Experiences of Parenting Classes for Mexican American Mothers Parenting Alone: Offering Culturally Responsive Approaches

Abstract

This study reflects the voices and experiences of 20 women who participated in a follow-up interview after completing parenting classes for Mexican American mothers parenting alone. Using Heuristic Inquiry, six themes emerged related to participants' experiences in the classes. Findings are presented with exemplary portraits and a composite description. Overall, mothers benefitted from parenting classes and developed a heightened awareness of their strengths as mothers. Based on their experiences and recommendations, suggestions are offered for developing theoretically informed culturally responsive parenting classes for Mexican American mothers parenting alone.

Acknowledgments

The first author would like to acknowledge the College of Human Science at Texas Tech University for the New Faculty Research Seed Grant which funded this study. Additionally, we would like to acknowledge the following persons who conducted the parenting classes and were invaluable to the project, Mary Ann Gutierrez, Carmen Aquirre, and Dr. Nenetzin Reyes, and to the students who contributed to the coding and analyses of these data: Andrea Guzman, Brigitte Dooley, Kara Branchetti, Laura Anne Cielinski, Heather Huff, Amelia Benton, Margaret Vasquez, Jessica White, Evie Breedon, Katie Sokolik, Sydney Battle, Chanda Dunn, Jill Collins, and Lindsey Sumner. We would also like to acknowledge Dr. Denise Lewis for reviewing this manuscript and Drs. Tom Stone Carlson, Martin Erickson, and Christi McGeorge for laying the foundation for us to build from their model of culturally responsive couple and family therapy.