Have you ever felt like your Spanish wasn't enough or wondered how to reconnect with your cultura?

In this episode of The Latina Mom Legacy, Janny Perez talks with Cynthia Perez, a therapist, mom of three, and founder of Rooted in Reflection. Cynthia shares how childhood shame around her Spanish led her to stop trying, how ancestral healing helped her reconnect with her Maya and Yucatec roots, and why she ultimately moved her family from Los Angeles to Mexico.

You'll discover how to reclaim your heritage, navigate language shame, and raise bilingual and bicultural kids while embracing your own cultural identity.

Timestamps
04:06 – Growing Up Pocha: Language Shame
06:30 – Healing and Reconnecting With Her Maya Roots
17:46 – Why She Moved Her Family to Mexico
22:47 – Raising Bilingual Kids in Mexico
31:31 – Advice for Overcoming Spanish Shame
32:05 – Reclaiming Your Heritage From Anywhere
34:22 – The Suitcase That Changed How She Saw Herself

About Cynthia Perez

Cynthia Perez is a therapist, mother of three, and founder of Rooted in Reflection. Born in Long Beach, California, Cynthia embarked on a journey of healing and self-discovery that led her to reconnect with her Maya and Yucatec heritage and move her family to Mexico. Through her work, she centers inner healing from a decolonial perspective, exploring ancestral connections, cultural identity, and marianismo (colonial influences on motherhood). She is also a self-published author of three books and the host of the podcast Confetti All Around.

About Janny Perez

Resources
Cynthia Perez: https://rootedinreflection.org/
Confetti All Around podcast
Free bilingual parenting resources: https://milegasi.com/

Join the Latina Moms Raising Bilingual Kids Facebook group: https://facebook.com/groups/milegasi to connect with other moms on this journey.

Follow Janny: @milegasi

Podcast: @thelatinamomlegacy

Final Thoughts:

Remember, mamá: You don't have to speak perfect Spanish or move abroad to reclaim your roots. Start where you are and keep going!

About Janny Perez

Janny Perez is a bilingual parenting educator, coach, and host of The Latina Mom Legacy podcast.

As a multilingual mom herself, Janny helps Latina and multicultural families raise bilingual children with confidence, consistency, and connection to language and culture—even in English-dominant environments.

Through Mi Legasi, Janny teaches parents how to move beyond guilt and the pressure to do bilingual parenting perfectly, and instead create a flexible approach that works for their child, their family, and real life.

Learn more at milegasi.com

Show Promos You Don't Want to Miss: Enrollment closes October 18, 2026 for Confident Bilingual Parenting Group Coaching that begins October 20. Use code POD50 for $50 off.

Does This Sound Like You, Amiga?

• Are you the only Spanish speaker at home?

• Do you feel like raising a bilingual child is all on your shoulders?

• Does your spouse speak Spanish but rarely use it with your child?

Can you raise a bilingual child when your spouse doesn't speak Spanish? ¡Sí, amiga, tú puedes!

What You'll Discover in This Episode

Janny Perez shares her experience raising her daughter trilingually and explains how to create meaningful opportunities for Spanish, involve your spouse, and build a flexible approach that works for your family.

Memorable Quote

"You're trying to create a Spanish-speaking relationship."

Timestamps & What You'll Discover

03:32 — Do You Need Two Spanish-Speaking Parents?
Why one parent can make a difference.

09:40 — Making Spanish Part of Everyday Life
Finding natural opportunities to use Spanish.

11:47 — Why Exposure Alone Isn't Enough
Creating reasons for your child to speak Spanish.

13:08 — People, Places, and Experiences
Making Spanish meaningful through relationships and activities.

18:09 — Getting Your Spouse Involved
How your partner can support bilingualism without speaking Spanish.

24:43 — When Your Spouse Won't Speak Spanish
Encouraging participation without constant conflict.

Resources

Confident Bilingual Parenting: Join Janny's 3-month group coaching program and create a flexible bilingual parenting plan for your family.

Enrollment closes October 18, 2026. Coaching begins October 20. Use code POD50 for $50 off.

Learn more: https://milegasi.thinkific.com/courses/confidentbilingualparenting

Explore free resources at https://www.milegasi.com

Connect With Janny

Instagram: @milegasi
Threads: @milegasi
Podcast Instagram: @thelatinamomlegacy

Final Thoughts

You don't need two Spanish-speaking parents or a perfect bilingual environment. You need a flexible plan that works for the family you actually have.

¡Tú puedes, mamá!

Amiga, have you ever felt ni de aquí ni de allá? In this episode, Janny Perez talks with Alyssa Bolaños, a Cuban mom married to a Colombian, about moving her family from the United States to Medellín, Colombia, and rethinking what it means to belong.

Together, they discuss raising children connected to their roots, navigating cultural identity, challenging stereotypes about Latin America, and redefining the American dream for the next generation.

What You'll Discover

• Why children can belong to more than one culture.

• How new experiences expand your children's worldview.

• What moving abroad taught Alyssa about success, family, and slowing down.

• How to help your children embrace their cultural identity.

  
  

  Memorable Quote

  “Ni de aquí ni de allá doesn't have to be a limitation. Son de aquí y son de allá.” - Janny Perez

  
  

  Timestamps

  • 04:08 — Growing Up Ni de Aquí Ni de Allá

  • 10:32 — Why Her Family Moved to Colombia

  • 13:16 — Helping Her Kids Adjust

  • 19:33 — Redefining the American Dream

  • 20:41 — Learning to Slow Down

  • 23:40 — Casa Bolaños and Moving Abroad

  • 26:41 — Challenging Misconceptions About Latin America

  • 32:32 — The Latina Mom Legacy Fast Round

  About Alyssa Bolaños

  Alyssa Bolaños is a Cuban mom, wife, and content creator who moved her family from the United States to Medellín, Colombia, to reconnect with their roots and create a different kind of life for her children. Through Casa Bolaños, she shares resources to help other families explore what living abroad in Latin America could look like.

  Connect with Alyssa:

  • Website: https://casabolanos.com

• Instagram & TikTok: @casabolanos

  
  

  About Janny Perez

  Janny Perez is a bilingual parenting educator, coach, and host of The Latina Mom Legacy. Through Mi Legasi, she helps Latina and multicultural families raise bilingual children with confidence, consistency, and connection to language and culture.

  Learn more: https://milegasi.com

  
  

  Continue Your Bilingual Parenting Journey

  Ready to stop second-guessing your bilingual parenting approach? Join Janny's three-month Confident Bilingual Parenting group coaching program for practical tools, live coaching, and a supportive community.

  Use code POD50 for $50 off through October 18, 2026.

  Learn more: https://milegasi.thinkific.com

  Amiga, your children can belong to more than one culture. They can embrace their roots while creating their own path.

  Son de aquí y son de allá.

¿Te Suena Esto, Amiga?

¿Hablas español en casa, pero te preocupa que tu hijo se quede atrás en inglés?

¿Te has preguntado si deberías hablarle más inglés para prepararlo para la escuela?

Si alguna vez has tenido ese miedo, este episodio es para ti.

Lo Que Aprenderás en Este Episodio

En este episodio, Janny Perez habla sobre uno de los miedos más comunes entre las mamás que quieren criar hijos bilingües: “Hablamos español en casa, pero tengo miedo de que mi hijo se quede atrás con el inglés.”

Janny explica por qué más español no significa menos inglés, cómo las habilidades de un idioma pueden apoyar el desarrollo del otro y por qué el inglés ya está presente en tantas áreas de la vida de un niño en Estados Unidos.

También hablamos de algo más profundo: cómo nuestros propios miedos y experiencias con el idioma pueden influir en las decisiones que tomamos para nuestros hijos.

Porque tu hijo no eres tú.

Frase Clave

“Más español no significa menos inglés.”

Timestamps:

02:10 — El miedo de que tu hijo se quede atrás con el inglés
04:00 — El español y el inglés no están compitiendo
06:30 — Tu hijo no empieza desde cero en inglés
08:30 — El inglés está en todas partes
11:00 — Una base sólida abre puertas
14:00 — Cuando nuestros propios miedos entran en la crianza
17:00 — Tu hijo no eres tú
19:00 — ¿De quién es este miedo realmente?

Quick Bilingual Parenting Takeaways

• Más español no significa menos inglés.
• Las habilidades de un idioma pueden apoyar el desarrollo del otro.
• El inglés está en todas partes; el español necesita más intención.
• Tu hijo no eres tú.
• 
  

Free Confident Bilingual Parenting Masterclass

¿Quieres sentirte más segura criando a tu hijo bilingüe?

Join Janny's free LIVE Confident Bilingual Parenting Masterclass on September 29, 2026.

👉 https://masterclass.milegasi.com/l/US2JxA

Connect With Janny

Instagram: @milegasi
Podcast: The Latina Mom Legacy
Website: milegasi.com

Join the Latina Moms Raising Bilingual Kids community:

👉 https://facebook.com/groups/milegasi

More bilingual parenting resources: https://milegasi.com/

¿Do You Ever Question If Speaking Only Spanish at Home Is “Too Much”?

Have people told you raising your kids in español here in the U.S. won't work? Or do you sometimes wonder if you're doing bilingual parenting “right”?

In this episode, Janny Perez sits down with Erika Fernández-Pacheco, a Dominican and Ecuadorian sports journalist, content creator, and mamá behind Curls and Sports.

Erika made the intentional decision to raise her two daughters Spanish-only at home—even after friends told her it wouldn't work. She shares why Spanish became a priority for her family, what Spanish-only parenting actually looks like day to day, and how she handles bilingual fatigue, Spanglish, English at school, and the realities of raising bilingual kids in the U.S.

You'll also hear about family priorities, reading in Spanish, screen time, staying present, and why connection comes before language.

Most importantly, Erika has a message for any mamá who's been doubted:

Trust your gut.

Timestamps:

05:15 — “They Said It Wouldn’t Work”
06:45 — Why Spanish Became a Priority
08:32 — The Reality of Spanish-Only at Home
10:47 — What a Spanish-Speaking Day Looks Like
12:43 — Why Reading Matters
17:02 — The Power of Putting the Phone Down
20:28 — Creating Real Connection With Your Kids
22:55 — Connection Comes Before Language
23:55 — It’s Never Too Late
27:45 — Why You Need a Bilingual Parenting Plan
30:50 — Trust Your Gut
32:38 — Seeing the Payoff

Join Janny’s Free Masterclass

Ready to feel more confident raising your bilingual child?

Join Janny's Free Confident Bilingual Parenting Masterclass on September 29, 2026.

👉 https://masterclass.milegasi.com/l/US2JxA

Connect With Erika

Curls and Sports: @curlsandsports

Connect With Janny

Instagram: @milegasi
Podcast: The Latina Mom Legacy
Website: milegasi.com

And if you need support on your bilingual parenting journey, join the Latina Moms Raising Bilingual Kids community on Facebook.

Show promos you won't want to miss! Join Janny Perez in her Free LIVE Confident Bilingual Parenting Masterclass via Zoom on 9/29. Click HERE to register.⁠

Do you feel like you need to do MORE during Hispanic Heritage Month—more activities, more books, more food, more ways to celebrate your cultura? Or worry that your child is only learning about their heritage during special events at school?

In this episode, Janny talks about why Hispanic Heritage shouldn't be something we celebrate only once a year. She shares a personal experience that reminded her that we can't always rely on schools to teach our children about their heritage—and why that doesn't mean we're powerless.

You’ll hear why the small, everyday things you do at home can have a bigger impact than one big celebration. Janny explores how language, food, family traditions, sayings, stories, and everyday routines can help your child build a sense of identity and belonging—and why consistency matters more than intensity when it comes to passing down your cultura.

What You’ll Learn

• Why Hispanic Heritage shouldn't be limited to one month of the year
• Why you can't always rely on schools to teach your child about their heritage
• How everyday traditions can shape your child's cultural identity
• Why consistency matters more than big, once-a-year celebrations
• Simple ways to make your cultura part of your family's everyday life

Memorable Quote

“Heritage, tu cultura, no necesita permiso. It doesn't need permission from a calendar to be celebrated. It needs permission from you.” — Janny Perez

Timestamps & Highlights

02:10 — When Schools Don’t Celebrate Hispanic Heritage
04:20 — Why Annual Celebrations Aren’t Enough
07:39 — Everyday Traditions Matter Most
11:12 — Consistency Over Intensity
12:32 — Making Heritage Part of Everyday Life

Resources

🎁 Confident Bilingual Parenting Masterclass — September 29
Join Janny for a Free LIVE Masterclass designed to help you create a more confident and flexible approach to raising your bilingual child.

Sign up: milegasi.com

More bilingual parenting tips and resources: milegasi.com

Connect With Janny

Instagram: @milegasi

Podcast Instagram: @thelatinamomlegacy

Website: milegasi.com

Facebook Community: Latina Moms Raising Bilingual Kids

Final Thoughts

Hispanic Heritage isn't something your child needs to experience once a year. It's something they can experience through the language you speak, the food you make, the stories you tell, the traditions you keep, and the everyday moments you share.

Your culture doesn't need a special occasion to matter. It just needs a place in your everyday life.

Show promos you won't want to miss! Join Janny Perez in her Free LIVE Confident Bilingual Parenting Masterclass via Zoom on 9/29. Click HERE to register.

Do you worry that your Spanish isn’t “good enough” to pass down to your kids—or feel guilty when English starts taking over? In this episode, Janny sits down with Latina mom, author, award-winning filmmaker, and keynote speaker Denise Soler Cox to talk about the cultural rules, shame, and expectations that can shape how we see ourselves and what we pass down to our children.

You’ll hear how Denise grew up with Spanish as “the language of secrets,” why she stopped waiting for perfect Spanish and started teaching her daughters the 80% she knew, and how letting go of shame can change the way we see ourselves. They also explore Qué dirán, motherhood, self-worth, breaking generational cycles, and choosing what we want to carry forward.

What You’ll Learn

• Why you don’t need perfect Spanish to pass it down
• How shame can make us afraid to speak Spanish
• Why our worth isn’t defined by our fluency
• How our children learn from what we model
• How to choose what cultural traditions and expectations to pass forward

Memorable Quotes

“As soon as I forgave myself for my own imperfections, their comment didn't affect me anymore.” — Denise Soler Cox

“Some Spanish is better than no Spanish.” — Janny Pérez

Timestamps & Highlights

05:57 — When Spanish Became the Language of Secrets
09:09 — “Teach Them the 80% You Know”
12:12 — When Spanish Becomes a Source of Shame
14:47 — Passing Down More Than Spanish
19:20 — “What Will They Say?” / Qué Dirán
25:08 — When Sacrifice Becomes a Badge of Honor
28:59 — When “Not Enough” Gets Tangled With Spanish
33:50 — The Mother-Daughter Wound
41:35 — Putting Yourself Back on the List
47:26 — The Fast Round

Resources

📚 What Will They Say? Confront Cultural Taboos and Discover Your Inner Power by Denise Soler Cox — Available in English and Spanish

🎁 Confident Bilingual Parenting Masterclass — September 29
Sign up: milegasi.com

More bilingual parenting tips and resources: milegasi.com

Connect With Janny

Instagram: @milegasi
Podcast Instagram: @thelatinamomlegacy
Website: milegasi.com
Facebook Community: Latina Moms Raising Bilingual Kids

Final Thoughts

You don’t need perfect Spanish, a perfect plan, or a perfect past to create something beautiful for your children. You get to honor the parts of your cultura that make you proud—and choose what you want your children to carry forward. Tú puedes, mamá.