From Mamá María, Natalia, and Anastacialearned early to mend their stockings and how to make garters called ataderas. They learned to use the sewing machine, to crochet, which was called tejer en gancho, and to do many other household chores.

Guadalupe, the oldest daughter in the family, helped Mamá María with the housework. She was also the dressmaker in the family. She fashioned dresses, skirts, and blouses for the family and for neighbors who requested. At a very early age, she started to cut materials and sew them on a sewing machine.

She designed the clothes in the style of the times. The family members felt very elegant wearing the latest fashions. Lupe, as she was called, had an eye for detail in the use of buttons, laces, and trimmings. She also made clothing for the men in the family.

The children played with homemade toys. Natalia and Anastacia both played with rag dolls that had porcelain faces, hands, and feet. The rest of the dolls were of rag. Natalia's doll had black hair, and Anastacia's had blond hair. The family saved threads from hosiery to make balls for playing, wrapping a small rock with the thread until it was the size of a baseball. From the shoe tongue, called la colilla de los zapatos, they made a cover for the ball. They cut the leather into a peanut shape and sewed it with twine. They also played other kinds of games for fun and enjoyment.