Remember the Alamo

So, you might file this under "duh Jan!" but regardless I thought it was worth a post...

This past weekend Juan and I took a mini-vacation to San Antonio. We left our little darling in the very capable hands of his Abuelos and enjoyed two glorious days of sleeping late, eating out and bumming around. We got to go to two of my favorite restaurants and never gave a second though to nap time, bed time, diapers or toddler-friendly environments. Not that we didn't think of the kiddo - we did talk about him all the time and called home twice each day to make sure he was doing ok and not driving my poor in-laws crazy.

What's the "duh Jan" part? The IMAX. Specifically, the IMAX showing the History of the Alamo movie. Now, as a kid growing up in Texas I was taught my fair share of Texas history. I know all about Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, Santa Ana and fighting for a cause. What I failed to realize until we were about 5 minutes into the Alamo movie was that my husband (who lived in Mexico until he was 12) was taught a different version of the same events. Santa Ana is a hero, not a loser general who spent too much time with his girlfriends at San Jacinto. And all that business about Texas wanting it's freedom? What exactly were the terms of the treaty and who had a right to be there anyway? I'm not so sure that the movie portrayed things exactly as they were. Anyway, it gave me pause. My child is Mexican American. Both sides of the story are his heritage. And as his parents we want to embrace fully both worlds from which he comes. Truthfully and honestly. Good and bad. Gaudy trinkets or not.

Will this be a struggle for him? Am I a worry wort mother? Do I not even have the first clue about what it means to be a bi-racial child in this day and time?

I don't know. But I will remember the Alamo.

P.S. Thanks to everyone who made this weekend possible!