Soweto Sandra is a West Philly Mama (not born and raised, but she does spend most of her days on the playground). She is happily married to her best friend and together they parent a precocious toddler and a vivacious baby. A former professional activist turned stay-at-home-mom, she blogs about parenting as a queer, Latina, feminist reclaiming family values at West Philly Mama.
Family / Family-building
[I wrote this post for Philadelphia’s Listen To Your Mother Show this past May. Participating in the show was an awesome experience and I was honored to share the stage with the stellar cast. Auditions are happening all over the country and if there is a show near you, I […]
Culture / Family / Kids
[I originally published this post about a year and a half ago over on West Philly Mama. Much of it still holds true, but it’s only gotten harder to dodge the constant gender messaging. He’s now at an age where he is noticing gender and asking questions about biological sex […]
Culture / News & Politics
Growing up I was sometimes on the receiving end of hurtful words. I was teased for speaking Spanish, wearing the wrong shoes, and packing my lunch. When I was older some of peers seemed to have figured out (even before I fully did) that I was different and words like “dyke” were […]
Culture
This past Sunday, while accepting the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award at the Golden Globes, Jodie Foster made a speech that everyone is talking about. I heard about the speech before I saw it. I heard mixed reactions; they made me nervous. The first time I watched my stomach was […]
Family / Parenting
As queer parents it’s hard not to feel like we are representing our community every moment. I often feel like I must put my best foot forward because I could be the only queer parent that this cashier/senior citizen/police officer/barista/nurse has encountered. I could shape their opinion of LGBT parents. […]
Family
Scene: The other day on a playdate my son and his friend sat eating lunch together. A: My mama… (blah, blah, blah – I wasn’t totally listening as I was chatting with the other adult at the table) B: Do you have two moms? (My ears perk up. I knew this […]
Family / Parenting
I don’t “look queer” – whatever that means. When I’m one of 10-20 moms chasing after a toddler at the playground (or a music class or in the pediatrician’s waiting room) and I’m dressed in jeans and t-shirt with comfortable walking shoes and my hair is pulled back in a […]
Extended family
In just a few days I will be sitting down to a Christmas dinner with my family. Not just my partner and our kids, but also with my parents, my partner’s father, and our siblings. I realize what a blessing this is. Many couples have to choose between one side […]
Books / Culture
The recent New York Times article about the lack of children’s literature by and about Latinos rang familiar to me. I have always had to do some extra homework to find media that featured characters that look like me – and now that I am raising children, I’m even more […]
Family / Parenting
[I originally wrote this piece about my partner choosing to go by “dad” right before Leo’s first birthday. Now he’s two and a half and not a lot has changed. It still feels right, we are still fortunate to be surrounded by people that are supportive, and we are still […]
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