I never thought I’d become a mom…

For the longest time, I genuinely thought I was going to be the cool single aunt forever. The one traveling, building businesses, showing up to family parties with gifts for everyone else’s kids, and then going back home at the end of the night.

Then in 2018, life surprised me with Leslie Valentina, and everything changed.

Becoming a mother changed me in ways I still can’t fully explain. Of course, people tell you that motherhood changes your schedule, your sleep, your priorities, all of that. But what surprised me most was how much it changed the way I saw myself. Somewhere between the sleepless nights, the responsibility, the fear, and the love, I became stronger. More intentional. More confident. I stopped doubting myself so much. I started believing that if I could raise another human being, I could also build the life and dreams I wanted for both of us.

As a Dominican woman, I also found that motherhood gave me a deeper appreciation for the women in my family. I think about my mom, my grandmothers, my tias, and how much they carried, often without recognition. Women who stretched every dollar, worked nonstop, cooked, cleaned, prayed, worried about everyone, and still somehow found a way to love so deeply. There’s a certain strength in Dominican mothers that’s hard to explain unless you’ve lived it. It’s in the way they feed you, the way they pray for you, the way they say “llámame cuando llegues” before you leave the house.

At the same time, I think our generation of Latina and Dominican moms is trying to create something different, too. We still care deeply about family, culture, and community, but many of us are also trying to heal, rest, dream bigger, and create more freedom for ourselves and our children. We’re raising kids while building businesses, managing careers, helping our families financially, and trying to break cycles. Some days it feels overwhelming. Other days, it feels beautiful. Most days, honestly, it’s both.

Today, I just want to celebrate Dominican mothers and mother figures everywhere. Especially the women quietly carrying responsibilities nobody else fully sees.

And to my Leslie, thank you for changing my life in the most unexpected and beautiful way possible. You made me stronger.

¡Feliz Día de las Madres Dominicanas! I am building something special for all of us. Join here.

Con amor, 

Elisa.