As a father, I take great pride in introducing my son to new experiences and cultures. So you can imagine my disappointment when we recently visited a highly recommended authentic Mexican restaurant, only to have my son order a burger and fries?
I mean, what kind of uncultured simpleton doesn’t order tacos or enchiladas at a Mexican restaurant? And to make matters worse, he doesn’t even pronounce Mexico with an H. It’s MEH-i-co, not MEX-i-co
But that’s not the worst part. When the waiter brought out the first basket of warm, crispy tortilla chips, my son hardly touched them. I was practically shoveling them into my mouth and chugging watery salsa, but my son just sat there staring at his burger and fries, as if he were a third-generation American. I fear he might grow up to be the type who orders a Bud Light at Don Pablos.
I attempted to educate him on the rich history and diverse cuisine of Mexico, but he simply shrugged and said, “I like burgers.” I mean, who raised this kid? Our recent 23andMe results showed that he has 4% Mexican heritage. Yet, his actions make it seem like he has less than 1%.
It’s evident that my son needs to broaden his horizons and experience different cultures. Perhaps I should take him to a sushi restaurant and force him to eat sashimi until he appreciates it. Or maybe we could visit a Vietnamese place and order him some oxtail pho with extra tripe.
But on a serious note, as parents, it is crucial to expose our children to diverse cultures and experiences. Let this serve as a reminder to all parents out there: don’t let your children grow up ignorant of the world around them, like my son. Take them to authentic restaurants, encourage them to try new things, and make sure they devour at least three baskets of tortilla chips. It’s the responsible thing to do.
