Response to "Late Spring"

[Monica Munguia]

Petrina, I know that I am much older than you but through my cultural and western values, I would sacrifice my happiness for my child or parent.  It depends on a person, and how they have changed from their traditional values.  I am a first generation American, and I have become very Americanized but still wrestle with my traditional Mexican values.  As an example, my mother is 87 years old and for the most part Americans tend to place parents in assisted living conditions.  Some siblings wanted that route for my mother; whereas, my brother and I said we would take her in our home and care for her.  This is what is best for her and expected from us.  She took care of me now I take care of her.  But, I also have to say that in a traditional Mexican household, there is an underlying rule that children do not move away far from the family.  I broke this rule when I moved away and studied, and now my son has gone away to study at a university.  This my mother worries about daily and wants him home with us.