Bolivia situation guide
Warm help and a warm no both keep the parent in charge
In a close Bolivian family, doña Carmen, tía Mery, Camila, and tío Marco all pitch in with Santi in their own way, a pickup, an afternoon, a sleepover, an errand. This chapter is about the language for that coordination, never about who should help or how much: for every request you get a bounded yes ("podemos ayudar hasta las seis") and a warm, honest no ("esta vez no vamos a poder cuidarlo"), presented as equally fair, with a narrower alternative offered when one truly exists. Every arrangement checks that Santi's mom already said yes, "¿la mamá ya autorizó?" and "lo confirmo con Paula primero" keep that authority exactly where it belongs, no matter how warm the family is. Uncles and tíos help just as naturally as aunts and grandmothers here; childcare support isn't only a women's role. Paula is beside you throughout, and a family WhatsApp update keeps everyone coordinated when plans shift.
Essential vocabulary
- recoger: to pick up (a child) The core verb for coordinating who picks Santi up and when.
- cuidar: to take care of / watch Names the childcare help itself, offering it, bounding it, or declining it.
- autorizar: to authorize The key verb for checking that Santi's parent already approved a plan.
- confirmar: to confirm Used to check a plan with Paula or the mom before committing.
- avisar: to let know / notify The verb for asking the family to update you if a plan changes.
- quedarse con: to stay with / watch over (a child) Names who is physically staying with Santi during a plan.
- el cambio de planes: the change of plans Family childcare shifts fast; naming a change clearly keeps everyone coordinated.
Bolivian Spanish terms
- nomás: just / only (softener) Very Bolivian; softens a plan or a limit warmly, as in "recójalo nomás".
- dale: okay / go ahead / come on Common all-purpose okay; also the gentle nudge family use when they'd like a little more help.
- un ratito: a little while / a little bit longer The diminutive softens a request for a bit more time, as in "un ratito más", warm, not a real change of terms.
Useful phrases
- ¿La mamá ya autorizó?: Has the mom already authorized it? The key check before agreeing to any pickup, sleepover, or plan for Santi.
- Lo confirmo con Paula primero.: I'll confirm it with Paula first. A safe way to pause before committing to anything about Santi.
- Podemos ayudar hasta las seis.: We can help until six. The bounded yes: a warm agreement with a clear, friendly time limit.
- Esta vez no vamos a poder cuidarlo.: This time we won't be able to take care of him. The full, honest decline, just as legitimate as saying yes, especially with a real alternative offered.
- Si cambia algo, nos avisan por WhatsApp.: If anything changes, let us know by WhatsApp. Keeps everyone coordinated on last-minute changes to Santi's plan.
Learn this in the app
Children, School and Family Logistics in Bolivia, Spanish