Death, Sex & Money Sex-Positive Parents, Crass Grandparents, and a Weird and Wonderful Childhood
42 snips
Sep 2, 2025 
Tamara Yajia, a comedy writer and author of the memoir *Cry for Me Argentina: My Life as a Failed Child Star*, shares her hilariously chaotic upbringing in a loud and crass family. She reflects on navigating the complexities of a sex-positive environment and her experiences growing up in Argentina and the U.S. Tamara discusses parenting strategies today, the trials of being a child performer, and her celebrity encounters that shaped her journey. The blend of humor and heart makes her story both relatable and entertaining.
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Noisy, Sex-Positive Family Origins
- Tamara describes a loud, sex-positive Argentine family where grandparents met at a brothel and parents encouraged open talk about sex.
- This upbringing mixed affection, crass humor, and wildly inappropriate moments that shaped her tone and memoir.
Immigrant Struggle In Motels And Food Stands
- At seven, Tamara moved from Argentina to California and her family lived in a motel while her dad did odd jobs and they tried to start a food stand called Sexy Chicken.
- Economic instability forced multiple moves back and forth between Argentina and the U.S., shaping a chaotic childhood.
Ambivalence After Writing A Memoir
- Writing the memoir forced Tamara to hold ambivalent views: love for her parents alongside critique of how they raised her.
- She realized the family's intensity and lack of boundaries harmed her nervous system and sense of self.
