Meet Sylvia (mom) and Paul (son) from Peru

Sylvia was born and raised in the bustling, colorful, capital, Lima. She has two older sisters and grew up in a tightly-knit home. Her grandparents, parents, sisters, and uncle all lived under the same roof. Her childhood embraced the comforts of family, security, and freedom. Sylvia’s best friends lived just a few steps from her front door. She remembers having the ability to freely roam around her community. Her days were filled with afternoons in the park, adventures to local establishments, and daily walks to school. There was a sense of independence in Peru that Sylvia only came to truly appreciate after she immigrated to the United States at the age of 20. In Peru, at the age of 18 years old, you’re considered an adult; meaning that you are fully an adult and that you are able to freely enter into adult establishments and participate in adult activities. The responsibility and respect associated with that is something that she truly appreciated. When she moved to the U.S., she felt as though she had been pushed backward. She said, “I was treated more like a teenager than the young adult I had already become. I missed the sense of autonomy, the walkable streets, and the way neighbors naturally became friends and family. The transition was not easy. The language barrier made my world quieter and more distant. I could no longer walk from place to place. It seemed as though to go anywhere a car was required. Life felt more isolated.” When her family arrived, nearly all of them, except for her grandfather, worked together at a McDonald’s. Side by side, they built something new from the ground up. Over the years, Sylvia carved out her own path. Today, she is a preschool teacher, nurturing young minds with the same patience and passion she was taught by her family and that she uses in her own home with her son, Paul. She is the proud mother of two children. Her eldest is 22 years old and her youngest, Paul, is a sweet passionate boy who lights up her world. Though Sylvia and Paul’s father are no longer together romantically, they continue to live under one roof, united by one unwavering priority to be the absolute best parents they can be to Paul. They’ve made the intentional decision to put his wellbeing above all else, offering him a home filled with love, teamwork, and stability. Paul is wise beyond his years. He is deeply connected to his roots and travels to Peru often. At home, Sylvia speaks only Spanish to him, and even though Paul responds in primarily in English, he clearly understands his heritage and culture. He embraces it in every conversation, every dish she cooks, and every story she tells. Sylvia said, “What I love most about Paul is how he goes all in with whatever he does. Whether it’s his passion for jiu-jitsu or his friendships, when Paul commits to something, he dives in with all his heart and soul.” Paul said, “My favorite thing about my mother is how she keeps our heritage alive. She doesn’t just tell me about our roots, we live them every day because of her love and devotion.” The one thing Sylvia wants to tell the world is, “There’s no perfect book on parenting. We’re all living life for the first time. What matters most is to love your children deeply, give them your time, and forgive yourself for the mistakes you make along the way. After all, parenting is just guiding your children to one day be able to live, truly live, without you.” The one thing Paul wants to tell if the world is, “Savor the present moment that you are in, especially if you’re a kid. Don’t rush it. Childhood is magic, but it doesn’t last forever. Blink and it’s gone. So slow down. Laugh more, and don’t let the moments pass you by while you’re living them.” Thank you so much for visiting!