Intent

As I embark upon a deeper, stronger relationship with this beautiful and innately intelligent young man who is my first-born son, Yakecen, I will post descriptions with pictures of our projects and lessons for other homeschoolers to explore. We welcome people from all nations to join us as we travel across worlds of chemistry, Nahuatl, fractions, nature journaling, charcoal art-ing, geography, creative writing and more. We are a bilingual family, speaking English with the outside world, and maintaining Spanish in the home. As a result, some posts are written entirely in English, otros en español.

A forewarning. Yes, you absolutely might leave this site offended by what you read, because I also offer forthright reviews of many educational websites and materials that concern the cultures and traditions of Latin@s, Chican@s and Hispanics. No apologies will be granted. As an outgrowth of the racism, ignorance, and at times intentional mis- and dis-information contained in these materials (available online both free and for a fee), I will mercilessly wade into the uncomfortable spaces that exist between these texts, websites, and real life to talk about the gender, race, and class implications that underlie the kinds of stories and histories we seek to impart to our children, regardless of our intent to do so deliberately or unknowingly. As an archaeologist, feminist and gender scholar, I am aware these conversations can make some people uncomfortable. If this is you, I challenge you to sit with this knot in your stomach…perhaps one day you’ll return to our blog, perhaps not.

Finally, because my own online search has turned up so few blogs and websites created specifically for and by parents of Latin@, Chican@, or Hispanic identity, I aim to provide a space of sharing for others like me, who for whatever personal or academic reasons, choose to homeschool. This is a place for our family to be ourselves - and we encourage others to join us - to celebrate (or discover as the case may be) the phenomenal ancestry of our Aztec, Maya, indigenous, Xicana, and American roots.

The education of Yakecen serves a larger purpose: Of passing on to him a sense of knowing where we come from, who we are today, and seeing the fullest potential for who we may become tomorrow. My husband and I believe that through our daily activities and one-to-one education, this centering experience will settle into the spirit of Yakecen, as well as my other children, and will continue to strengthen our community. It is in the moment that our children know their unique history, and intimately understand our – their - struggles in prehistory and in the modern world, that they learn to embrace humanity and build for themselves a future only they can imagine and invent.

I extend credit and thanks to our teachers: Daddy Perfecto, “Gramma” Maria, Great-grandmother Eglantina, brother Perfecto, sister Itzumi, Tio Angél, Auntie Susie, Auntie Sara, Tio Ron, "Grampy" Ron, and our many community friends from around the block and around the globe.