Parent coach takes on authoritarian parenting in Latino families with first book 'Chancla'

August 20, 2026 - 11:33

Leslie Priscilla, the founder of Latinx Parenting and a voice heard by over 300,000 followers online, is taking on a deeply rooted cultural habit with her first book, titled "Chancla." The name refers to the flip-flop or slipper often used as a quick disciplinary tool in many Latino households, but Priscilla's mission is not to mock the practice. Instead, she wants to open a conversation about breaking cycles of harm while still respecting the cultural values that shaped generations.

For years, Priscilla has built a platform around gentle and conscious parenting, specifically tailored to the Latino experience. Her work addresses the tension many adult children feel between loving their parents and healing from harsh punishments they endured. The book, she explains, is not about blaming abuelos or parents who did their best with what they knew. Rather, it is about offering a new path forward that does not require abandoning one's heritage.

Priscilla argues that authoritarian parenting, which relies on fear and obedience, often stems from survival instincts and immigration stress. She wants to help families shift toward connection and respect without losing the warmth, humor, and closeness that define Latino culture. The book includes practical tools for parents who want to respond differently when they feel the urge to grab the chancla. It also acknowledges that change is hard, especially when family elders might disagree.

Her online community has grown rapidly, with many followers sharing their own stories of childhood fear and their hopes for their children. Priscilla sees this as a sign that the conversation is overdue. The book aims to validate those feelings while offering a compassionate way forward, one that honors the past without repeating its pain.