Add another one to the reading list.

I spotted this on SpanglishBaby's Mother's Day Reading List.
The Product Description is what caught my eye:
"Why is the word madre, "mother," so complicated in Spanish—especially in Mexico? Leaping off the page with energy, insight, and attitude, Liza Bakewell's exploration of language is anything but "just semantics." Why does me vale madre mean worthless, while ¡qué padre! means fabulous, she asks? And why do one hundred madres disappear when one padre enters the room, converting the group from madres to padres? Thus begins a journey through Mexican culture in all its color: weddings, dinner parties, an artist's studio, heart-stopping taxi rides, angry journalists, corrupt politicians, Blessed Virgins, and mothers both sacred and profane.

Along the way, a reader discovers not only an invaluable lexicon of Mexican slang (to be used with caution or not at all) but also thought-provoking reflections on the evolution of language; its winding path through culture, religion, and politics; and, not least, what it means—and what it threatens—to be a creative female, a madre."

Exactly! I'd asked of the same questions myself... Seeing this brought back lots of memories of studying in Cuernavaca, where my favorite class was my Idioms class, where I took notes for two hours on various phrases that didn't directly translate, but would make my Spanish sound more fluent and definitely more local. It made my day if I were able to turn around and use one correctly later on in the day, and it amused my new Mexican amigos immensely. I did find myself really hesitant to use my new knowledge, as I didn't understand much of the background behind what was being said, so I was never quite sure if what I was saying was appropriate. Now, as a teacher, I am super-careful about what I say, but at the same time, I want to teach my students Spanish that is as close to "everyday" or "street-Spanish" as possible, without passing on anything "grosero". I'd imagine this book will give some valuable insight!
I think it'd be a non-traditional, yet totally perfect Mother's Day gift for me!