Renowned Cuban influencer, Lucy María González Machado (@the_zhou_fam), who captivates her online audience by sharing her experiences as an immigrant, mother, and wife, recently recounted an amusing story about raising her son in a multicultural setting. Married to a man of Chinese descent, Lucy and her family have called several countries home. Currently, they reside in Switzerland, but they spent several years in Italy, where their son was born.
In a conversation with Venezuelan creator Fedra Yepez (@fey.yepez), Lucy pondered the cultural differences in disciplining children. According to Lucy, her son exhibits an intriguing behavior when she tries to discipline him in Italian; he simply ignores her. However, when she switches to Spanish, the effect is noticeably stronger.
The Power of Language in Parenting
Both Lucy and Fedra agreed that a "scolding in Spanish" possesses a special force and authority that seems to resonate more deeply with children compared to languages like Italian or English. For Lucy, this highlights how the mother tongue, with its unique expressions and emphases, becomes a potent tool in child-rearing.
The Cuban influencer and mother is determined that her son benefits from the best of the various cultures he is growing up in. While his paternal family's Chinese heritage influences him significantly, and he grows up in a European community where Italian is the primary social language, the Spanish language, especially with a Cuban accent, remains a staple at home.