingual home where we spoke both English and Spanish. The scales eventually tipped in favor of English so that my Dad could learn English. But my parents still taught my siblings and me to speak, read, and write in Spanish. Growing up in an urban Puerto Rican neighborhood, we were deeply immersed in our culture on a daily basis.
Over the years, I’ve had to work to preserve my Spanish-speaking abilities and the traditions of my culture. The ease of flowing from one language to another is no longer there. I have to make a conscious effort to speak Spanish, and what comes out is wonky and makes my tongue sore.
Now that I have kids, I want to teach them all about their Puerto Rican culture, but I’m surprised at how much work this requires. My husband isn’t Hispanic, but he loves the culture. It’s easy to speak English; it’s easy to go to American restaurants; and it’s easy to read English books and watch English shows.
But there are so many undeniable benefits of bilingualism. I have this knowledge at my fingertips, yet I’m not yet sharing with my kids. It’s disheartening, but I’ve decided not to let the guilt get to me. 
Here are some traditions we’re incorporating to ensure our boys learn live out their Puerto Rican culture:
- Food – In our never-ending effort to get our kids to eat dinner, I came up with themed meal nights. “Salsa Sundays” are dedicated to all things “salsa.” We enjoy salsa music while we cook and eat delicious Puerto Rican food.
- Music – This could easily be part of our day! Spanish music just begs for dance parties. Whenever I put it on, the boys love it. It’s a great way to expose them to the Spanish language, as well.
- Tradition – There are many beautiful traditions we could follow, one of which we’ve started doing recently. In many Spanish speaking cultures, young people ask for a blessing of their elders, “La bendicion.” It’s something I still do with my parents. We’ve taught our kids to say it to their grandparents, now we are working on us!
My husband and I resolved to tune in to the quiet Spanish voices in our heads and make the choice to teach our children about their Puerto Rican heritage. This requires effort and carved out time and activities to bring Spanish to the forefront. We’re hoping in time it becomes second nature to all of us.
What family and cultural traditions are you hoping to pass on to your kids? Stay strong, even just a little bit is a great success!
