I had always dreamt of living on the East Coast so when the opportunity presented itself, we jumped at the chance. We landed in Baltimore, just an hour from D.C. and we dove into exploring the area. Coming from CA, we were excited to have so much history at our feet.
I was also itching to introduce my daughter to the loooong walk down the National Mall. It was a little ambitious for a then 3-year-old but the conversations it allowed really brought home the fact that there are not enough women in politics. Later, our participation in the 2017 Women's March on Washington led me to find Sonia Sotomayor: A Judge Grows in the Bronx/ La juez que creció en el Bronx by John Winter.
Through Justice Sotomayor's example, we find again that women should have a significant place at the table.
I was pleasantly surprised that the author elaborated on the mother-daughter relationship and the sacrifices Sotomayor's mother made in order to allow her to succeed. This children's biography has English and Spanish translations side by side so that anyone that walks into our home is able to follow along. This has been especially useful when my niece and nephew's join us for some reading. They like to follow along to learn new words in Spanish.
When my 12-year-old niece Jocelyn was born, our family fully embraced the "princess" image. Fast forward to my becoming a mother to a daughter, I quickly decided that I did not want anything princess-related near her. Well, as we all know, outside influences happen, children, develop their own opinions, and I could not keep her in a bubble. My short years in motherhood have taught me nothing if not the importance of balance. So, while my niece and daughter got princess from their grandparents, they got warrior from me.
I chose Cuentos de Buenas Noches Para Ninas Rebeldes by Elena Favili and Francesca Cavallo for Jocelyn's Christmas present but my 4-year-old Alondra got a hold of it before it could be wrapped, and there was no going back! Thankfully, I was delighted to find Mujeres de Ciencia by Rachel Ignotofsky. Because of the slime craze, my niece had developed an interest in science experiments. This suited her age better and helped push her to other scientific discoveries.
- When Alondra wants to make slime, we use cornstarch, food dye, and water.
They love choosing a new page each time Grandma visits. Together, the three read the excerpt and research the woman's accomplishments. They learned about Patricia Bath when discussing Grandpa's cataracts, they watched Misty Copeland grand jete across a stage, they copied Xian Zhang's hand movements as she conducted, and on, and on. Ninas Rebeldes and Mujeres de Ciencia are wonderful introductions into the lives of extraordinary women. We all appreciate that each biography is just long enough to spark an interest and encourage self-directed learning.
What woman inspired your family this month? What STEAM activities are your go-to's?
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