Among the children of Mexican immigrants, helping their parents work is expected. Families instill in their children a sense of pride in their work and the good habit of earning money through their own effort.

Some families who make their living as street vendors start their day as early as 6:00 a.m., ending after three hours, at 9:00 a.m., when they regularly make their sales for the day; during the summer they can count on help from the family and older children.

In a small line, mothers, children, and street vending carts pass by the train platforms, after they earned their daily wages through the sales of tamales and tacos outside of the train stations in New York City.

For Isabel Mondragón, the fact that her 10-year-old son can accompany her is a relief, because it assures her that the he will learn how money is earned.

“Without having studied anything, without papers, I didn’t have any other option other than making it up as I went along to support my children. I know how to cook and that is what we live off of. My husband is in construction, but this year it hasn’t gone well for him,” she indicated.

The family says that instilling a strong work ethic in their children is good for their education. “They just come with us, they don’t do much, but at least they know how we earn our money, that it is earned honestly,” said Mondragón, who is originally from San Felipe de Jesús, a neighborhood in Mexico City, where she lived until 13 years ago when she moved to the Big Apple.

Her son, Esteban, believes that for Mexican children like him, it is a fun outing to accompany their parents. “It’s better than being cooped up at home,” said Esteban, almost 11, who walks proudly with his mother on the platform for the 2 Train bound for Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan.