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

In this Part 1 of 2 Viva la Mami Spotlight episode, you will hear Gabriela Serna’s story about having a neurodiverse familia. As a Latina mom, Gabriela shares how she has raised twins who are neurodiverse, one who is neurodivergent and the other who is neurotypical. In this episode, you will hear about Some of the signs that were noticed before a child is diagnosed with autism When to know the rig...

Just like every start of a new year, we see and hear marketing campaigns about meeting “weight loss” resolutions. As you probably know, numerous studies show that New Year’s weight loss resolutions almost never work. Instead of planning on a quick-fix diet or weight loss program, we should consider a sustainable, long-term approach that would help us become more present and self-compassionate abou...

Want to know how you can incorporate Montessori at home? Listen to my conversation with Leslie Buch, the creator behind Latinx Montessori . Leslie is on a mission to help bring awareness and support to parents. In this episode, you will hear about: What the Montessori approach is and what makes this method different from other educational and parenting methods. How bilingual and bicultural familie...

In this solo episode, I share a big update about our life at this moment as we are expecting baby number two!! I also share what my 2023 intentions are for this new year! Resources mentioned: VLM Spotlight: A Young Mami VLM Spotlight: A Loss Mami How a Doula Can Support You in Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum 3 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Stopped Breastfeeding Relactation: What Is It and How to...

In this Viva la Mami Spotlight, you will hear from Ani Cordero. She shares how she navigated madrehood while being a musician. She provides so much wisdom as someone who did not leave her passion and calling in the creative arts. Whether if you are a new mami in the fine arts or in a profession than Ani, so much of what she shares can be applicable to understanding the nuances of a working mami. A...

In this episode, I interview Vanessa Avalos, who is the owner of Luna y Cielo Play Café, a Spanish bilingual playroom where parents can receive support in celebrating our culture and keeping our Spanish language alive with their children. Vanessa shares what inspired her to create the first bilingual Spanish playroom in Chicago. She also shares how her upbringing of only speaking English impacted...

There are many misconceptions about Stay-at-Home Mamis and we often hear about the comparison battle between working moms and stay-at-home moms. You'll be surprised that there are so many similarities that we all have, especially when it comes to making sacrifices as mothers.  In this VLM Spotlight, I interview Amanda Santiago who is a working professional turned Stay-at-Home Mom, who now sup...

Have you ever thought about having a doula during your pregnancy, childbirth, and/or postpartum experience? Did you know that there is a doula for almost everyone based on their goals, values, beliefs, and identity? If you want to learn more about what a doula does and the benefits of having one, this episode is for you! In this episode, I interview Isabel “Isa” Gonzalez-Smith. She is a mother, wi...

In 2021, 1 in 10 babies was born preterm in the United States. While this number can be frightening, it is a reality that many mamis have to endure.  In this week's episode, I interview Gisela Rodriguez, who is a NICU mami. At 30 weeks, she had to deliver her daughter and was in the NICU for a couple months. Gisela shares her story of having to birth a premature baby. Despite what she had to...

In this episode, I interview Laura Rodríguez-Romaní from Los Amigos Books. Los Amigos Books is a Spanish language and bilingual bookstore for readers of all ages. Laura uses her expertise of the Spanish language and diverse children’s literature to curate a collection of books that upholds the values of authenticity and diversity. Laura aims to advocate for bilingualism and multiculturalism by pro...

In this episode, I interview Diandra Morse from Bilingual Playdate. Diandra Morse, LCSW is a Dominican-American, Afro-Latina, licensed clinical social worker from New York state and is raising two Spanish/English bilingual boys alongside her husband, who’s a non native speaker of Spanish. In addition to her profession, Diandra is the creator of Bilingual Playdate, an Instagram account dedicated to...

In this episode, I interview Mónica Tato from ¡Viva! Kids Learning. Viva Kids is a place where parents can come find community, information and tools necessary when raising bilingual and bicultural children. Her social media pages celebrate the diversity of our cultura and also provides information related to cultural identity and how to incorporate culture in everyday routine. Her shop, La Tiendi...

In this BONUS episode, I interview Henry and Zarai Ramirez from Zarai Imports in Chicago. They are a small business that sells authentic wardrobe and artisan objects from México.  In this Instagram Live, Henry and Zarai share the history and significance of Día de los Muertos. They also share how you can setup an altar if you want to start or continue this tradition with your family. You can follo...

One in four pregnancies lead to a miscarriage. Even though this is a sad reality, oftentimes we are not equipped to endure this traumatic experience. As Latinas, we grew up to shove it under the rug. However, it is important to tell our stories, seek support, and find the resources needed to cope and grieve with pregnancy loss. In this VLM Spotlight, I interview Valeria Castillo, a lost mami. Vale...

In this episode, I interview Liliana Diaz-Vazquez, who is certified and licensed bilingual speech language pathologist (SLP) currently practicing in Chicago, Illinois. She is also owner of Bilingual Speechie, a speech therapy business dedicated to providing inclusive and engaging resources and activities for bilingual children, parents and SLPs.  We talk about the benefits of speech therapy and co...

On this first VLM Spotlight, I interview my sister, Karina Fabela. Karina is a mother of two who became a young mother at the age of 21. She shares how her life completely changed after having an unplanned pregnancy when dating her now husband for less than a year. She also shares how she had to navigate her madrehood journey as a young mami. Karina is currently a real estate agent based in the Ch...

Hola amiga! This is Jessica and I am the creator of the Viva la Mami podcast. In this episode, I share my story before becoming a mami and a brief overview of my madrehood journey (I didn't go too much into detail since I'll be sharing more about my journey in coming episodes).  I also share what inspired me to create this podcast.  For many, motherhood can lead to a sense of isolation,...