6 Things Only People Raised in a Latino Family Will Understand
Not all Latino families are the same, but many households share some customs.
Some things that appear odd for some are just normal for the Latino family, like calling everyone tío and tía even though you haven't met them before.
These are some of the things anyone raised in a Latino family will know. So scroll ahead for six more things that someone who has not been raised in a Latino family would not understand.
The Power of VapoRub
VapoRub is always in a Latino family's cabinet. Why? That's because VapoRub cures everything.
A Los Angeles Times article said the topical ointment itself brings up so many strong memories because of how widely used it is within the family.
PopSugar even called it the Latino's "go-to remedy" for anything from cold to a recent breakup.
Kissing Every Single Person in a Room
As Cosmopolitan pointed out, kissing is always the right way to greet someone, and handshaking is considered rude.
It's something your mom will probably nag you about, and even though you already said "Hi," a kiss has to seal it in.
Read also: These 5 Things Always Happen During Latino Family Gatherings
If you didn't do it, your mom would tell you: "I didn't see you say hello." And you really don't have much choice.
Collective Fear of 'La Chancleta'
You know you're in big trouble when your mom gets out "la chancleta" or flip flops or any other item to get their attention. It can be anything from wooden spoons to a belt.
Corporal punishment has been such a casual subject among Latinos, with many laughing it off as they grow older.
But Lisa Fontes, Ph.D., lecturer and author of "Child Abuse and Culture: Working with Diverse Families," told NPR that she believes laughter is a coping mechanism.
Read also: 4 Racist Habits Latinos Have to Stop Immediately
It's people's way to "cope with ambiguous feelings, trying to make sense of the love and loyalty they feel toward their parents."
The culture indeed thinks it's how things should be done, but hopefully, the idea of inflicting pain to get discipline ends soon.
Plastic on Furniture
Abuelas don't really have aspirations to have the best looking house in town. They just place plastic on some (or every) furniture to not ruin the perfectly new muebles. On top of that, you probably also have "special occasion" dresses and shoes.
Solitude Was Never an Option
Latinos take strong family ties very seriously. They take it too seriously that you normally don't get a few minutes to yourself.
Everyone you meet at a party is a cousin, a tío, or any other relative. Some tías are too accommodating when it comes to your nourishment and tíos who like to dish out some wisdom.
It's always a nightmare to get perfect family pictures, but at the end of the day, they're people you can count on, said BuzzFeed.
Seasoned Salt? How About Adobo?
Latinos usually get shocked when they come across someone who doesn't know about the adobo seasoning.
It's been a permanent piece of every Latino home, expanding further across to families that are not from the Spanish speaking Caribbean.
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