Latinos sharing the unconditional love experiences they have from their abuelas.
(Photo : Reuters)

Latinos are known to be family-oriented and the influence of abuelas has become a great part of the Latino community, according to a published article in Refinery 29. 

There are roughly more than 55 million Latinos living in the United States today and making them the largest minority group in the country. Each of the Latino families has unique cultural experiences. 

It won't take long for a non-Latino to understand how amazing abuelas are. Most abuelas are known for their passionate heart in showing love especially to their grandchildren and their magical skills in the kitchen. Abuelas living in the United States become the thread that connects the Latino family.

According to the Pew Research Center, 27 percent of Latino families living in the United States are coming from multigenerational homes. Most Latino families share the same experiences in regards to their abuelas, such as raising them as a child, teaching culture, and making sure that there is enough food on their plates.

Abuelas play a very important role in the Latino family because they also serve as the glue that keeps many families together. 

In this article, we will share with you different stories of unconditional love shown by abuelas. Here are some of the stories that you should know. 

Frederick, Puerto Rico

"My parents found out I was gay at 14 after I had come out to a close group of friends at my Catholic School. Even though my mother is incredibly supportive now, it took her a bit to accept that her son was never going to make her an abuela. I'm told that one day, my mom was on the phone venting to my grandmother about her kid being gay. Abuela listened, of course, and at the end just said: 'Priscilla - he's your son. Whatever you are feeling right now is irrelevant, and it's your job to love him for who he is, always.' Anyway, that's the story about how my grandmother helped my mom come to terms with my sexuality, and grow to have the beautiful relationship we have today."  

Karolyna, Mexico

"My parents divorced when I was five years old. My mom was left to take her two kids back home to Texas, and my abuela from my dad's side took us in. I'm not sure how many months we stayed with her, but she took care of our every need. She watched over us as my mom looked for work. She found us a house to rent and live in. She continued to watch us, feed us, and even help raise us. They say it takes a village to raise a baby, but my abuela was our village." 

Ludmila, Guatemala

"One of the ways my abuela, who we call Mami Tere, has always shown her love is through food. Big pots of black bean soup, sopa de gallina, and other dishes made with love and from scratch. As she has gotten older, cooking has become hard for her. I only get to see her, once a year or less, and every time I come back to visit, her arthritis has gotten worse. Her fingers are more twisted, and it's hard for her to find the strength to chop and make meals like she used to. My grandmother's recipes are passed down to my mother, and I was raised on them; they were a way for me to hold onto a little piece of her, of my heritage, and of my history even though I grew up thousands of miles away. Recently, while I was in town, she didn't have the energy to cook for me. I could see the disappointment on her face. Still, she painstakingly wrote down a couple of recipes on a piece of paper - it must have taken her a long time because her arthritis makes it difficult even to hold a pen. Before I left for the airport to go home, she pressed a folded piece of paper with the recipe for my favorite soup and a bag of platanitos into my hand. 'Think of me when you make these,' she said. And I always do." 

Sara, Columbia

"My abuela was the bravest woman I ever met. She got a divorce from her abusive husband in the 60s, in Colombia, where the divorce was frowned upon. She had never worked before and she didn't go to university, so she started sewing school uniforms so she could provide for her four children. Against all odds, she succeeded. She kept the family together. She has been gone for five years, and I still miss her sweet smile and her kind eyes every day."  

Lucilla, Puerto Rico

"My grandmother Generosa was the medicine woman of the family. She provided us the type of care that only a grandmother could whip up without having to go to a doctor's office and wait for a shot to make us better. If mom told her we were sick, she'd go to the local butcher's shop - at the time you could have live chicken's killed at the butchers - to get their oldest chicken, available, la gallina más Vieja, and make chicken soup. She'd then gather yerba buena, manzanilla, cinnamon, and other herbs for tea. When she would arrive, she would take us to bathe in Agua Florida and Alcohlado Superior 70. She would pat us dry, rub Vicks [Vaporub] on our chest, and have us rest while she cooked up chicken soup and tea. Once those were done, she'd feed us and the last thing she would do is pray over as she tucked us in. The next day, we would wake up feeling as if we had never been sick. She had healing hands and was just as generous as her name. She would give someone the shirt off her back and the last plate of food if they walked in needing something."  

The one thing that all these people have in common (other than being of Latino descent) is the impact that their grandmothers had on their lives. It serves as a reminder that not only are they an important part of our everyday lives, but that we too, will one day be tasked with nurturing, and developing our young family members. So listen to what your abuela tells you, because one day you will have to pass on her knowledge and wisdom.