My parents are from Mexico; my dad came to the U.S. in the year 1979, and my mom came in 1994. On my mom’s side of the family, they all stayed in Mexico, and moved within the states there. My grandma on my mom's side showed my mom and her sisters how to bordar (stitch) and how to do punto de cruz (cross-stitching). When I started to visit my family in Mexico, I started to learn how to stitch. When I first started, I was provided with the different thread that I was going to be using, and a needle, embroidery hoop, and fabric. On the fabric, my grandma and aunts drew pictures for me to trace along with the thread. They showed me how to make sure that it was secure and that I was following along. I have yet to learn how to cross-stitch, but I’m hoping to learn. When my grandmother passed away, it was hard because I will always remember seeing her in her chair in the living room with her bag full of thread and her stitching or cross-stitching away. This relates to my family's immigration story because my mom brought over the skills that she had in both and that even though my grandparents did not immigrate, their skills will live on in my mom and my aunts, as well as in myself. With these skills, it has taught me how to fix holes in my jeans and other things. It also is a way for me to stitch up my heart from the losses that my family has been through. I will make sure to pass down this tradition as well as the stories along to my children for them not to lose our culture.  



 

– Daisy A

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant