With almost 11 years living in the United States I could say that I’m already used to the traditions and holiday celebrations in this country. But no. One thing was in my pre-mom state and another now that my daughter is going to the Day Care. I have been embarrassed for not knowing what has to be done or said sometimes. That is why my motto now is forewarned is forearmed. And from now on I will ask.
This week I only had one thing in mind: don’t forget to buy the Easter eggs for the traditional “Egg Hunt” at my daughter’s school. What I wanted to avoid was what happened to me on Valentine’s Day. That evening my daughter came home with a bag. Inside there were goodies and candies that all her classmates had brought to school. You can’t imagine the embarrassment I felt when I realized that the only one who didn’t bring any gifts for her classmates was my daughter. Blame it on her mother who just settled for bringing some cookies for the Valentine’s Day party, though purchased at the supermarket because there was no time to play pastry. I told the story to my friends, other Latin moms, and I was surprised to learn that I was not the only one that had endured the red face at school. But, who knew? How could I possibly have known that here the tradition is that children give each other gifts on Valentine’s Day? So this time, despite any red face for being inquisitive, I decided to ask: what I have to do on Easter? What should I bring?
Latin moms can be surprised by certain traditions and activities. Ask the mom (me) who forcibly and in a supernatural way managed to put 3 big pumpkins in a diaper bag because she didn’t know that a “pumpkin patch” is meant to be for that, to pick pumpkins, or the one that was completely disoriented at the moms “meet up group” and got excluded from it thanks to her “lack of initiative, enthusiasm and participation” (again me).
But hey, “When in Rome do as the Romans” says an old adage. So before another embarrassing incident happen to this clueless mom I better research and ask. Oh my poor daughter, I already can see her complaining about her inquisitive mom. But I’d rather be that than a stingy mom.
Moms, have something like this ever happened to you? Tell me your experiences!