Letter from Matilde Calderón de Kahlo to her daughter Frida Kahlo, April 8, 1932 Letter from Matilde Calderón de Kahlo to her daughter Frida Kahlo, April 8, 1932 (page 1 of 2)

April 8, 1932

Mi niña linda mi Friduchita,

Usually you learn everything, but absolutely everything from my scribes, who never leave me much to say. That’s why you don’t usually hear much news from me. But this time I’m the one who’s writing. I’m going to begin by telling you about these last few days, which have kept me in a very anxious state. The day before yesterday we went to Mexico City in the afternoon, and had supper at Cristina’s. I noticed she looked tired, but didn’t pay a lot of attention to it because she had been on her feet a lot. The next morning the phone rang very early. It was Cristina. She said, “Mamá, I’m sending you la niña.. I’m going to the hospital.” I felt terrible, but there was nothing else I could do. That’s how it was all morning. At three o’clock they phoned to tell me the little boy had been born. At the same time, there was a knock on the door and there was your letter with the photographs. I started to cry with happiness, and I talked to you as though you were actually here.

I want to know how you are recovering from your bout with influenza. It has hit us very hard here in Mexico. You should see the doctor and take medications to strengthen yourself. Do take good care of yourself, all right?

Don’t worry about your compadre’s problems. He has received the money, and always asks me to pass on his greetings to you.

I’m sending you these cartoons so you’ll remember Mexico, where you are…