Diego Javier and Diana Graciela were born in Monterrey, Mexico, to mechanic Diego Mendoza Sr and housekeeper Guadalupe Sanchez. The Mendoza-Sanchez couple welcomed Diego first, the firstborn son named after his father. Three years later, Diana made her arrival to compete the family, named after her grandmothers. The brother and sister duo were raised in a close-knit, humble household, surrounded by friends and family in their working-class neighborhood. They were never rich nor dirt poor: they lived happily and gratefully with enough funds to cover their basic neccesities, never forgetting to count their blessings as taught in the Catholic Church they attended every Sunday. However, there was a damper on the life of this family: Diego Sr. was fond of alcohol. He worked long days at the shop, and the moment he came home he had a beer in his hand. Although he never got physical with his wife or children, the alcohol would make him intolerant and more prone to shouted arguments. This would scare Diana and irritate Diego Jr, while a resigned Guadalupe was left to calm the beast.
It was probably one of these sudden bursts of anger that ultimately caused Diego Sr.'s death of a stroke. He was rushed to the nearest hospital after complaining of a strong chest pain, bit even though the doctors attempted to save him, it was too late. Devastated, Guadalupe, Diego Jr and Diana were left without the male head of house. This proved to be a challenge. Guadalupe's occupation was not enough to cover the expenses of the family. Money was starting to run dry. It was then when Julia, an old friend of Lupe's, suggested the family make the move to the United States. Their housekeeper job was better paid After a lot of thought and paperwork, the Mendoza-Sanchez family arrived in California. Diana was eight. Diego Jr. was 11.
The family arrived at Julia's humble California home knowing very little English, but with an incredible will to build a better life for themselves. The siblings were enrolled in a local school, in which they learned the language quickly and were soon in level with their peers. From the start, it was clear that Diana was the model student of the household, earning excellent grades all throughout her school years. Diego's were good, but not outstanding, as his smarts were not in the academic department but in the technical field of mechanics. Meanwhile, Lupe was earning a much bigger paycheck, saving every penny she could for the future. The three of them lived with Julia for a year before they eventually had enough to move to a place of their own.
As the siblings grew up, they decided on career paths. Diego Jr was always certain he wanted to be a mechanic: his father had made sure to pass on as much knowledge as he could. He found a job after school in a nearby shop, and the hours spent with his father at the old Monterrey were finally put to use. After high school, he attended a technical school for two years, earning himself an associates degree. He rose the ranks in the California mechanic scene, and now worked in one of the most popular shops in the area.
On the other hand, Diana found her passion in teaching children. She had begun working as a babysitter since she became a teenager, saving all of her money for a car and studies The young woman applied to a variety of universities, but after much deliberation ultimately decided to attend a community college until she had enough finances to cover her two last years in a university.
In the summer before she began college, Diana was racking her brains, trying to figure out a way to earn more money while she was to be studying full time. It was pure luck that one of the families for which Lupe work for -the Hemingways- was looking for a nanny for their younger children, and they were to pay a high sum to the elected employee. Lupe told her daughter, and after a brief interview, Diana Mendoza became the Hemingway nanny.
