Daddies on Duty

How do we preserve Latino culture?

As two Dominican-American dads, we’re constantly navigating how our kids learn about or Domincan traditions and how to keep our traditions alive — from the cooking and dancing to the trips back home to the Dominican Republic. We do our best to make sure they stay connected to their roots.

But let’s be real — they were born in the U.S., and that means their culture is beautifully mixed. Even keeping up with the Spanish language becomes a challenge.

Have you ever heard the phrase “Bésame la mano”? Among Dominicans, it’s a gesture of respect toward elders — grandparents, aunts, uncles, and parents. (And no, it doesn’t literally mean kiss my hand! )

In this episode, we sit down with Jasdomine Santana — author, content creator, and mother of two. She’s the creative mind behind Tiny Dominican Explorer and bilingual children’s books that celebrate Dominican culture.

Jasdomine is known for her Dominican-inspired Spanglish songs like “The Wheels on the Guagua” — classic kids’ tunes reimagined with Caribbean rhythm and flavor. Her creative journey began after the birth of her first child, inspiring her to make fun, educational resources for bilingual families.

 Explore her work:
 jasdomin.com
 YouTube: youtube.com/@TinyDominicanExplorer
 Free Educational Resources: jasdomin.com/pages/free-gratis-education-resources

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En este episodio, exploramos cómo los buenos modales, la etiqueta y el protocolo comienzan en el hogar. Educar a nuestros hijos va más allá de la escuela: es una responsabilidad diaria que impacta directamente en su comportamiento, respeto y desarrollo personal.

Nos acompaña Karen Espinal, licenciada en Comunicación Social y Periodismo, asesora de imagen pública, conferencista y directora de la Academia Karen Espinal. Junto a ella, conversamos sobre:

• La importancia de inculcar buenos modales desde la infancia.

• Qué papel juegan los padres como modelos de conducta.

• Herramientas prácticas para fomentar el respeto, la empatía y la cortesía.

• Cómo el protocolo y la etiqueta pueden adaptarse a la vida diaria de los niños.

• Errores comunes que cometemos como adultos al corregir o guiar el comportamiento infantil.

Una conversación amena y reflexiva que nos recuerda que la educación con valores y buenos modales empieza en casa.

Thinking of buying a home, but also thinking of starting (or growing) your family? In this episode, we dive into one of life’s biggest crossroads: real estate and parenthood. Should you buy before the baby or after? What matters most—budget, location, school districts, space?

Whether you’re searching for your first family-friendly home or selling your current one to make room for more tiny feet, real estate investor and dad of two, Sandy Cuevas (he sold us our first home), breaks it all down. From the emotional to the financial, from spotting a home’s hidden potential to navigating today’s unpredictable market, this is your real-world guide to making smart, family-focused decisions.

Tune in for insights, strategies, and honest talk on the family home formula: When, where & how to buy or sell as parents.

Guest: Omayra Jiménez- Life coach, Mom.
Becoming a better parent requires a focus on personal growth 
and well-being, as well as intentional parenting practices. Prioritizing 
self-care, cultivating mindfulness, and setting boundaries are crucial 
steps towards becoming the best version of yourself and, consequently, a 
better parent.   From healing our inner child to practicing gratitude because we made it through another tough and challenging day as a parent, life coach and mother of two girls, Omayra Jiménez joins us to take a detail 
look at how to become our best version so we can be better parents. 

Las fiestas de cumpleaños para nuestros hjos pueden convertirse en una tremenda pesadilla en cuanto a la planificación y ejecución se trata. En este episodio, exploramos el creciente estrés y los altos costos asociados con las fiestas de cumpleaños para niños. Desde la presión social por hacer eventos cada vez más elaborados hasta el gasto en decoraciones, entretenimiento y comida. Conversamos con los expertos en decoración para fiestas y eventos Edwin y Ronald Pinto de Nene’s Ballons. Ellos nos comparten sus experiencias y nos dan sabios consejos sobre cómo evitar que algo que debería ser divertido se convierta en una fuente de ansiedad. Y también nos dicen maneras para celebrar de manera significativa sin romper el presupuesto.

In this episode, we explore the growing stress and high costs associated with kids’ birthday parties. From the social pressure to throw increasingly elaborate events to the expenses for decorations, entertainment, and food. We sit down with Edwin and Ronald Pinto from Nene’s Ballons to talk about how to prevent that something meant to be fun turns into a source of anxiety. They also offer us tips on how to celebrate meaningfully without breaking the bank.

In a world where “fitting in” seems to be a trend which is 
exacerbated by peer influence and social media, how can we as parents 
help our children embrace their individuality and authenticity. How do 
we navigate the challenges that come with helping them embrace their 
unique qualities? How can we as parents also stay true to ourselves so  our children see that in us. On this episode of Daddies on Duty, we are joined by psychologist, speaker, and dad of three boys, Dr. Enmanuel Mercedes to guide us through on how to nurture the authenticity of our children. 

Burnout among foster parents is at an all-time high. Studies show that 50% of foster parents quit within their first year, citing stress, lack of support, and feeling unprepared for trauma-related behaviors.

From the lack of training and resources to coping with grief after losing a foster child, we know the challenges of the foster care system very well and about the burnout too. We have been foster parents for 4 years. and May is National Foster Care Awareness Month in the United States. On this episode we sit down with Kim Swilpa, Executive Director of New Jersey Angels, an organization that walks alongside children, youth, and families in the foster care community by offering consistent support through intentional giving, relationship building, and mentorship.  

Do we need to make an appointment to have sex? How to prevent becoming roommates after having kids. Let’s face it, being parents is not as easy as it looks on social media. Balancing a healthy relationship and sex life with your partner becomes extra challenging once those little ones absorb all your time and energy. On this episode of Daddies on Duty we sit down with Clinical therapist, LMSW, Yudy Cid to get tips and best practices to continue building and maintaining a sexually active relationship while also keeping up with the duties of parenthood.  

Historically, there has been a lot of disagreement among psychologists, psychiatrists, sociologists and society overall whether two parents of the same sex raising kids is harmful or not to children. Are homosexual parents less capable of raising mentally stable children?  is it detrimental to their mental health? on this episode of Daddies on duty, Eliecer Marte and Erick Martinez sit down with Clinical License Social Worker and founder of Minds together LCSW, PC, in NYC, Jean Carlos Osorio to get some answers. 

From the first parent-teachers conference, to going to the park. Introducing our family to society has been an interesting experience.  On this episode we talk about how we explain the uniqueness of our family daily and how we use it as an educational moment and to raise awareness about the different types of families.