Ah, grandma: the source of love, wisdom, good food, and, usually, money. All of our grandmas have their own way of showing affection, but Latina abuelas are not your average grandma. They are set in their traditional ways and have not faltered with the changing of the times. While they may be some of the scariest women you will meet in your life, they are also some of the most valuable. Abuelas are the ones to give you the tough love and reality checks that you need in life. They will also set the standard high for the quality of food you eat later in life since nothing compares to authentic Spanish food. Even though the idea of a stereotypical American grandma who stays home and knits all day sounds appealing, I wouldn’t trade in my crazy Abuela for the world. If you don’t believe me that there is a difference, here are a few undeniable examples:
1. When you visit them at home
American Grandma: Encourages you to take your shoes off and make yourself comfortable
Latina Abuela: Demands that I keep my socks on or to put socks on immediately (and attributes any signs of sickness I may later experience to my bare feet on the ground)
2. When you want a cookie
American Grandma: Has cookies in her cookie tin
Latina Abuela: Has all her sewing necessities in her cookie tin
3. When you get hurt/ are sick
American Grandma: Scraped knee? Neosporin and a band-aid. Headache? Advil. Bad cough? Delsym.
Latina Abuela: Vicks VapoRub
4. When you’ve done something wrong
American Grandma: “Please don’t do that again, it wasn’t very nice.”
Latina Abuela: “Voy a darte pow-pow con la chancleta!”
5. When you’re too full to finish eating a meal they’ve prepared
American Grandma: Accepts the fact that you’re full
Latina Abuela: Is convinced that you haven’t eaten in days, refuses to accept that you cannot stomach any more food, and brings out more food
6. When they make coffee
American Grandma: Uses a coffee pot and makes American coffee
Latina Abuela: Uses an espresso maker to make café con leche
7. When they are cleaning
American Grandma: Uses a broom and a mop
Latina Abuela: Uses a stick and a towel
8. What they talk to their friends about
American Grandma: What they’ve knitted lately, BINGO night, etc.
Latina Abuela: Last night’s telenovela (and passionately, may I add)
9. When they say they have prepared dessert
American Grandma: Pie.
Latina Abuela: Flan.
10. What you grew up watching Saturday nights at their house
American Grandma: Whatever cartoons you wanted to see
Latina Abuela: Sabado Gigante
11. When you were born
American Grandma: Brings you a stuffed animal
Latina Abuela: Pins un azabache on you to ward off evil
All grandmas have their weird little quirks, my grandma is no exception; but at the end of the day we love them all no matter how crazy they make us. So, here’s to all the grandmothers in the world who have their special way of taking care of us and showing their love, you’re one of a kind.
