My mother’s apron; a memento she cherishes to this day. It symbolizes a traditional custom that is common in El Salvador where she was born. In El Salvador, the women find themselves in the kitchen at an early age where they learn from their mothers and grandmothers how to cook and prepare meals for the whole family. It acts as a rite of passage. Receiving it after her first child, my mother found herself carrying on a tradition. She received it from her grandmother who had it specially made in El Salvador. It hold a significant value as it is one of the few items she has from her home country. The pockets have figures of two women in traditional attire with baskets over their head to demonstrate and reflect the role women had with feeding their loved ones and managing the household. The country’s name is stitched on top to show where her roots lie, and to remind her of where she came from. While customs may not be the same here in America as we find women straying away from the common stereotypical housewife roles, my mother saves this apron to pass on to her children once we start our own families to symbolize the entrance into family hood. 

– Nicolette Solorzano

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