We’re back with Season 2 of MTV Tr3s’s show, Quiero Mi Baby – a series that reveals the realities of cross-cultural parenting, including language, religion and tradition clashes, in addition to many other issues unique to bi/multicultural families. This season has some new, unique couples we’re going to introduce you to!

Check out this preview of tonight’s episode and then see our interview with the couple, Ceceliz and Juan Fernando, below.

Episode description: “Ceceliz and Juan Fernando were in shock when the doctor told them that their baby was born healthy but with one condition, she had Down Syndrome. That initial shock took a while to overcome, but now that they know exactly what it means they work together on making sure Valentina has everything she needs to have a happy and healthy life.”

SpanglishBaby talks to Ceceliz

SB: Your attitude is so positive. Was there ever a moment of sadness when you found out Valentina had Down’s Syndrome?

Ceceliz: Yes. The beginning was really hard for me, it took me over a month to accept that Valentina has Down’s syndrome, mainly because I was so ignorant about the condition. Nobody told me that a baby with this condition is the biggest gift a human being can receive. That’s why we decided to share our story, so that new parents of a baby with DS know that they are about to experience life in the best possible way.

People with DS are very advanced spiritual beings, and the minute you realize that, you understand it all.

Even though Valentina is a beautiful baby, she has taught me that true beauty lies within; I know it sounds cliché, but it’s the truth. She reminds me through example that by having perseverance I can achieve my goals, and even when it gets tough, she always has a smile on her face – It’s amazing! Most human beings don’t take challenges that way. She keeps us living in the present, without worrying about the future, as it is too uncertain. We treasure every little achievement, because for us it is a big deal, hence, we end up celebrating on a daily basis! She reminds me that we are all unique, and that is precisely what makes us all special. She teaches us more than we will ever teach her.

SB: What is your advice to other parents who face the same challenge if they’re having trouble finding strength to move forward?

Ceceliz: My advice is to let themselves experience all the emotions they’re feeling, don’t try to fight them, they’re natural. When you address and process your emotions (by writing in a journal, therapy, talking to friends, or whatever works for you), you will realize that you are much stronger than you ever thought. Surround yourself with positive people, a good support system is essential. And the most important one: open your heart and quiet your mind, and you will obtain the richest messages from your child through their actions; he/she will teach you the secrets of life, ones that only parents like us are lucky enough to receive, because these incredible beings have chosen us, just us.

SB: Do you feel that the majority of the Latin American population in the United States, particularly native Spanish-speakers, are educated on Down’s Syndrome? If not, what would you like them to know? (Feel free to answer this one in Spanish!)

Ceceliz: Siento que el mundo, en general, todavía tiene mucho que aprender sobre el síndrome de Down, y más allá de eso, de las personas que tienen esta condición. No deja de existir una percepción muy antigua sobre el tema. Ellos no sufren, ni padecen de ningún mal ni enfermedad, estas son palabras comúnmente utilizadas por los mismos medios en la actualidad. Muy lejos de eso, simplemente tienen una condición genética, síndrome de Down. Lo que sí es común en ellos – que no todos los seres humanos tenemos- es amor, sabiduría y alegría innata; a todos nos viene bien una dosis de esas cualidades!

La expectativa de vida para personas con síndrome de Down ha aumentado dramáticamente, de 25 años en 1983 a 60 años hoy en día. Es importante que se sepa que ellos pueden tener grandes logros como sacar una maestría y obtener prestigiosos premios de cine (Pablo Pineda), o ser un director de orquesta (José Dávila), dueño de un restaurante (Tim Harris) o modelo internacional (Valentina!). Con amor, dedicación y estimulación, estos individuos pueden llegar muy lejos!

SpanglishBaby talks to Juan Fernando

SB: At SpanglishBaby.com, we’re a community of parents raising our children bilingually in the United States. I noticed in the video that you guys speak Spanish to Valentina. Do you think that raising her bilingually is going to be more challenging than raising a bilingual child who doesn’t have Down’s Syndrome?

Juan Fernando: Not at all. One of the first thoughts we had when we had Valentina was if she was going to be able to learn more than one language like us. Luckily the first person we met with DS speaks and writes Spanish and English perfectly. We were very encouraged by this but we wanted to hear the news from a professional. When we spoke with Valentina’s genetics doctor she told us “your baby will do whatever you encourage her to do, if you want to and teach her she could be trilingual” – this was music to our ears because it is very important for us that Valentina learns both Spanish and English. We don’t think this will be challenging for us because we have been talking to Valentina in Spanish since she was born, and once she goes to school she will pick up English very fast like many other typical kids. We have to bear in mind that Valentina will achieve whatever she puts her mind to. She already has!

SB: As Valentina grows and gets older, what experiences are you most excited to share with her?

Juan Fernando: Every step with Valentina is exciting! I can’t wait to see when she graduates from middle school, high school and college. Another great experience I want to share with her is traveling; I want her to visit many countries and many cultures since that is something that we enjoy as a family. I look forward to seeing our family grow and her becoming a big sister. I’m sure the enriching experiences we will share as a family will stem from her wisdom, that’s why I treasure every minute with her.

Do you relate to Ceceliz & Juan Fernando’s story? Want to see what happens?

Watch Quiero Mi Baby on MTV’s Tr3s Mondays at at 9pm ET or on Tr3s.com.

We’re back with Season 2 of MTV Tr3s’s show, Quiero Mi Baby – a new series that reveals the realities of cross-cultural parenting, including language, religion and tradition clashes, in addition to many other issues unique to bi/multicultural families. This season has some new, unique couples we’re going to introduce you to!

Check out this exclusive preview (meaning YOU WILL ONLY SEE IT HERE!) of tonight’s episode and then see our interview with the couple, Adriana & Brett, below.

Episode description: “Adriana and Brett met at work, but it wasn’t until Adriana changed jobs that Brett decided to make his move. Adriana, a Catholic Mexican and Brett a Jewish American began dating and a couple of months into their relationship Adriana found out she was pregnant. Full of joy this couple got ready to bring their baby boy into this world. As the pregnancy progressed Adriana was declared a high risk pregnancy and unfortunately, three months before her due date delivered baby Nolan as a stillborn. But even though this was the hardest experience ever lived by this couple, with the help of support groups they kept trying. To their blessings, their dream came true, and now the couple gets ready to mix their Baby Vienna with the Mexican and the Jewish American traditions as they celebrate everything from a Jewish naming ceremony, to having a Catholic baptism!”

SpanglishBaby talks to Adriana

SB: First, I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s clear that you’re really still hurting from the loss of your first baby, Nolan, and that you’re determined that nobody forget him. Have you decided how you’ll continue to remember him as a family? Do you think you’ll have any specific yearly tradition?

Adriana: I don’t think I will ever stop hurting from Nolan’s birth, it was the toughest experience. I will always remember him being born after the third push and not hearing him cry, but I know time heals.

I will continue to celebrate or do something special on his birth date of October 12th. On his first anniversary, we had his memorial service and this year we plan to take Vienna to do a ceramic hand print and maybe celebrate with a chocolate cake, Nolan’s favorite while being pregnant with him. In time, we also plan to start a foundation in his honor and help those who have experienced the same. We also try to do the yearly Walk to Remember (supports parents who have lost a baby in pregnancy or infancy) and the Angel of Hope (a candlelight ceremony at the cemetery where they have an angel dedicated to all babies who have left too soon.)

SB: In the video preview for your episode, it appears there’s quite a bit of tension between your parents and your in-laws. Do you attribute that to cultural differences or personality differences?

Adriana: The tension between the parents is more of a personality difference, both our fathers have the, “I am right attitude.”

SpanglishBaby talks to Brett

SB: With Adriana being Catholic and you being Jewish, have there been any problems caused by differences in beliefs? If so, how do you work it out in regards to what will be taught to your daughter?

Brett: There have not been any problems caused because of the difference in beliefs. Adriana and I feel that it is important for Vienna to understand both Religions as she grows up and to feel accepted in both. We want her to be able to choose which path she wants to follow when she gets older and neither Adriana nor I will be disappointed for which ever path she decides.

SB: How is your daughter, Vienna, doing? What traditions from your two different cultural backgrounds are you most excited to share with her?

Brett: Vienna is doing great! She is a huge ball of energy and whenever she smiles, she lights the room up.

I definitely feel that celebrating ALL major holidays from BOTH religions with BOTH families and sharing in each culture’s celebratory food dishes and traditions is what I am most excited to share with her!

Do you relate to Adriana & Brett’s story? Want to see what happens?

Watch Quiero Mi Baby on MTV’s Tr3s Mondays at at 9pm ET or on Tr3s.com.

We’re back with Season 2 of MTV Tr3s’s show, Quiero Mi Baby – a new series that reveals the realities of cross-cultural parenting, including language, religion and tradition clashes, in addition to many other issues unique to bi/multicultural families. This season has some new, unique couples we’re going to introduce you to!

Check out this exclusive preview (meaning YOU WILL ONLY SEE IT HERE!) of tonight’s episode and then see our interview with the couple, Heather and Alex, below.

Episode description: “After living all his life in Puerto Rico, a great job offer brought Alex to Alabama, what he never expected was to find the woman of his dreams who would also turn out to be the future mother of his son.

Heather born and bred in Alabama, fell in love with Alex’s boricua sabor and his Latin family values.

Unlike Alex who is the typical kid who grew in a tight Latin family unit, Heather was adopted by her grandparents and never had a relationship with her parents. But things change once a baby’s on board! Now this couple has not only considered reuniting with Heather’s family, but they’ve also decided to get married and to of course, to visit “La isla del encanto”! ”

SB: We see in the video that you were introduced to some Puerto Rican foods. Have you also been teaching Alex about culture and food from Alabama? Was there anything he loved, hated or found particularly strange?

Heather: I have definitely introduced Southern food to Alex… I would say the two things he was most surprised by [and] liked the best were number one, fried cornbread, (he told me it reminds him of plantains) – but I have changed it up a little – I season the batter with Adobo before I fry it now, that’s Alex’s little Puerto Rican twist on cornbread, haha! And number two, a recipe for a vegetable beef soup my grandmother’s sister gave her called “Cowboy Soup” – Alex isn’t that big into vegetables and said ‘Ew!’ The first time I made it… But after trying it, he loves it! Alex may not always like everything food-wise that I introduce him to, but I love that he is willing to try things at least once!

SB: We also see in the video that Alex is bilingual – are you bilingual as well? If not, do you plan to learn Spanish? Are there any plans to raise the baby bilingually?

Heather: I am somewhat bilingual… I understand and read Spanish much more and much better than I speak it… I am not that confident when I speak Spanish because I think I sound ridiculous. I do want to learn to speak it fluently though! It is very important to me that my son is bilingual! I want him to be connected to his Hispanic roots and I feel he will get a lot further in life and be more intelligent if he knows two languages!

SpanglishBaby talks to Alex

SB: Seeing how you got choked up when you and your father talked about how you missed each other made me choke up a little, too. Is missing your family in Puerto Rico the hardest part about making a new life in Alabama?

Alex: Yes I would have to say so. What I miss the most from Puerto Rico is the quality time I spend with by family during the weekends. The hardest part for me is that my family lives so far away.

SB: Puerto Rican culture is full of so many traditions – which do you hope to pass on to your child?

Alex: I plan to show my boy the tradition of celebrating ‘The Day of the Three Wise Men’ (Día de los Tres Reyes Magos). When I was a child my parents would give my brothers and me a shoe box to fill with grass from our front lawn. At night my parents would tug on the grass as if the Three Wise Men arrived with their camels to my house. In the morning it was great waking up to gifts and seeing the front lawn a little messy. This is very special to me and I hope it becomes special for my boy too.

Do you relate to Heather and Alex’s story? Want to see what happens?

Watch Quiero Mi Baby on MTV’s Tr3s Mondays at at 9pm ET or on Tr3s.com.

We’re back with Season 2 of MTV Tr3s’s show, Quiero Mi Baby – a new series that reveals the realities of cross-cultural parenting, including language, religion and tradition clashes, in addition to many other issues unique to bi/multicultural families. This season has some new, unique couples we’re going to introduce you to!

Check out this exclusive preview (meaning YOU WILL ONLY SEE IT HERE!) of tonight’s episode and then see our interview with the couple, Tarsha and Iris, below.

Episode description: “Tarsha never thought she would meet the love of her life in a city with 13 million people, especially since she was no longer into girls. But persistent boxer Iris knew Tarsha was for her from the moment they met so she insisted till Tarsha finally went on a date with her. That night turned into five years, and now they are facing a new stage on their relationship with a little baby in their life.”

SpanglishBaby talks to Tarsha

SB: Tell us a bit about your cultural background and what you hope to pass down to your child.

Tarsha: My background is Indian but I was born in Australia. I want Sharne to have a love of the outdoors and the beach so we may have to leave New York! My family is very close so of course I would like to continue the family values with Sharne but it’s hard when you live on the other side of the world to everyone else.

SB: Was there any discussion about who would be the one to carry and give birth to your baby, or was it something you both just knew?

Tarsha: No I was always going to carry there was no question. I wanted to carry. Iris had no intention to carry and still swears she will never ever do it to her body, being a personal trainer her body is her livelihood!

SpanglishBaby talks to Iris

SB: Tell us a bit about your cultural background and what you hope to pass down to your child.

Iris: I want her to understand her Latin background and speak Spanish of course. Music was a big part of my family life so I play guitar for her and hope she grows to love Bachata and Salsa like we do.

SB: What, (if anything) is something people assume about your new little family that you’d like to address or dispel once and for all.

Iris: People assume we are not going to tell Sharne about her Father or that we are trying to pretend he doesn’t exist. The truth is, that we are going to tell her she has a Father and that she can contact him when she is 15. It’s just like any other adoption. Honesty is the key. We are not trying to fool anyone, least of all Sharne on how she came to be part of this world.

SB: What surprised you about becoming a parent? Has there been anything unexpected?

Iris: I am overwhelmed at how much I can love this child even though I am not the biological parent. It has surpassed anything I ever imagined or expected.

Do you relate to Tarsha & Iris’s story? Want to see what happens?

Watch Quiero Mi Baby on MTV’s Tr3s Mondays at at 9pm ET or on Tr3s.com.

Quiero Mi Baby on MTV Tr3s is a new series that reveals the realities of cross-cultural parenting, including language, religion and tradition clashes, in addition to many other issues. This second season has some new, unique couples we’re going to introduce you to each week!

Check out this exclusive preview (meaning YOU WILL ONLY SEE IT HERE!) of tonight’s episode and then see our interview with the couple, Yliana and Josh below.

Episode description: “Mix a workaholic Mexican/Rican wife with a chilled down Puerto Rican loving husband and you will get the recipe of the new Latina familia unida. Yliana never expected that in less than one year, she would have the boda of her dreams, buy a new house, get a major job promotion and to top it off: a baby.”

SpanglishBaby talks to Yliana

SB: So, you’re Mexican and Puerto Rican and your husband is Puerto Rican – how do these two cultures play out in your household?

Yliana: My culture and heritage is very important to me, and being Mexican and Puerto Rican means I have the BEST of both worlds! Since Josh and I both share the Puerto Rican culture, I like to make my “Mexican Presence” known in the household. For example, I share my culture in our house decor, in the food we cook, and even the traditions of my family. Needless to say, we enjoy pasteles and tamales, dancing salsa and cumbias… and did I mention tacos with warm and fresh tortillas? They are my fav!

SB: What do you think are the benefits and downsides of getting married and having a baby early in the relationship?

Yliana: Josh and I were together a long 8 years before getting married, but after marriage, life hit fast forward! A month after the wedding we bought a house and weeks after that found out we were pregnant and everything else just started coming at us and falling into place. The only downside of everything happening so early on in the marriage was that it all came at us too fast! We blinked our eyes and we were in the real world, no more college days, no more mommy and daddy to help us… we were married, with bills and a beautiful baby on the way. We had to stop going to the clubs and hanging out with our friends and preparing for our son. The benefit of it all happening so fast, was that God blessed us with our son right away. Now that Christian is here, I’m thankful it all happened so fast, I couldn’t imagine life without my precious angel.

SpanglishBaby talks to Josh

SB: I heard you have “overbearing dogs” – what’s up with that? Have they made peace with the baby being the center of attention?

Josh: Yes, the dogs can be overbearing at times. For several years now they have been Yliana and my kids. Now with a new addition to the family they feel a tad bit left out, but none the less they are still part of the family, but they do know that they are now second to Christian!! They have adapted well to Christian being home with us, they now sleep by his play pen when he is sleeping to watch over him and always run to him when he cries.

So I would say that they have without a doubt made peace with Christian being the center of attention, they knew it was inevitable.

SB: As your child gets older and can do more things, what are you most looking forward to?

Josh: As Christian gets older there are definitely many things I will be looking forward to. I look forward to taking him to get his first haircut, watching him take his first steps, and hearing him say his first words.

I also can’t wait for him to be old enough to wear sneakers, I’m a shoe head so me and my little man will be rocking the same shoes. Lastly I can’t wait till he is old enough to play sports. His first basketball and baseball games will be very exciting for me as a father.

Do you relate to Josh & Yliana’s story? Want to see what happens?

Watch Quiero Mi Baby on MTV’s Tr3s Mondays at at 9pm ET or on Tr3s.com.

We’re back with Season 2 of MTV Tr3s’s show, Quiero Mi Baby – a new series that reveals the realities of cross-cultural parenting, including language, religion and tradition clashes, in addition to many other issues unique to bi/multicultural families. This season has some new, unique couples we’re going to introduce you to!

Check out this exclusive preview (meaning YOU WILL ONLY SEE IT HERE!) of tonight’s episode and then see our interview with the couple, Alicia and Steven, below.

Episode description: “Meet Alicia and Steven, one of those extremely diverse couples that went from eating frijoles to eating Pad Thai! Together for seven years, this couple became desperate to have a baby and even though they suffered not one, but two miscarriages, they didn’t give up and will prove that their love is able to overcome any challenges.”

SpanglishBaby talks to Alicia

SB: You had trouble conceiving and lost some pregnancies. First I want to say I’m really sorry for your losses. In many cultures it seems talking about miscarriage is taboo. Was this true in your case? Did you feel you could go to your family for support or that they wanted to avoid the topic?

Alicia: It is a bit taboo with our family… in fact when we first got pregnant we only told our immediate family. Unfortunately we had told them too early and lost the 1st baby at 17 weeks. The second time we kept it quiet and lost the baby very early in the pregnancy (yet it was just as painful.) With Ayden we made sure all was well before we shared the news with the entire family. It was quite apparent I was pregnant because I was HUGE.

Although my family was very supportive as far as helping with any needs, they didn’t want to speak much about the incident.

SB: What has been, or what do you think will be, the greatest challenge of raising a baby?

Alicia: The biggest challenge as a parent I believe would be making sure I could be as good of a parent as my mother is. She was able to stay home and guide us with all our endeavors… I unfortunately don’t have that luxury. I just hope I could be at least half the mom she is.

SpanglishBaby talks to Steven

SB: Tell us how you two met!

Steven: We met in the Air and Sea Show… we glanced at each other from afar but didn’t speak until her friend (our cupid) Elizabeth took the incentive to ask a friend for my number … we spoke over the phone and the rest is history.

SB: What things from your two unique cultures are you most looking forward to teaching the baby?

Steven: I am most excited about teaching the baby Spanish, this way I can learn too! In addition just to share some of our culture’s music and traditions.

Do you relate to Alicia & Steven’s story? Want to see what happens?

Watch Quiero Mi Baby on MTV’s Tr3s Mondays at at 9pm ET or on Tr3s.com.

Jenny & Flo of Quiero Mi Baby

MTV Tr3s’s new show, Quiero Mi Baby premiered on Monday April 16th – it’s a new series that shows the realities of cross-cultural parenting including language, religion and tradition clashes, in addition to many other issues unique to bi/multicultural families.

Check out this exclusive preview (meaning YOU WILL ONLY SEE IT HERE!) of tonight’s episode and then see our interview with the couple, Jenny and Flo, below.

Episode description: “Although Jenny & Flo are both Cubans, they are very different since Jenny was born in what they call “Cubanlandia” (Miami) and Florentino was raised in Chicago. Even though they grew up in very different places they both are in love with each other, and of course with their baby girl Valentina, who is about to turn one year old! Now, she is starting to eat solids and the couple starts disagreeing in a very important aspect of feeding their child. Would this be one out of many differences that the couple could face?”

SpanglishBaby talks to Flo

SB: We see in the preview video of your episode that you and Jenny disagree on whether television should be used to put the baby in a good mood so she can be fed. How do you guys usually resolve disagreements to find common ground?

Flo: It usually begins with an argument about our backgrounds and how we were brought up. Then it is followed by both of us proving our points with examples stemming from childhood to present. Ultimately it ends up with Jenny getting her way because Valentina has been spoiled and has learned the bad habits portrayed in the video. Do I agree? No! But if the baby doesn’t eat it’s worse so Jenny ends up getting her way but for the sake of Valentina’s well being, not because I agree.

SB: While you both have Cuban heritage, you were raised in Chicago and Jenny in “Cubanlandia” (Miami). When you have disagreements with Jenny about how to raise your child do you feel like they usually fall into the normal “different perspectives” that all parents have at times, or do you feel that some are due to cultural differences?

Flo: I feel that it’s a little bit of both. There are the standard “different perspectives” but also there are the differences of how we were brought up. I was brought up in Chicago, very American. We celebrated all the Holidays as any “American” would, almost like the pilgrims had started it with the Indians. Traditional meals and customs. Jenny’s idea of a Thanksgiving dinner for example is Lechon (pork), Congri (Black beans and Rice), Yuca (Cassava) and Flan (Cuban dessert.) She was raised by her grandmother and mother as I was raised more by my mom. The differences stem from eating habits to speaking. But at the end of it all I feel we have a great mix and Valentina is going to come up with the best from both worlds.

SpanglishBaby talks to Jenny

SB: Do you feel that you’re very close to your Cuban roots since you were raised in Miami? Tell us about a favorite childhood memory!

Jenny: Yes. I have grown up with only Cuban family and friends, so yes my Cuban roots are deep. All I and my parents have are Cuban family and mostly friends. So my roots are very deep. As for how I grew up, my favorite childhood memory is when my big Cuban family would go skiing in Colorado and invade the resort. We would be the loudest and funnest of the whole resort. I loved it.

SB: Do you plan to raise your child bilingual? Why or why not?

Jenny: I plan to raise Valentina bilingual as it’s important to raise her to know her Hispanic roots. She should know her background and also it will benefit her in the future.

Do you relate to Jenny & Flo’s story? Want to see what happens?

Watch Quiero Mi Baby on MTV’s Tr3s Mondays at at 9pm ET or on Tr3s.com.

Caroline and Christian of Quiero mi Baby on Tr3s

Hola Spanglishbaby familia! We’re back with another episode of MTV Tr3s’s show, Quiero Mi Baby – the new series that shows the realities of cross-cultural parenting including language, religion and tradition clashes, in addition to many other issues unique to bi/multicultural families.

Check out this exclusive preview (meaning YOU WILL ONLY SEE IT HERE!) of tonight’s episode and then see our interview with the couple, Caroline & Christian, below.

Episode Description: Beauty Queen Caroline and Business man Christian have only known each other for a few short months, but are already gearing up for some big changes that will last them a lifetime! Don’t miss how these first-time parents go through a life changing experience, especially Caroline given that she is a model and is very scared she won’t be able to get back in shape once baby Chase is born. Will she get her modeling life back after the baby is born? Tune in to this episode of Tr3s’ original show Quiero Mi Baby!

SpanglishBaby talks to Christian

SB: The preview video and description for your episode didn’t give us much background. Can you tell us more about where you grew up and your heritage?

Christian: I grew up in Haiti and was raised there till I was about eleven years old. I moved to New York with my mom and my two brothers but kept returning back to my heritage at least three to four times a year. When I tell people I am Haitian they don’t believe me. They say “No way, you’re Latin.” Once I start speaking Creole is when they realize I am not lying. It does not bother me though, yo hablo un poquito!

SB: Were you raised bilingual?

Christian: Yes I was raised bilingual. Ever since I can remember my parents taught me French, Creole and English. I am now learning Spanish from Caro.

SB: Do you plan to raise your baby, Chase, to be bilingual?

Christian: Absolutely! I feel it is important that my son Chase knows his ancestors language. Also being able to speak different languages will open many more doors for him in life. With that said Chase has no choice but to become bilingual.

SpanglishBaby talks to Caroline

SB: Same questions for you! Can you tell us more about where you grew up and your heritage?

Caroline: Most definitely! I was born in California but growing up I was extremely fortunate because I was raised in the best of both worlds. Brazil and Peru. I remember always jumping on a place and one year staying with my moms family in Peru eating ceviche and the next year dancing samba with my dads side of the family in Brazil. I was a lucky girl to have been raised multi-cultural. I believe it has helped me a lot especially with landing roles in my line of work.

SB: Were you raised bilingual?

Caroline: My first primary language was Portuguese. As you know though when you attend a school where everyone tends to speak English you sort of adapt to what surrounds you. I remember coming home and my family would speak to me in Portuguese and Spanish and I always responded in English. Now that I am older I understand the importance of being bilingual and I practice my Spanish and Portuguese all the time!

SB: Do you plan to raise your baby to be bilingual? (Why or why not?)

I agree with my husband 100% speaking multiple languages is a necessity in America. The more you know the more opportunities and chances will be brought to you. I believe every mother wants the best for their child and I want Chase Valentino to be extremely successful as his parents and I will raise him to speak English, Spanish, Portuguese, French and Creole. I myself am learning French and Creole by Chris.

I believe a happy family is one that can agree on certain things and disagree on others. No one is perfect but if you have love in your hearts then nothing can get in between of a happy life. Chris and I are getting to know each other every day more and more and I think it’s safe to say that I will never stop learning about my husband.

We love each other and we are super blessed. Thank you for interviewing us. I would love all my followers to follow me on twitter and facebook to keep updated with tips, advice and motivational quotes. I also will post photos of my family and future projects. I love to spread positive energy around the world and as my motto goes “Changing the world one person at a time.” God Bless!

Do you relate to Caroline & Christian’s story? Want to see what happens?

Watch Quiero Mi Baby on MTV’s Tr3s Mondays at at 9pm ET or on Tr3s.com.

Disclosure: We did not receive any monetary compensation to share this post. We just think this is a great show that completely relates to what we share on SpanglishBaby.

Jada of Quiero Mi Baby

MTV Tr3s’s new show, Quiero Mi Baby premiered on Monday April 16th – it’s a new series that shows the realities of cross-cultural parenting including language, religion and tradition clashes, in addition to many other issues unique to bi/multicultural families. Quiero Mi Baby is a show I relate to on many levels and I know a lot of our SpanglishBaby familia will as well.

Check out this exclusive preview (meaning YOU WILL ONLY SEE IT HERE!) of tonight’s episode and then see our interview with the couple, Jada and Kristian, below.

Episode description: “Jada, la gringuita, moved to Mexico for the love of the Latin Culture and to learn Spanish. But she never expected to fall in love with Kristian, a Mexican musician that fell for her instantly. From this love, Jada became pregnant, so she decides that the best thing to do is to go back to the states to be with her family during her pregnancy. Jada and Kristian go through really rough times given that Kristian does not have his visa to come visit Jada, not even when their baby is born! Will this couple be able to be together again and create a family for their baby boy? Don’t miss this touching Tr3s’ original series Quiero Mi Baby episode to find out how love can cross any boundaries!”

SpanglishBaby talks to Jada

SB: The preview of your episode was difficult for me to watch. I’m also a “gringa” who fell in love with a Latin American man and although we were never separated by the border as you were with Kristian, it was something my husband and I worried about in our first few years together. What made you decide to leave Kristian behind in Mexico and come have your baby in the United States?

Jada: Several factors were discussed, the first is that we wanted our son to have American citizenship and we knew that if he was born in another country the process would be very lengthy. We figured worst case scenario I would be alone for the first 6 months of the pregnancy, while Kristian’s paperwork came through. We never expected it to be one year before we would bring him to the States. Second, I wanted a natural childbirth and I was told that communication was key in this process. I wanted to make sure I had a strong English speaking medical team so I can understand everything that was happening. I didn’t want to find myself needing to have translated what’s happening mid-birth, that made me nervous. I needed to be sure the environment would be calm and smooth, so this was the best solution for us.

SB: The description of the episode says that you moved to Mexico for your love of Latin culture and to learn Spanish – Where did that passion for Latin culture come from? How far are you in your Spanish studies and how, as a non-native speaker, do you plan to raise your new baby boy to be bilingual?

Jada: I turned 30 in September and at 4 years old I have a very vivid memory of encountering a Mexican family, and listening to someone my age speak to her mom – and I thought ‘wow she’s saying the same thing but in a different way.’ From that moment on I was very intrigued by the culture and being Italian, there are many similarities. My family also fostered a lot of relationships with friends who were Mexican and Cuban growing up, so I was surrounded by the culture quite often.

I feel confident about speaking the language and understand it well… sometimes my grammar and tenses are off which is embarrassing but my in-laws are very proud and supportive. And yes, I definitely want our son to be bilingual. We only speak Spanish at home and we take him to Spanish story time at the library.

SpanglishBaby talks to Kristian

SB: As I told Jada, the preview for your Quiero Mi Baby episode was difficult for me to watch – Many other people have been in your position including friends of mine who are living far away from their husbands and/or father of their children due to lack of a visa – it’s heartbreaking. I wonder, do you worry much that your son is growing up outside of your culture and language?

Kristian: He’s growing up different than I because of the environment and where we live but we reinforce my culture and language in the home as much as possible. I take him to Latin dance classes, festivals, my in-laws teach me Mexican recipes when we see each other. I talk to my family in Mexico about 2-3 times a week. And we plan to travel as much as possible when the baby is older, so he can grow up around cousins and family. Given that we’re both teachers, I’ve also thought about moving the family to Mexico for the summers.

SB: I noticed in the video that you speak Spanish to Jada and the baby – is it important to you that your son is bilingual? Why?

Kristian: I’m an artist by trade and when it comes to storytelling, poetry in Spanish, it’s so engaging and I want my son to love it, and to understand, and it’s just not the same translated – the emotion is not the same. I want to teach my son and share experiences with him in my native language. It’s where I feel most comfortable and confident that I’m getting my message across.

Do you relate to Kristian & Jada’s story? Want to see what happens?

Watch Quiero Mi Baby on MTV’s Tr3s Mondays at at 9pm ET or on Tr3s.com.

Eli Jas, singer of the bilingual theme song "De Nuevo" for Quiero Mi Baby on Tr3s

Tr3s has announced Quiero Mi Baby – “a new series spotlighting bicultural parents as they tackle baby names, religion, superstitions, immigration, language & more.” Show premiers today at 9pm, April 16th and we’re excited to to glimpse into the lives of this generation of bilingual and bicultural parents!

Quiero Mi Baby’s bilingual theme song is sung by a rising Latin star, Eli Jas, who we got the opportunity to interview. Check it out!

I heard your song Tú Me Haces Volar and I love how you mix up classic Latin rhythms with synthesizer, as well as English with Spanish lyrics. Would you say that your Latin roots and American culture (having been born and raised in New York), play equal parts in your life?

Definitely! Growing up in New York gave me the opportunity to have different types of music around me and I also had my grandfather introduce me to a lot of Spanish music growing up. Even though I started off singing R&B, I thought it would be great to use my soulfulness for Spanish music and for that reason you will hear a lot of diversity in my music and I hope my supporters love it!

So, you wrote and perform the new song “De Nuevo” for the upcoming Tr3s show Quiero Mi Baby – Can you tell us a little about the experience?

Anything with Tr3s is a wonderful experience! I was very happy they gave me the opportunity to write a song for their new show. When I found out it was picked I was ecstatic because I really tried to get in the mood and write a great sentimental song that could relate to mothers everywhere. Also making it so it doesn’t have to be specifically about a child, but could be towards anyone you have unconditional love for. Thank you Tr3s!!!

I’ve heard you have Chilean, Panamanian and Dominican heritage. Here on SpanglishBaby we have something we call “The Culture of Food” because we believe that food is a huge part of remembering one’s culture. Do you have some favorite dishes that help you remember your roots?

Food is my life! Haha, I am very mixed but I can tell you I stay true to my Dominican roots. Mofongo, Sancocho, and Mangu are some of my favorite dishes. Luckily, my metabolism isn’t out of control yet and I can eat these dishes on a regular!

Although you’re not yet a mother yourself, do you ever think about what you plan to pass on to any future children? SpanglishBaby is a community of parents trying to raise bilingual children – Do you hope to raise your future children to be bilingual?

It’s interesting to see how relationships flourish and what parents pick and choose when it comes to parenting on Quiero Mi Baby. I will definitely raise my children bilingual, so they have the best of both worlds. I grew up a little bit more on the English side and singing in Spanish allowed me to connect more with my Latin roots and I’m learning along the way. I want to be sure my children listen to every type of music, speak both languages, and know everything there is to know about their culture. The more diverse, the better.

Tell us about future projects outside of Quiero Mi Baby that we can look forward to from you!

I am working on my album now which is scheduled for a 2012 release! Other than that, I am starting to do shows and really work on promoting “Tu Me Haces Volar” because a lot of people still haven’t heard it yet. I am very proud of where I’m going with this album and I hope fans will be able to connect with me on a personal level since most of these songs are from personal experiences. I love #TeamEliJas and I’m working hard to give them everything I got with this one!

Check out the “Quiero Mi Baby” theme song performed bilingually by Eli Jas. There are snippets of the show throughout the video and I’m sure you’ll identify with more than one.

To watch the debut episode in its entirety go to the www.tr3s.com.