"Hello" Performed by Eddie Villanueva
I just love the way people in Puerto Rico include children in all aspects of life; children are not instructed to be "seen but not heard." They're not kept away from the everyday work world of their parents. When we moved here to Puerto Rico, I was struck by the fact that I frequently saw children at work with their parents. My husband and I even had our children around at the university office, occasionally. When I worked in the States, I had to downplay that I was a mother or else I wouldn't have been taken seriously. I couldn't hide my parental concerns, and so I just tried harder to prove myself. In the video above, PR blogger friend, Passion4blue sings, "Hello" while his baby daughter putters around...so sweet. No impatience. So inclusive. So Puerto Rican.
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First of, I have to tell you that Eddie's voice is beautiful. I heard him at the quinceanero (15) and perhaps I was too drunk to appreciate his voice, wow, he could have been a professional singer and rock star, wow, I'm really impressed.
ReplyDeleteTalking about the Puerto Rican culture, being Puerto Rican myself, I have a love-hate relationship with my culture and you are right Oasis, taking the kids to work is a very positive thing about the culture. There are so many women who when the kids are sick and have to work take the kids to work or if the kids have no school, they take the kids to work. It's fair, it's not all the time. I used to go to my dad's office sometimes when I was in the 5th grade, I used to love it, I used to play in his desk making believe I was an executive and then I would go to the office of one of his secretaries and they would entertain me. I loved going to his office. The negative aspect about it is that some people abuse this behavior and take their kids to work too often. Anyway, it's a culture where emotion is more important than responsibility and duty, well everyone is different and if we are to be citizens of the world, we have to do as Romans did in Rome, go with the flow, if you are in the states, you have to act as a so-called American if you are in PR. you have to act as a so called Puerto Rico
cheers,
d
Hi Cynthia! I know exactly what you mean! Having a career and a child is touch in some industries! When I got pregnant last year I had to keep it under wraps as long as I could because the fashion industry was not receptive to the fact that I had a child on the way, would that mean no more 16 hour days, working on the holidays, and travel at the drop of a hat!?! Oh horror! Luckily for me, I get to stay home with him for now (I do miss work though) but I know that I want to raise him and send him off to daycare everyday. I am so blessed to be able to do that, I know so many Moms who just can't and it's terrible! Other countries have maternity leaves of two-five years! How lovely! To bring my baby with me to work would be a dream! Then I could have my cake & eat it too! Great post, what a difference in cultures, I love it!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Judith~
So sweet! I loved it. A Lot of sweet tenderness,Puerto Rican style!
ReplyDeleteI loved it too, thanks Cynthia.
ReplyDeleteLittle bubba was so cute, music beautiful. :D
Judith (ParisA) so glad you can stay home and be at peace about your child; but wouldn't it be wonderful if you could also put your hand in at work? Society makes us so separated from ourselves sometimes. I was lucky with my first, I spent the time studying for my MA exams, and only worked part-time for a good while. I know that is why I developed many new interest...probably the blogging is a creative outlet for your over-being-a-mommy self (breaks please!). When my daughter was born, I had to leave her with people I did not trust. I/we suffered. I decided to give up that career and move across country in search of a new lifestyle...eventually that's how we ended up in PR. I just love your post-so beautiful...
ReplyDeleteTPC and Natalie, yes, the father's face is kindess itself.
ReplyDeleteEnergizeyourlife, Your perspective throws in a balancing thought! I know that people might abuse the tolerance for family at work, and it does get out of hand sometimes...what can you do? It gets worked out eventually.
ReplyDeleteCynthia I want to thank you for posting this on your blog and to all your subscribers for their comments. It is truly appreciated!
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you remember, but this was recorded at the house where you and Wendell came out to visit us one year in Tillson, New York.
We were living on the second floor of a newlywed couples house. It was sort of an uncomfortable situation because the kitchen was in their part of the house and we hated having to constantly invade their space to get to that kitchen.
We moved out after one year. You and Wendell were the only family that ever visited us while we lived there.
Memories...
Such a wonderful way to live, including your children and encouraging family life. It is a pity we are not more like that, xv.
ReplyDeletePassion4Blue, I remember...I also remember all of us losing her in the store...she was in a clothes rack filled with ties. W. nearly had a heart attack!
ReplyDeleteVicki, yes, I like to include family eventhough sometimes it gets complicated Thanks for coming over for a visit from your beautiful site. <3
Lovely singing. Wonderful to see the little one. Do you think artists and singers etc would be more likely to work with their children around even in the US? Interesting comments from your readers.
ReplyDeleteCynthia! You are living a very special adventure there in Puerto Rico, I'll be happy to come here from time to time to read your thoughts here on your blog, thanks so much for visiting mine.
ReplyDeleteLove
Andrea
Sukipoet, you raise a good question. Maybe it's easier/safer/less disruptive to have children around in some environments stateside or even here. Still, there is pressure to hide the children away in the States. In PR, you see children in offices, classrooms, on campus and everyone makes a fuss over them. Sometimes, you have to ask a student not bring her child into the classroom because of the disruption (also, technically it's against the "rules".) I usually wait to see how things work out but if we can't go forward with our study subject, the boundary line has to be drawn. "Sorry, it's not working."
ReplyDeleteCestandrea, so glad you found us here at Oasis, I do hope you return. I'll come over again, right now.
ReplyDeleteoh Cynthia, this is so similar to Spain ! i love the fact that kids are playing until very late outside in summer and are also very connected with their grandparents - this is what i could observe in the little villages here -
ReplyDeletei'll have to come back to watch the video as it's very late here and i'm sleepy !
hope you had a great week end...
hasta mañana guapa !
Lala Ema, so charming as always...guapa! Southern Spain seems wonderful- probably the custom of including children in all aspects of life came from Spain. Children stay up late in the summer here too. I think we all need to get back to the siesta idea!
ReplyDelete