04.29.24 Weekly Message

Hi mama!

If you are here, you are interested in pursuing a joyful motherhood experience.

“Sure, but how can I be joyful during stressful times?”

First of all, remember that you are human, and we all encounter times when patience wears thin and frustrations arise. But it is in those moments when it's most crucial to pause and reflect.

Whenever I find myself feeling frustrated, I know it's time to go inward. I take a moment to ask myself, "What am I really feeling?" By creating a gap between the impulse and action, you invite consciousness into that space. From this place of awareness, you can tap into the most loving part of yourself and choose to act from there. Try to act from a place of love rather than fear; remember, you always have a choice.

EAT: Easy, fast, 3-ingredients, this Tortilla de Papas is perfect for lunch with a side salad or for breakfast with some sausages or toast. It keeps very well in the fridge, or you can freeze it and pop it in the oven for an emergency meal. Click here to see the recipe.

PLAN: I’m a planner; I plan everything in my life with a mix of Google Calendar, Notion, hopes, dreams, and these planner sheets that I print out every week. I find it helpful to write everything down first—what I’m cooking each day, Emi’s activities, important tasks, appointments, etc.—and see it all in one place (color-coordinated, obviously) before I start time blocking and project planning. Click here to see all my planning resources.

GIFT: I’ve been looking around for cute Mother’s Day gifts, and I love anything personalized. If, like me, you enjoy putting your name on everything, you need to check out this minimalist name bracelet, this custom embroidered sweatshirt, or this cute DIY bookmark.

I’m a mom, of course my lower back hurts.

I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want.

Btw, these planets are in retrograde.

MOVEMENT: This is a pretty low-maintenance category for me I just make sure I am providing Emi opportunities to walk, jump, skip, climb, slide, balance, kick, and throw. Her pikler set is great for most of those but often I provide things she can chase after, like a ball.

SENSORY: Looking for edible sensory play ideas? Check out these two ingredient taste-safe ideas. These are great for little ones who like to explore by tasting everything. Thanks to my cousin for sharing this reel with me, it has tons of cool recipes!

MUSIC: Emi LOVES music; it must be in her blood. All Puerto Ricans love music. 💃🏻 I like to keep a designated area in her room with her instruments. Right now, her collection includes a shaker, a little drum, a tambourine, and a music box. During her independent play time, she loves to work on her one-woman band act. 🤣

LANGUAGE: I was using a postcard as a bookmark, and Emi kept looking at it and chatting away, which made me realize there was an opportunity there. Postcards are great for building vocabulary and exposing our little ones to new places. If you are not a postcard hoarder like me, you can simply print some. Also, you don’t have to go far; local landmarks are great for fostering hometown pride, and local museums are great places to snag some art-themed ones.

💌 Click here to download free postcards.

MINDFULNESS: Struggling to practice mindfulness with your little one? Here are 6 easy ways to teach your kids mindfulness.

NATURE: Emi went on her first camping trip this weekend, and she was buzzing! This was a great opportunity for her to run around, explore new smells and sights, and play with her friends. Not sure what to do outdoors? Here’s a list of easy outdoor activities.

PRACTICAL LIFE: Ever since Abuelita came to visit, we noticed Emi has developed a strong interest in cleaning. She can't see any piece of cloth without starting to wipe every surface around her with it. So, we got her a few cleaning rags, a brush and a dustpan, which we keep in her cleaning basket, and she is having the time of her life.