Mexican Families Work Together
Kathleen and I sitting with friends at a beach side restaurant when I had yet another chance to witness a young Mexican family working together to generate a little more household income. I state it that way because perhaps mom and dad have jobs and what was about to unfold was a little side line business on the beach because indeed this day was a Sunday.
I had noticed the crude palapa on the beach when we had arrived at the restaurant and at that moment it was not occupied but on close inspection one could tell it had just recently been erected because the leafy covering was still green and the foliage not wilted. See below.
It wasn't long before a well used pick-up appeared near the restaurant. Mom, dad and three girls close in age piled out and began setting up what would become their little beach sales booth for the day. This was the start of a long two weeks of Christmas/New year vacation time for the affluent Mexican families to flock to the beach for some R & R. Not much different I would say from what we would do North of the Border, but what was different was how without any prodding what-so-ever all of the children assisted in making this venture a reality and made trip after trip back to the truck to get what they could carry. Note the pictures below.
As the items began to take shape the three little girls finished their immediate task and mom and dad set about getting their little enterprise organized. It appeared to me that dad had his piles of coconuts set up near his chopping block and the machete was at the ready. Mom was organizing the various fruits and it looked like she was going to make some sort of drink. The work continued diligently as little by little the beach took on a much busier atmosphere as people began to arrive and enjoy the day. The girls were now allowed to play. See below.
Once ready, mom gets an order and she sets to work. Notice in the pictures how the oldest daughter stops playing with her little sisters and all attention is on what and how mom does her thing. To learn and perhaps be able to apply what is learned is very important within the Mexican family, as who knows, one day it may be there only way to survive. See below.
The first two customers. See below.
It is amazing what families do to help with the household income. There are vendor carts everywhere, everyday, selling various home made offerings and when the Mexican folks come to the beach communities from the inland cities it is time to sell, sell, sell.
