Revolution from Home
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Work With Me
  • Join Our Circle
  • Contact Me
  • Blog
    • Self
    • Family
    • Home
    • Culture

Revolution from Home

Banner
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Work With Me
  • Join Our Circle
  • Contact Me
  • Blog
    • Self
    • Family
    • Home
    • Culture
CultureSelf

Time With Two Young Maya – But Was It Enough?

written by Beth April 12, 2013

Rosa y Estella 7

As shocked as San Cristóbal friends, neighbors and oft-frequented business owners were by how much the girls have grown in a year’s time, we were equally delighted to see then soon-to-be mamas now with babes in arms, nurslings now toddling and talking and school friends with longer hair, lankier limbs and toothier grins.

One unique joy (gosh, there were so many) was the running into of young street vendors still selling the same trinkets and charm as ever, only now with a bit more skill, bulkier loads and no mothers in sight.

Rosa and Estella are two such peddlers. Following their sing song sales pitch and my assurance that I didn’t need another embroidered purse or stuffed giraffe, I slowed my pace, asked their names and offered them each ten pesos for a photo. Thrilled for the diversion and attention, and each excited to have a name or age in common with my own girls, we spent the next half hour chatting in Spanish (theirs was about as good as mine), comparing English to Tzotzil and laughing hysterically over the many photos they offered to pose for. (Estella got really into it and requested hers taken in front of jewelry stores and shop windows.)

Rosa y Estella 1

Rosa y Estella 2

Rosa y Estella 4

Rosa y Estella 5

Of all the harsh realities known to this region — the cash-poorest in of all of Mexico — the absence of education and necessity for work among indigenous children has been one of the hardest for me to reckon with. When I asked if they attended school, they explained that they had already finished (Rosa is 10, Estella is 8). When I inquired as to the whereabouts of their parents, they looked confused, as if I might have known they work the streets alone, and when I mentioned siblings, they paused, accounted for them all on their fingers and indicated somewhere around 14 between them, though the word for fourteen in Spanish was not a part of their vocabulary.

Nearly three years ago, when we first moved to Mexico and I asked for (and then received) a closer look into the lives of the Chiapan Maya, sympathy, heartache and a vague sense of urgency were my first reactions to the many “problems” as I saw them. Refusing to turn a blind eye, and without any preparation for what I was getting into, I was quickly and willingly swept up in a whirlwind of emotions that, by this time last year, had me questioning anything and everything I’d ever known to be true and living each day in an exhausting state of inner turmoil.

I’ve yet to fully recount those crazy months (though you can read bits and pieces here), but in the year since then, a new story is slowly taking form in place of the tragedy I’d originally told myself. This one, based on thoughts I’ve evaluated for truth and void of quantitative judgements, has made all the difference not only in the way I think about “injustice,” but in the way I interacted with Rosa and Estella that afternoon. Sympathy was no longer my knee jerk reaction, but excitement over the possibility of a connection.

The sentiment of Arthur Ashe has come to me in a hundred different forms this year, just as it did on the grins of those girls…

start where you are

In that moment, I had a new camera, a few pesos, intermediate Spanish, the heart of a mother and loads of curiosity; and whether they knew it or not, they had the spirit of youth, the freedom to trust me or not, intermediate Spanish and a wealth of tales I’d have paid hundreds of pesos to hear.

I agreed to their requests when the popsicle pushers passed, then “joked” that their teeth would fall out if they didn’t brush them when they got home. They then agreed that two popsicles in one day might be one too many and we settled on apples as a second treat.

Toward the end of our time together, I told them — not a hint of jest in my voice — that they were smart girls, that they already knew more languages and skills than most people their age and that if ever they got the chance, that they really ought to consider going back to school.

Rosa y Estella 6

Two years ago, I would have asked myself upon parting:

Did I do enough?

Did I say the right thing?

How much could a half an hour really help anyway?

How long will their twenty pesos last?

But I’m starting to think that maybe a new set of questions might not only be more helpful with regard to matters of injustice, but as applied to every moment of our shared human experience:

Was I fully present?

Did I offer what I could in that moment?

Were my reactions rooted in love instead of fear?

Was I open to the world of possibility? 

I may never see Rosa or Estella again, or who knows, maybe I’ll continue to watch them grow year after year when we visit. But whereas before I’d have simply added another chapter to the tragedy and a couple more kilos of burden to my heart, today I feel quite content when I think about my new friends — not because of how much I did, or how much things have changed, or whether I know if they’ll ever return to school, but because I can answer “yes” to those last four questions, and because we made a connection and that’s not quantifiable.

Rosa y Estella

Time With Two Young Maya – But Was It Enough? was last modified: April 12th, 2013 by Beth
13 comments Leave a Comment
Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
previous post
Rural Chiapas – A Photo Tour
next post
Permaculture, Recycling and Tulum International School

You may also like

The Trouble With Conscious Parenting in an Unconscious Culture

May 23, 2019

Postcard from Texas

July 8, 2013

Our First Eight Weeks Stateside

August 9, 2014

A Mother’s Day Apology From Me to All Moms

May 11, 2013

Learning to Trust the Pace of My Soul

March 25, 2016

Autumn Where There Are No Pumpkins

September 30, 2013

Weekend Wandering – The Beach Cenote

April 22, 2013

Why Modern-Day Motherhood Feels So Frustrating

January 16, 2018

Feeling Stuck? 10 Ways We Spin Our Wheels and Taking the Slow Way Out

December 4, 2013

Making Light of Christmas

December 11, 2012

13 comments

Amanda April 12, 2013 at 8:50 pm

I love where this went. This is the perspective we need for everything–parenting, partnering, providing–a perspective that side-swipes fear and guilt and comes back with a grace so simple and wise it is also unexpected and utterly refreshing. Thank you.

Reply
Chrystal April 12, 2013 at 9:07 pm

I subscribe to quite a few blogs and there are days when I don’t get to many of them because life is too busy that day but I always read yours. So insightful, thought provoking and hopeful. Today’s was no exception. Thank you!

Reply
Kelly April 12, 2013 at 9:27 pm

Wow! How much you and the girls (Estella and Rosa) have grown over these 3 years already! Absolutely top rate article and insight.

Reply
Vic April 12, 2013 at 10:11 pm

Sweet reality. No use trying to escape it.

Reply
Kay April 12, 2013 at 10:19 pm

Oh yes, Beth. What a difference in perspective and so important! It is so difficult not to judge when faced with what we consider such lack. Thank you for another wonderful blog.

Reply
Lucia Figueiredo April 13, 2013 at 12:03 am

lovely! obrigada!

Reply
Jen April 13, 2013 at 4:40 pm

What does obrigada mean? I’ve never seen/heard that. My best guess is that it’s related to “obra” and means something like “good work”.

Thank you, Beth, for another thought provoking post! I love this change in perspective.

Reply
Staci April 13, 2013 at 12:12 am

This was my favorite post. I have come to love your writings. Thank you thank you!

Reply
Erica April 13, 2013 at 5:10 am

Totally agree. Imagine what the whole world would look like if we starting thinking about the poverty of community in the US, and the wealth of human culture in indigenous areas. This has been part of my journey as well as I have learned to discard guilt and embrace happiness.

Reply
saundra April 13, 2013 at 11:11 am

I come here for thoughtful perspective…..you never disappoint!!

Gracias!

Reply
Heather April 13, 2013 at 10:32 pm

Really good post! Thank you!

Reply
Brooke April 16, 2013 at 2:42 pm

I loved every kernel of this post!

I just forwarded this post on to Georgia’s youth minister. It just struck me as a great framework for the kids as they prepare to take on missionary activities over the summer. Georgia is going to Guatemala in June with them, so for her, this will now be on her pre-trip required reading.

Years ago, Clayton and I encountered two girls in Panajachel who sold pulseras in the streets and were also all done with school. Their names were Ruta and Helena. These wise young things made such an impression on us. Clayton got to go back a number of times over the years and witness their transformation. You took me back, girlie! Thank you!

Reply
Lora April 25, 2013 at 1:51 am

This is a great post. I’m going to print those off and try to answer Yes to them as often as possible during my days with my boys at home for a start. Love this way you turned potential overthought guilt into precious connection.

Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest

About Me

Hi! I’m Beth Berry, writer, life coach, adventurer, mother of four daughters, and hopelessly hopeful human. This is a space where I show up wholeheartedly (however imperfectly), speak the truths of my heart, and contemplate life’s messy, sacred mysteries. Make yourself at home! All are welcome here.

Ready to feel better (and stronger!) but don’t know where to start?

Let's uncover what's weighing you down and keeping you stuck with the FREE Whole Mama Wellness Wheel. Get it now and take the first step toward relief!

.


Categories

  • Culture
  • Family
  • Home
  • Self
  • Uncategorized

Archives

Popular Posts

  • In the Absence of the Village, Mothers Struggle Most posted on April 26, 2016
  • 17 Modern Myths That Are Making Motherhood Miserable posted on February 26, 2015
  • Dear Mothers: We’re Not Meant to “Bounce Back” posted on August 19, 2016
  • Why Modern-Day Motherhood Feels So Frustrating posted on January 16, 2018

On Facebook

Facebook

Instagram

No images found!
Try some other hashtag or username
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

@2016 - Revolution from Home. All Rights Reserved.


Back To Top