05.20.24 Weekly Message

Hi mama!

After celebrating Mother's Day, I found myself reflecting on the profound journey of motherhood that I've embarked upon.

I believe many of us undergo a significant identity shift during our first year of motherhood. I am a mother; I have a daughter. However, from day one, I've felt in my heart that while I have a daughter, she is not “mine”. She is not an extension of myself, nor is she here to fulfill my hopes and dreams. She exists as her own person, with her own path to follow.

From the moment I laid eyes on Emi, I knew she was not mine to shape, but rather mine to nurture. Every action I take for her isn't driven by a desire for self-validation or to impose my will upon her. It's about creating the best environment for her to thrive as her authentic self. Emi owes me nothing; I am here only to support her journey.

In essence, I see myself not as a sculptor but as a gardener—tending to the soil, providing nourishment, and offering guidance as Emi blossoms into the individual she is meant to be.

And knowing that fills my heart with joy.

EAT: You know me—recipes need to be quick and give me leftovers. Here’s a classic with a healthy twist that I love: Healthy Sloppy Joes Recipe.

BEAUTY: After working in the beauty industry for four years, I learned that less is more and you're mostly paying for marketing (a.k.a me, sorry ☹️ ) However, a girl still needs to moisturize. Here's my simple two-step nighttime routine:

Step 1: I wash my face with this Aveeno Cleanser, which has great ingredients and a nurturing feel. More importantly, it has no fragrance, which may irritate your skin.

Step 2: I apply Almond Oil and give myself a little massage. Two reasons: my grandmother used it, and her skin was always flawless. Plus, almond oil is the main ingredient in many anti-aging serums because of its Vitamin E content. So, I go straight to the source.

MUSIC: If you liked Rosario Alfonso from last week’s email, you’ll love Niña Tormenta. To listen to her music, click here.

PLANT: This repotting mat is perfect for indoor gardening, and it's also great to let our little ones join in with minimum cleanup.

How to Stop Obsessing About What Other People Think of You (link)

A case for the capsule wardrobe (link)

And, here’s your Monday horoscope (link)

MOVEMENT: Living in an apartment has made us get creative when it comes to promoting movement. Our Pikler Triangle Set has been amazing so far, and it feels like we can still get a lot of use out of it since Emi hasn’t used all its settings yet. But as she grows, we’ll probably look into something like stepping stones, a balance beam, or this cool plank.

SENSORY: Nature provides the ultimate sensory experience for our little ones! Learn how to stimulate each of the senses with these Natural Sensory Play ideas.

MUSIC: Emi LOVES music, so I ensure we have some designated time each day to jam and have fun. Enjoying regular Rhythm and Rhyme play time to introduce simple songs accompanied by rhythmic movements is a great way to foster movement and early language development.

LANGUAGE: Speaking of language development, I always push myself to use any experience to introduce new words and sounds. A great place to do this is at the grocery store, where I try to include Emi in the shopping experience by talking about the fruits and vegetables we see. If you get your groceries delivered, you can let your little one help you put away the groceries and talk about the items. If you want to engage your little one during grocery trips, you can try this checklist.

MINDFULNESS: Morning routines are often hectic and fast-paced, but setting the tone for a peaceful day as best we can is important. During the week, it might be easier to do some quick affirmations, but if you have more time during the weekend, consider doing a longer morning meditation to take a moment with your little one.

NATURE: If you haven’t downloaded these nature scavenger hunts yet, you are missing out! Here’s the link to the list, all printables are FREE!

LIFE: I just started a new embroidery project, and Emi loves playing with the threads and exploring the textures of each stitch. It's quite early for her to start stitching, but a threading activity might be just the thing to practice those fine motor skills!

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