In a poignant TikTok video, a Cuban mother known as @gelylaflaki shared her struggles raising daughters in Cuba, where scarcity, exorbitant prices, and frequent power outages are the norm. "As a Cuban mother, I often wonder why I had my daughters here," she begins, a refrain she repeats to underscore her daily challenges.
Her desire to take her children to a park is thwarted by steep costs, lamenting, "Taking them to the zoo is pointless; there aren't even animals there anymore." She describes the desperate measures she's had to take, such as putting her baby to sleep with a makeshift diaper due to the inability to afford proper ones.
Facing Basic Needs and Internet Struggles
While ensuring her daughters are never without food, she's often forced to forgo essentials: "Skipping snacks has become too common, and it makes me feel terrible." The high cost of mobile data adds another layer of difficulty, as she recounts having to limit her eldest daughter's YouTube time to conserve data.
The heartbreak of not being able to buy toys for her daughter is palpable: "Even when I have the money, it must go towards food first. Besides, she might break it, and that would mean wasting a fortune." She confesses, "I've often had to feed them just rice," a statement that echoes the criticism she's faced for raising her children in such harsh conditions.
Enduring Power Outages and Holding Onto Hope
Power outages exacerbate her struggles: "It's painful to watch them suffer from the heat when there's no electricity, and my daughter can't even watch cartoons." Yet, despite these adversities, she remains hopeful: "I'm a Cuban mother fighting for a better future for my daughters… and I know I'll achieve it because I never give up."
Her story has garnered a wave of support online, with many calling her "a warrior," "an admirable mother," and "a symbol of resilience." Her narrative aligns with recent findings from the independent Food Monitor Program, which revealed that one in four Cubans has gone to bed hungry recently. A staggering 72% of households have resorted to unhealthy diets due to the lack of balanced food options, while 42% spend all their income on food alone.
Widespread Struggles Among Cuban Mothers
Sadly, her plight is far from unique. Many Cuban families manage only one meal a day. In a previous video, @gelylaflaki revealed that her daughters missed lunch because a blackout prevented her from cooking. Similar stories are echoed by other Cuban mothers. One user, @anita.cubanita64, recounted losing her child's food during a power outage and resorting to cooking with charcoal for days.
In Matanzas, another mother highlighted the exorbitant prices of toys, with sets ranging from 6,000 to 12,000 Cuban pesos, making basic children's items an unattainable luxury. These diverse narratives converge on a common theme: the relentless fight of Cuban mothers to provide the bare minimum for their children in a nation where electricity, food, and stability grow increasingly precarious.
Challenges of Parenting in Cuba
What are the main challenges faced by Cuban mothers like @gelylaflaki?
Cuban mothers face numerous challenges, including scarcity of basic necessities, high prices, frequent power outages, and limited access to the internet, making it difficult to provide for their children.
How do power outages impact daily life in Cuba?
Power outages in Cuba disrupt daily activities, making it challenging to cook, keep food fresh, and provide comfort for children, especially during hot weather.
What is the impact of high food costs in Cuba?
High food costs in Cuba force families to adopt unhealthy diets, with many spending all their income on food and some skipping meals to make ends meet.