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Does This Sound Like You, Amiga?
Do you ever feel like you or your children are caught between two cultures, never feeling entirely at home in either one?
Do you want your kids to grow up connected to their heritage, speak Spanish, and understand where they come from?
Have you ever questioned whether the American dream is the only dream worth pursuing for your familia?
If you've ever feltni de aquí ni de allá, amiga, this conversation is for you.
What You’ll Discover in This Episode
What happens when you decide to give your children a different perspective on culture, identity, and what it means to belong?
In this episode ofThe Latina Mom Legacy, Janny Perez sits down with Alyssa Bolaños, a Cuban mom married to a Colombian and founder of Casa Bolaños, who moved her family from the United States to Medellín, Colombia.
Growing up feelingni de aquí ni de allá, Alyssa understands what it's like to navigate cultural identity. After years of wanting to live in Colombia, she and her husband eventually made the move with their two young sons.
Together, they discuss what led to that decision, how her children adjusted to life in Colombia, and why living abroad has challenged their ideas about the American dream. Alyssa also shares how her family's experience inspired her to create Casa Bolaños, offering free resources to help other families explore their options.
If you've ever wondered how to help your children feel connected to their roots, embrace multiple cultures, and imagine a future beyond what they've always known, this conversation will open your mind to new possibilities.
About Alyssa Bolaños
Alyssa Bolaños is a Cuban mom, wife, and content creator who moved her family from the United States to Medellín, Colombia, to reconnect with their roots and create a different kind of life for her children. Through Casa Bolaños, she shares resources and insights to help other families explore what living abroad in Latin America could look like.
Memorable Quote
“Ni de aquí ni de allá doesn't have to be a limitation. Son de aquí y son de allá.”
Timestamps & What You’ll Discover
04:08 — Growing Up Ni de Aquí Ni de Allá
Alyssa shares how growing up in a multicultural household in Queens, New York, shaped her sense of identity and what it felt like to be different from the people around her.
10:32 — Why Her Family Decided to Move to Colombia
The three major factors that led Alyssa and her husband to leave the United States and build a new life in Medellín.
13:16 — Helping Her Kids Adjust to Life in Colombia
How Alyssa's two young sons transitioned to a new country, why the family chose to homeschool temporarily, and how the children have adapted to speaking Spanish and making new friends.
16:12 — Rethinking What Life in Colombia Looks Like
Alyssa and Janny challenge common misconceptions about Colombia and discuss the family-friendly environment, everyday conveniences, and opportunities they see in Medellín.
19:33 — Redefining the American Dream
Why Alyssa wants her children to define success and happiness for themselves rather than follow someone else's expectations.
20:41 — Learning to Slow Down and Enjoy Life
Alyssa reflects on leaving behind the constant hustle and how living in Colombia has changed her relationship with time, stress, and everyday life.
23:40 — Casa Bolaños: Making Information Accessible
Why Alyssa created free resources for families considering a move abroad and how she hopes to make opportunities more accessible to other families.
26:41 — Challenging Misconceptions About Latin America
Alyssa discusses the stereotypes surrounding Latin America, the role of migration experiences in shaping family perceptions, and why it's important to see how countries evolve.
32:32 — The Latina Mom Legacy Fast Round
Alyssa shares a favorite Spanish word, a Cuban dish she wants to pass down to her children, and the legacy she hopes to leave behind.
Bilingual Parenting & Cultural Identity Takeaways
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Your children can belong to more than one culture. They don't have to choose between identities.
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Exposure expands possibilities. Language, family, and new experiences broaden your child's worldview.
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Your family's dream can look different. You can honor your parents' sacrifices while choosing your own path.
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Don't pass your fears down. Help your children approach new cultures and opportunities with curiosity.
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You don't have to move abroad to build cultural connections. Language, family traditions, and community can help your children stay connected to their roots.
Resources Mentioned in the Episode
Casa Bolaños
Alyssa's platform offering free guides, resources, and practical information for families raising bilingual children or exploring the possibility of moving abroad.
Website:casabolanos.com
Instagram & TikTok: @casabolanos
Mi Legasi
Explore bilingual parenting resources, practical tools, and support for raising bilingual children with confidence.
Website:milegasi.com
Confident Bilingual Parenting — Fall Group Coaching
Ready to stop second-guessing your bilingual parenting approach? Join Janny's three-month group coaching program for practical tools, twice-monthly live coaching calls, and a supportive community.
Use codePOD50 for $50 off when you enroll by October 18, 2026. The first live coaching call is October 20.
Learn more atmilegasi.com.
Continue Your Bilingual Parenting Journey
1. Connect With Other Latina Moms
Join the Latina Moms Raising Bilingual Kids community to share experiences, get practical tips, and connect with other families raising bilingual and bicultural children.
2. Explore Free Resources From Mi Legasi
Find bilingual parenting printables, tips, and tools to help you nurture Spanish and your family's cultural connections.
Visitmilegasi.com.
3. Get Support With Confident Bilingual Parenting
Create a bilingual parenting approach that works for your child, your family, and your real life.
Use codePOD50 for $50 off the fall group coaching program through October 18, 2026.
Connect With Janny
Instagram:@milegasi
Threads: @milegasi
Podcast Instagram:@thelatinamomlegacy
Pinterest: @milegasi
Website:milegasi.com
Interested in Sponsoring The Latina Mom Legacy?
Reach an engaged community of parents raising bilingual and bicultural children who value language, culture, and family connection.
Contact us for sponsorship information.
Final Thoughts
Amiga, you don't have to move to another country to help your children feel connected to their roots. But you can give them the opportunity to see that the world is bigger than what they know today.
Your children can embrace more than one culture, speak more than one language, and imagine possibilities you may never have considered for yourself.
You get to decide what you want to pass down—and what you want to leave behind.
As Alyssa reminds us,ni de aquí ni de allá doesn't have to mean you don't belong anywhere.
Son de aquí y son de allá.
And that, amiga, is a beautiful legacy.
About Janny Perez
Janny Perez is a bilingual parenting educator, coach, and host of The Latina Mom Legacy podcast.
As a multilingual mom herself, Janny helps Latina and multicultural families raise bilingual children with confidence, consistency, and connection to language and culture—even in English-dominant environments.
Through Mi Legasi, Janny teaches parents how to move beyond guilt and the pressure to do bilingual parenting perfectly, and instead create a flexible approach that works for their child, their family, and real life.
Learn more at milegasi.com
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