Essays
Margarita Barresi’s work is inspired by family stories and her experience growing up in 1960s and 1970s Puerto Rico. Her memoir essays have been published in a variety of literary journals.
Unanswered Questions
This piece published in (mac)ro(mic) is about family secrets as exemplified by the year Margarita’s family "forgot" Santa's presents.
Abuela and her Gurus
When Margarita’s Puerto Rican grandmother embarked on one of her self-help journeys, nobody was safe. This piece, originally published in Acentos Review, was also later picked up by Pink Ink.
Death by Hurricane
Do children think about dying? Margarita remembers clearly believing a hurricane would be the end of her five-year old self. This piece published in The Drowning Gull details that memory, along with a later experience where tragedy did strike due to Mother Nature.
How Much Information Should Teens Keep Private?
Families didn’t discuss sex, drugs, and rock and roll when Margarita was growing up in 1970s Puerto Rico. But now kids tell their parents everything. This essay published in Your Teen magazine explores the range of emotions—pride, anger, panic, regret, acceptance—Margarita felt when her then 18-year old daughter told her she had a fake ID.
The Zen of Teenage Tantrums
What to do when your teenaged daughter has a meltdown? Margarita offers advice to readers of www.grownandflown.
Psychologically Damaged House
In this piece published by Boston Accent Lit, Margarita decides her house is haunted, but in a good way.