THE LATINA MOM LEGACY| Bilingual, Spanish Learning Resources, Fluent, Spanglish, Hispanic, Parenting

Show Promos You Don't Want to Miss: Join the 3-Month Confident Bilingual Parenting Group Coaching WaitlistWhat does it really mean to pass down your cultura to the next generation? Is it just about speaking Spanish, or is there something bigger we need to preserve?In this episode, I'm joined by children's book author Nydia Armendia-Sánchez, who shares how growing up with Guatemalan and Basque roots inspired her journey into storytelling and writing books that reflect her multicultural family.We talk about the challenges of raising bilingual teenagers, getting older kids to take ownership of their language journey, and why preserving family stories matters just as much as passing down Spanish.Plus, Nydia shares the story behind The Women Before Us, her connection to her Indigenous great-great-grandmother, and why you don't have to be a writer to keep your family's history alive.What You'll Learn:Why raising bilingual children is about more than teaching Spanish.How to encourage older children to embrace Spanish without forcing it.Creative ways to incorporate Spanish into activities your kids already love.Why family stories and cultural representation help children develop their identity.How oral storytelling can preserve your family's history for future generations.Why it's never too late to pursue a passion, even when others doubt you.Memorable Quote"You don't have to write a book to preserve your family's history. Start by sharing a memory, asking your abuelos a question, or telling your children a story from your own childhood."Timestamps04:28 — Growing Up Between Guatemalan & Basque Cultures06:00 — The Daily Challenge of Raising Bilingual Kids08:23 — Getting Older Kids to Want to Speak Spanish10:57 — Letting Go of Language Expectations12:09 — Making Spanish Part of What Your Kids Already Love15:28 — From Searching for Representation to Becoming an Author19:40 — The Women Before Us: Reclaiming Family Stories20:36 — Family History, Healing & Breaking Generational Cycles23:31 — You Don't Have to Be a Writer to Preserve Your Family's Stories27:27 — Following Your Passion, Even When Someone Doubts You32:00 — The Latina Mom Legacy Fast RoundQuick TakeawaysBilingualism is about connection, not perfection.Give older children ownership of their language journey.Bring Spanish into the things your children already enjoy.Cultural identity goes beyond language.Oral storytelling is a powerful way to preserve family history.Our family stories, even the complicated ones, are part of our legacy.Resources & LinksNydia Armendia-Sánchez — Author & Children's BooksNot Far From HereFrida Kahlo's Flower CrownThe Women Before UsLatina Moms Raising Bilingual Kids Facebook GroupMi Legasi — Bilingual Parenting ResourcesAbout Our GuestNydia Armendia-Sánchez is a bilingual children's book author and first-generation daughter of a Guatemalan mother and Basque father. Her books celebrate cultural identity, family history, and the women who came before us.About Your HostJanny Pérez is a first-generation Latina mom, bilingual parenting educator, and founder of Mi Legasi. Through The Latina Mom Legacy, she helps parents raise bilingual and bicultural children with confidence, connection, and cultura.Connect With JannyInstagram & Threads: @milegasiPodcast Instagram: @thelatinamomlegacyReady for more support? Explore bilingual parenting resources, practical guidance, and the Confident Bilingual Parenting group coaching program at milegasi.com.Amiga, our children's legacy isn't just about the language they speak. It's about the stories they hear, the roots they understand, and the people who came before them.Don't let the stories that matter most go untold. ❤️

Show Promos You Don't Want to Miss: Join the 3-Month Confident Bilingual Parenting Group Coaching WaitlistDoes it ever feel like you're figuring out bilingual parenting as you go? Between language learning, family responsibilities, and life's unexpected curveballs, sometimes all you can do is adapt!In this October recap, I'm sharing our latest Spanish and Bulgarian language-learning updates, my creative strategy for getting my daughter to read more in Spanish (yes, I'm paying her!), and an unexpected flooded basement that taught me a few lessons about resilience, technology, and the value of bilingualism.Plus, we're talking Halloween, Día de Muertos, imperfect traditions, and giving ourselves grace when life doesn't go according to plan.What You'll Learn:Why children may retain more language than we realize, even after a break in exposure.Creative ways to motivate older children to read and speak Spanish.How bilingualism can become a valuable real-life skill.How to use AI to navigate unfamiliar situations without feeling overwhelmed.Why meaningful cultural traditions don't have to be perfect.Memorable Quote"Don't underestimate the value of bilingualism and don't underestimate the value of passing down your Spanish, even if it's imperfect."Timestamps01:46 — Spanish & Bulgarian: Our Language Learning Update07:29 — A Flooded Basement & Lessons in Resilience09:19 — Trusting Your Intuition & Using AI14:44 — Finding Cultura in Unexpected Places17:15 — Halloween & Día de Muertos: Imperfect TraditionsQuick TakeawaysLanguage learning is a journey, not a destination.Get creative when children resist speaking Spanish.Don't underestimate the long-term value of bilingualism.Traditions are about intention and connection, not perfection.Give yourself grace. We're all learning as we go.Resources & LinksNiño Rico, Niño ListoJoin the Confident Bilingual Parenting Winter 2027 WaitlistMi Legasi — Bilingual Parenting ResourcesConnect With JannyInstagram & Threads: @milegasiPodcast Instagram: @thelatinamomlegacyReady for more support? Join the waitlist for the 3-month Confident Bilingual Parenting Group Coaching Program. Let's raise bilingual children with confidence, connection, and cultura!Visit milegasi.com.Little by little, poquito a poco, sí se puede, pero hay que seguir. ❤️

¿Quieres que tu hijo hable español, pero también que se sienta orgulloso de hacerlo? ❤️Amiga, enseñar español no es suficiente. Nuestros hijos necesitan conectar con el idioma, su cultura y sus raíces para sentir que el español también es parte de quiénes son.En este episodio, te comparto 4 estrategias para ayudar a tu hijo a desarrollar esa conexión, incluso si hoy prefiere hablar en inglés. Porque criar hijos bilingües no se trata de perfección, sino de conexión, identidad y progreso.En este episodio descubrirás:02:12 — Por qué el español es mucho más que un idioma.03:26 — Cómo conectar el español con lo que tu hijo ama.05:34 — Cómo compartir las historias y tradiciones de tu familia.08:00 — Cómo ayudar a tu hijo a sentir que el español también es suyo.11:03 — Por qué no necesitas hablar perfectamente para sentir orgullo por tu español.✨ Una frase para recordar: «Menos corrección y más conexión».👭 Únete a nuestra comunidad gratuita: Latina Moms Raising Bilingual Kids en Facebook. Conecta con otras mamás que están criando hijos bilingües y comparte tus dudas, experiencias y recursos. Busca Latina Moms Raising Bilingual Kids en Facebook.Conecta con Janny:Instagram: @milegasiThreads: @milegasiInstagram del podcast: @thelatinamomlegacyPinterest: @milegasi💕 Recuerda, amiga: Tu hijo no tiene que hablar español perfectamente para sentirse orgulloso de hablarlo. Sigue hablando, sigue compartiendo tu cultura y sigue creando oportunidades para conectar con tus raíces.Porque no estás solamente enseñando un idioma. Estás construyendo un legado.Un beso, un abrazo y ¡hasta la próxima! ¡Chao, chao!

Have you ever felt like your Spanish wasn't enough or wondered how to reconnect with your cultura? In this episode of The Latina Mom Legacy, Janny Perez talks with Cynthia Perez, a therapist, mom of three, and founder of Rooted in Reflection. Cynthia shares how childhood shame around her Spanish led her to stop trying, how ancestral healing helped her reconnect with her Maya and Yucatec roots, and why she ultimately moved her family from Los Angeles to Mexico.You'll discover how to reclaim your heritage, navigate language shame, and raise bilingual and bicultural kids while embracing your own cultural identity.Timestamps04:06 – Growing Up Pocha: Language Shame06:30 – Healing and Reconnecting With Her Maya Roots17:46 – Why She Moved Her Family to Mexico22:47 – Raising Bilingual Kids in Mexico31:31 – Advice for Overcoming Spanish Shame32:05 – Reclaiming Your Heritage From Anywhere34:22 – The Suitcase That Changed How She Saw HerselfAbout Cynthia PerezCynthia Perez is a therapist, mother of three, and founder of Rooted in Reflection. Born in Long Beach, California, Cynthia embarked on a journey of healing and self-discovery that led her to reconnect with her Maya and Yucatec heritage and move her family to Mexico. Through her work, she centers inner healing from a decolonial perspective, exploring ancestral connections, cultural identity, and marianismo (colonial influences on motherhood). She is also a self-published author of three books and the host of the podcast Confetti All Around.About Janny PerezResourcesCynthia Perez: https://rootedinreflection.org/Confetti All Around podcastFree bilingual parenting resources: https://milegasi.com/Join the Latina Moms Raising Bilingual Kids Facebook group: https://facebook.com/groups/milegasi to connect with other moms on this journey.Follow Janny: @milegasi Podcast: @thelatinamomlegacyFinal Thoughts:Remember, mamá: You don't have to speak perfect Spanish or move abroad to reclaim your roots. Start where you are and keep going!About Janny PerezJanny Perez is a bilingual parenting educator, coach, and host of The Latina Mom Legacy podcast.As a multilingual mom herself, Janny helps Latina and multicultural families raise bilingual children with confidence, consistency, and connection to language and culture—even in English-dominant environments.Through Mi Legasi, Janny teaches parents how to move beyond guilt and the pressure to do bilingual parenting perfectly, and instead create a flexible approach that works for their child, their family, and real life.Learn more at milegasi.com

Show Promos You Don't Want to Miss: Enrollment closes October 18, 2026 for Confident Bilingual Parenting Group Coaching that begins October 20. Use code POD50 for $50 off.Does This Sound Like You, Amiga?Are you the only Spanish speaker at home?Do you feel like raising a bilingual child is all on your shoulders?Does your spouse speak Spanish but rarely use it with your child?Can you raise a bilingual child when your spouse doesn't speak Spanish? ¡Sí, amiga, tú puedes!What You'll Discover in This EpisodeJanny Perez shares her experience raising her daughter trilingually and explains how to create meaningful opportunities for Spanish, involve your spouse, and build a flexible approach that works for your family.Memorable Quote"You're trying to create a Spanish-speaking relationship."Timestamps & What You'll Discover03:32 — Do You Need Two Spanish-Speaking Parents?Why one parent can make a difference.09:40 — Making Spanish Part of Everyday LifeFinding natural opportunities to use Spanish.11:47 — Why Exposure Alone Isn't EnoughCreating reasons for your child to speak Spanish.13:08 — People, Places, and ExperiencesMaking Spanish meaningful through relationships and activities.18:09 — Getting Your Spouse InvolvedHow your partner can support bilingualism without speaking Spanish.24:43 — When Your Spouse Won't Speak SpanishEncouraging participation without constant conflict.ResourcesConfident Bilingual Parenting: Join Janny's 3-month group coaching program and create a flexible bilingual parenting plan for your family.Enrollment closes October 18, 2026. Coaching begins October 20. Use code POD50 for $50 off.Learn more: https://milegasi.thinkific.com/courses/confidentbilingualparentingExplore free resources at https://www.milegasi.comConnect With JannyInstagram: @milegasiThreads: @milegasiPodcast Instagram: @thelatinamomlegacyFinal ThoughtsYou don't need two Spanish-speaking parents or a perfect bilingual environment. You need a flexible plan that works for the family you actually have.¡Tú puedes, mamá!