Intro

Growing up in a bilingual household, Spanish was always present in my life. Always using Spanish daily for our conversations. It never changed. However, it wasn’t until later in life that I truly appreciated the impact this language would have on my relationship with my mom. Spanish became more than just a means of communication; it became a bridge that connected me and my mom. As a child, my mom tried to get me to study more Spanish with her but I was always said no I didn’t need Spanish and told her I only needed English. I knew it was important for me to learn Spanish. I hated it because it’s hard to learn a language. I Found myself resistant, preferring the comfort of English and shying away from Spanish. Yet, as I was taking Spanish class, I discovered that it held the key to starting a connection with my mom. My first language was English. I will always talk to everyone in English, my teachers, my friends, and the people around me. However, my second language is Spanish. I always talk in Spanish at home. At home, I listen to Spanish music and the Spanish news. Sometimes I talk in Spanish with my friends because they also come from a Spanish household. It’s another way I talk in school, not just English but Spanish. Few of my teachers also know Spanish and have learned Spanish which helps me find a connection. Speaking Spanish in school helps me connect to more people and be comfortable in the classroom. I live in a neighborhood where many people also speak spanish. This helps me connect with my neighbors and fully understand what people are saying. My mom’s strong language is Spanish. She can understand English but at a basic level. I’m not alone, most of my cousins are in the same boat as me. They also speak/write spanish and grew up in a spanish speaking household. I don’t know how exactly I learned to write and read in Spanish but it’s the only way for me to be able to express myself and understand what my mom is talking about.

Language

I had a meeting about my behavior in school. It was in middle school 7th grade, I was talking, not paying attention, getting detention every day, doing dumb stuff, and getting kicked out of my classes. It was mostly me playing around with my friends and ignoring the teacher’s warnings. I just kept doing what I wanted. I only think about myself and not the people around me. My mom was there and my teacher was in a room. I was sitting next to my mom facing the teacher. It was in the school we were discussing how I have been behaving lately. The teacher gave a lot of details about how I was acting in class and my behavior being an issue for the teachers and students. It felt like a long meeting to me. After the meeting ended me and my mom walked silent until we got home. It was awkward for me to even talk to my mom. When we got home my mom went to my room and for the first time I saw my mom cry. I hated seeing my mom cry and hated myself for making her cry. So In Spanish, I told her “Ya no te haré llorar más” which means in English “I won’t make you cry anymore.” I told this to my mom in my room. My room represents a promise I made with my mom. If I break the promise I break myself. This is one of the most important memories I have while speaking Spanish. As a man I couldn’t break the promise I made and in a culture where I learned that words mean a lot I had to keep that promise. If I broke that I would have lost my identity. I realized how words are very important to me. I’m grateful that I know 2 languages that I can express myself to my mom. To speak to my mom in Spanish it’s one of the most important things to me. I wouldn’t be able to talk about how my daily life went and tell her how much I love her if I didn’t understand Spanish. I understand her and anything she wants to talk about like what’s happening in the news or even about her family. I’m not an expert at Spanish but I easily understand and speak to my mom about anything. Spanish is the most important language besides English that I learned. It’s the only way I can connect to my mom and tell her many things about me.

Importance

Without Spanish, I don’t know what my life would look like. With Spanish, I can help my mom understand English and guide her when she doesn’t understand a word in English. With Spanish, it gives me a chance to help my mom in a way. Spanish has helped me build a stronger relationship with my mom and has given me the ability to help her understand English better. Spanish has become a crucial tool for me to connect with my mother and share important information with her. Spanish strengthened my bond through the sharing of stories and memories. As I became more proficient in the language, I found myself drawn to the stories my mother shared about her upbringing, her struggles, her dreams, and her aspirations. By learning Spanish, I have expanded my outlook and deepened my connections with my family/community. As I reflect on the role of Spanish in strengthening my bond with my mother, I know what impact it has had on our relationship. What began as a basic language has spread into a journey of cultural discovery, personal growth, and, above all, a deeper connection with my mom who has shaped me into the person I am today.

As I closed my door from my room I told my mom “Bye ma, me voy a la clase” After heading outside and viewing the bright sky early in the morning I started walking off to my college. After entering College I never broke the promise I made.