We’re back with Season 2 of MTV Tr3s’s show, Quiero Mi Baby – a new series that reveals the realities of cross-cultural parenting, including language, religion and tradition clashes, in addition to many other issues unique to bi/multicultural families. This season has some new, unique couples we’re going to introduce you to!


SpanglishBaby talks to Heather


SB: We see in the video that you were introduced to some Puerto Rican foods. Have you also been teaching Alex about culture and food from Alabama? Was there anything he loved, hated or found particularly strange?


Heather: I have definitely introduced Southern food to Alex... I would say the two things he was most surprised by [and] liked the best were number one, fried cornbread, (he told me it reminds him of plantains) – but I have changed it up a little – I season the batter with Adobo before I fry it now, that’s Alex’s little Puerto Rican twist on cornbread, haha! And number two, a recipe for a vegetable beef soup my grandmother's sister gave her called "Cowboy Soup" – Alex isn’t that big into vegetables and said 'Ew!' The first time I made it... But after trying it, he loves it! Alex may not always like everything food-wise that I introduce him to, but I love that he is willing to try things at least once!


SB: We also see in the video that Alex is bilingual – are you bilingual as well? If not, do you plan to learn Spanish? Are there any plans to raise the baby bilingually?


Heather: I am somewhat bilingual...I understand and read Spanish much more and much better than I speak it... I am not that confident when I speak Spanish because I think I sound ridiculous. I do want to learn to speak it fluently though! It is very important to me that my son is bilingual! I want him to be connected to his Hispanic roots and I feel he will get a lot further in life and be more intelligent if he knows two languages!



FIND OUT IF A BICULTURAL CHILD CAN BE LATINO ENOUGH



SpanglishBaby talks to Alex


SB: Seeing how you got choked up when you and your father talked about how you missed each other made me choke up a little, too. Is missing your family in Puerto Rico the hardest part about making a new life in Alabama?


Alex: Yes I would have to say so. What I miss the most from Puerto Rico is the quality time I spend with by family during the weekends. The hardest part for me is that my family lives so far away.


SB: Puerto Rican culture is full of so many traditions – which do you hope to pass on to your child?


Alex: I plan to show my boy the tradition of celebrating ‘The Day of the Three Wise Men’ (Día de los Tres Reyes Magos). When I was a child my parents would give my brothers and me a shoe box to fill with grass from our front lawn. At night my parents would tug on the grass as if the Three Wise Men arrived with their camels to my house. In the morning it was great waking up to gifts and seeing the front lawn a little messy. This is very special to me and I hope it becomes special for my boy too.


Copyright : Spanglish Baby