Viva la Mami - Latina Motherhood, Modern Parenting, Latina Well-Being

After 10 months of living in our first house in Mexico, we made a decision that surprised us: we broke our lease early. But this episode isn't just about the logistics of moving - it's about the deeper realization that came with it.

I'm sitting down solo to share why we left, what we discovered about housing options in Mexico that I never knew existed, and the uncomfortable (but necessary) conversation about privilege, generational ...

This week I'm bringing you a rerun of one of our most-asked-about episodes! After 10 months of living here in León, we decided to break our lease early to find housing that better fits our family, and we're spilling all the tea on what led to that decision next week. But first, here's where our housing story began. Listen to this episode to understand the foundation, then tune in next week for the "why we left" conversation. Consid...

In this solo episode, I'm getting real about what it actually takes to help your child get into college in today's landscape, because spoiler: it's not the same process we went through. As a first-gen parent myself with 14 years of combined college admissions and counseling experience, I'm breaking down what's changed, what still matters, and how you can start building a real strategy this summer, whether your kid is a rising junio...

In this solo episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on a side of me I don't often share - my professional story. I walk you through my journey as a first-generation college student, how I stumbled into the world of higher education, and the decade-long career in college admissions and counseling that followed. And yes, I have a BIG announcement at the end that I'm so excited to finally share with you.

For detailed show notes, visit v...

In this solo episode, I'm giving you the life update I've been meaning to share and I'm keeping it real. From accepting a corporate job out of desperation (and quitting nine days later) to deciding to stay in México for another year, and finally announcing the new business I'm building from scratch.

This episode is for every first-generation mami who's ever felt like she had to prove herself, restart, or choose between stability and...

In this episode of the Mamis Abroad series, I'm sitting down with Jess Winns, a mom of four, published author, entrepreneur, Board-Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, and Transformational Leadership Coach, who made the bold decision to pack up her family and move to Playa del Carmen, Mexico as a single mom.

We talk about the moment she knew it was time, what it's really like to build a life from scratch in a new country, and why...

In this Mamis Abroad series episode, I sit down with Lina Molina, a Latina mama of three who has been raising her family across continents. Lina shares what it really looks like to pick up your life, move to a country you know nothing about, and still show up as a grounded, intentional mother.

We talk about building community from scratch, raising trilingual global kids, keeping your cultura alive far from home, and redefining what ...

In this VLM Spotlight episode, I sit down with Cynthia Contreras, a wife, Latina mom, and bilingual reading specialist. What started as a chat about raising Spanish-dominant kids turned into a beautiful exploration of identity, healing generational trauma, and what it really means to show up for our children while still showing up for ourselves.

Cynthia shares her journey from being the only Latina in her Wisconsin classroom, to bec...

This week, we welcome Lucía Garrett, founder of Pato Pato and the brilliant mind who coined the term "Spanish-first kids." As someone currently raising Spanish-dominant children myself, I was so excited to dive deep into this intentional approach to bilingual parenting. Lucía shares why the Spanish-only stage is so crucial for our kids and how we can stay confident in our choices, even when family members question us or when we fee...

In this powerful conversation, I sat down with Dr. Alma Medina, a certified functional medicine coach and pharmacist, right here in the Chicago area. As a fellow first-gen Latina mama, we dove deep into healing from the root - addressing gut health issues, hormonal imbalances, and chronic fatigue that so many mujeres in our community struggle with. We also explored how to reclaim the nutritional power of our traditional Latino food...

I had the privilege of sitting down with Alex Fernandez, a father and educator with over 15 years of experience. Alex has presented on restorative practices and brought such valuable insights about intentional parenting from the Latino dad perspective. Our conversation really resonated with me, especially as we discussed the challenge of breaking generational cycles while honoring our cultural roots.

Want more? Listen to the full, o...

In this deeply moving episode, I sit down with Eddie Garcia, Elisa Garcia, Christina Galindo, and Jessica Bess to hear Francilia Garcia's story - a beloved wife, first-time mother, and advocate who tragically passed away from childbirth complications just weeks after welcoming her twin boys.

Through their grief, Francilia's family created Francilia's Twice the Love Foundation to raise awareness about preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, an...

In July 2024, I was featured in The New York Times in an article about how childcare costs are limiting women’s ability to work. The headline captured exactly how we felt at the time: stuck.

In this solo episode, I share the real story behind that moment and how my family made the strategic decision to move from Chicago to León, Guanajuato. I break down the real cost of living for a family of four in the U.S., the childcare ma...

In this episode of the Mamis Abroad series, I sit down with Karina Wright, a content creator, community builder, and certified no-gatekeeping reina! Karina made the bold decision to move back to the motherland with her husband and teenage son, and she has been sharing every step of the journey with her growing community at @karinalifeinmexico.

She is giving our people real, practical resources on how to find remote work, navigate th...

In this solo episode, I'm breaking down the three action steps I wish I had before we made the move to Mexico - the same ones that helped our family go from dreaming about life in Mexico to actually living it. Whether you're thinking about moving abroad for a year or permanently, this episode is your reality check and your permission slip all in one.

For detailed show notes, visit vivalamami.com/episode151

What You'll Hear:

• Why im...

In this episode of the "Mamis Abroad" series, I sit down with Alyssa Bolaños, the Latina mom behind @casabolanos, who made the radical decision to leave the U.S. with her family and embrace world schooling abroad. We dive deep into what it really takes to uproot your life, sell everything you own, and create a new future for your kids outside of the United States. Alyssa's story is raw, honest, and incredibly inspiring, especially ...

In this episode, I'm introducing a brand new series called Mamis Abroad and sharing some exciting updates about resources I'm creating specifically for mamás like you who are considering moving to Mexico with your family.

I've noticed a serious gap in representation when it comes to Latina moms who are traveling or moving abroad. Most of the content out there is centered around digital nomads and expats, but what about those of us w...

In this week's episode, we welcome Juda Avila, a bilingual therapist and postpartum coach who's doing incredible work with first-gen Latina moms. As someone who experienced postpartum depression twice and grew up witnessing the silent sacrifices of Marianismo, Juda brings both professional expertise and lived experience to this conversation. We dive deep into the cultural expectations that keep us silent about our struggles, the id...

In this solo episode, I’m checking in with you. There is so much heaviness right now in the United States, especially for our Latino community, and I felt called to pause and hold space for everything Latina moms are carrying. From fear and uncertainty to burnout and survival mode, this episode is a reminder that you are not alone, you are not weak, and you are not imagining how hard this feels. This is a compassionate conver...