January 22, 2025 • 20 mins
Motherhood is a whirlwind, and it’s easy to feel like you’re constantly running on autopilot. But what if you could shift from just getting through the day to truly experiencing it? In this episode, I chat with Monica, a mom, entrepreneur, and host of mother-and-child retreats, about what it really means to be intentional in motherhood. We talk about breaking free from societal expectations, creating space for presence, and simple ways to infuse intentionality into your daily life—even when things feel overwhelming. If you’ve ever wanted to slow down and savor motherhood instead of rushing through it, this episode is for you.
Key Takeaways:
- Start Small: Being intentional doesn’t mean overhauling your life—it’s about simple shifts like putting your phone away for 10 minutes and fully engaging with your kids.
- Nature as a Reset: Stepping outside, whether for a walk, watching the sunrise, or exploring with your child, can help you disconnect from distractions and be more present.
- Intentional Living Can Be Virtual Too: If an in-person retreat isn’t in the cards, there are ways to cultivate intentionality at home, including Monica’s Intentional Living for Mothers Audio Event happening February 3-7.
Links Mentioned in This Episode:
- Intentional Living for Mothers Audio Event (Feb 3-7): https://www.wandherwild.com/summit
- Magic Mind
- Show Notes
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Did you know that the averageparent spends about 34 minutes
of, undistracted time with theirkids each day?
I know it doesn't sound likemuch, but let's just be honest
between work chores schedulesand the never ending to-do
lists.
It's easy to slip into autopilotand just get through the day.
But here's the thing.
(00:20):
What if small, intentionalmoments.
Could completely change how youexperience motherhood.
And that's what we're going totalk about in this episode.
Hey there.
My name is Toni Ann.
I'm the podcast host of the realhappy mom podcast, the podcast
for busy working moms who wantsto gain more time and achieve
their big goals without pullingtheir hair out.
(00:42):
And in today's episode, I amtalking to Monica.
The mom and entrepreneur whohosts.
Mother and child retreats.
And it's going to share with usa little bit about what it means
to be intentional in motherhood.
And one way that we can be alittle bit more intentional is
by making sure that we'restaying focused.
(01:03):
I know it's hard, especiallywith work going on.
I know I find myself easilygetting distracted and having a
hard time staying focused.
But things have changed since Istarted using magic mind.
Magic mind is a mentalperformance shot that I take in
the mornings when I have severaltasks that require me to focus
and concentrate.
So instead of drinking anotherlatte or red bull, I like to
(01:25):
drink magic mind.
And I feel calm and focused.
It's kind of like when Mariogets a mushroom inside a super
Mario, you know, the game.
So instead of jumping higher,like Mario does, my superpower
is a sharper mind and increasedproductivity.
Anytime I take this magic shot.
I know that I can focus oncreating some great content for
(01:46):
real happy mom.
Plus I can manage my busyschedule and still feel calm,
which is surprising, consideringall the things that I have going
on around me.
So no more feeling like you havea squirrel brain or get an
easily stressed out.
Use magic mind and you'llabsolutely love it.
If you want to give it a trytoo, you can go to www dot magic
(02:07):
mind.
Dot com.
And experienced the mentalclarity and calm that I have.
toni-ann-from-real-happy-mo (02:14):
All right.
Welcome to the podcast, Monica.
I'm excited to have you and chitchat with you today.
monica-virga-alborno_1_01-22 (02:21):
Me too.
Thank you for having me.
toni-ann-from-real-happy-m (02:23):
Yes.
Yes.
For people who are listening anddon't know about you, can you
share a little bit about you andwho you are and what you do?
monica-virga-alborno_1_01 (02:32):
Yeah.
So I'm Monica.
I am a mom of a four and a twoyear old who really completely
changed my world when I wentfrom just being a working
engineer for a large energycompany, uh, Um, traveling
around the world and then becamea mom during the pandemic.
(02:53):
And, um, everything just kind ofchanged from there.
So I've become an entrepreneur,very passionate about supporting
mothers in the space of just.
Really self development.
And I host mother and childretreats in the United States.
And I also have a virtualcommunity for mothers to kind of
(03:15):
take that retreat typeatmosphere and development.
To a virtual space where you cancontinue the work or, or, or
also just join us in a waythat's more affordable.
And geographically doesn'treally have any boundaries.
So I currently live in Norway.
I'm from New Jersey and myhusband is Saudi Arabian.
My kids are learning Norwegianand English.
(03:36):
They're already bilingual.
So we have a very multiculturalhouse going on.
And, um, yeah, that's me in anutshell.
toni-ann-from-real-happy- (03:46):
Nice.
And I know at these retreats, Iknow there, are a lot of things
that you do with them, but inparticular, I know you really
focus on intentional motherhood.
So first I wanted to just askyou, what does intentional
motherhood mean to you and whatdoes it look like?
monica-virga-alborno_1_01 (04:03):
Yeah.
So I think, yeah, intentional issuch a like.
It can be such a buzzword, butlike the roots of it are really
fully taking intentionality inthe decisions that you make and
the way that you spend your timeand even just your day and your
motherhood journey.
So looking at, you know, makingdecisions that can really feel
(04:26):
good to you versus maybe justthings you've been told carving
out time to be really present.
Making things in a moreintuitive way that just like,
maybe aren't always what you seeon social media or the way you
were raised or the way someone'stelling you things should be.
Um, but instead to really likeget in the driver's seat, get
(04:48):
off kind of this like autopilotapproach that, you know, a lot
of us have, cause we're so tiredand burned out most days, but,
but really carving out that timefor more presence and just,
Doing things in a way whereyou're taking intentionality to
it.
Like you're, you're thinkingabout those decisions and how
(05:10):
they can affect your ownmindset, your own body, your own
soul.
And also the children thatyou're, you're guiding in this
life as well.
toni-ann-from-real-happy- (05:20):
Yeah, you brought up a couple of
points, um, as far as just beingintentional in the way that
you're doing things.
Because I know a lot of times, Ifeel like we get in that.
Autopilot mode where we're justkind of getting through the day.
But are there certain thingsthat you would say to, to either
think about or to try to do sothat you can be more intentional
(05:42):
throughout your day?
So you're not running onautopilot?
monica-virga-alborno_1_01 (05:45):
Yeah, completely, because I, yeah, I'm
all about, like, making thisrealistic, right?
Because, like, we can't takeaway everything on our plates.
We, we can try and change somethings over time in our lives to
create more space, but itdoesn't happen overnight.
So, like, being realistic withjust starting out with small
things, like, carving out timefor just fully being present
(06:08):
with my kids, for instance, orwith your kids where you put
your phone on silent, you know,you put any work that you have
to do aside, you leave whateverthing around the house you have
to do and just put it aside andjust fully be present to spend,
even if it's 20, 30 minuteswhere you're really just.
(06:28):
Fully, fully there having aconversation or just really
witnessing and being with yourkids, um, and with yourself, you
know, just like how you'refeeling in that moment without
thinking about all the things.
And maybe the thoughts are stillgoing to come in your mind, like
similar to meditation, but youjust let them come in and go
out, observe and, and staypresence.
(06:50):
Um, You know, just stay groundedand stay present.
So that's something for me that,you know, everybody can find 20
minutes, hopefully in their dayto, to just put things, put
things aside, carve out thattime.
Um, and.
You know, and then you'll see,like, it'll grow.
(07:12):
Like you'll be able to probablyfit those pockets in more and
more.
I also just really enjoy like,Getting outside, like that's
always something that being innature is so calming and like
for your nervous system for, itjust, It's somewhere where you
can be creative and it's just sosimple.
(07:35):
It's so simple and you don'treally have to have an agenda or
anything planned.
Um, so that's like a lot of my,my go to weekends a lot with my
kids, when we have timetogether, we just sit outside
and we might watch the sunriseor make a little campfire.
Outside before bed one night.
Um, whatever it might be, justgo for a walk and collect
(07:58):
different pine cones and rocksand look at the different
textures and connect with oursenses.
Like when you get away from thedistractions, just, you'll see
kind of what opens up and itfeels really good to.
You, you know, it's a way ofgiving yourself some care, and
also connecting with your childaway from all these other to do
(08:22):
lists and things we have.
Cause I think sometimes being inyour house, you'll, you'll just
see like, Oh, I got to clean upthat mess.
So I got to throw that in thelaundry.
So like, just get like removingyourself from your house can be
an easy way of just like, okay,there's nothing out here.
That's going to really pull meto do something.
So that's another one that Ithink is.
Um, yeah, it's an easy way toget started with intentional
(08:45):
living that you can do today.
toni-ann-from-real-happy- (08:49):
Yeah, you brought up a lot of.
Really good points.
And, um, I like when you'retalking about, getting outside
and removing yourself from, Icall them the distractions that
are gonna suck you into, notbeing as intentional as you want
to be.
But I know there's sometimessome moms who are in just
different seasons of life thatare a little bit harder, whether
(09:10):
it's Um, dealing with a sickparent or having a chronic
illness or things like that.
What would you say to those momswho are like in a tough season
and they're really like, youknow, Monica, like, how do I do
this?
Like, I want to, but it's just alot.
What would you say to them?
monica-virga-alborno_1_01 (09:28):
Yeah, there's Those are definitely
tough situations to be in.
And there are always going to bethese, and everyone's story is
different, but like there'salways going to be these times
in everyone's life where thingsare more difficult and it's more
difficult to fit in thesemoments of presence.
but I would still say it'sreally important and maybe even
(09:50):
more important for thosedifficult moments.
and it, it's, It's just a matterof maybe asking for help if you
need someone else to step in forfive minutes so that you can
take a breather, and just maybelooking at your week as a whole
and planning it out a little bitof, like, carving out, you know,
Just space in your week so thatyou can fit in some of these
(10:14):
things because when you are moreintentional with your time and
you have these moments ofstillness and these moments of
presence and connection, itchanges the way that you react
and the way that you.
Have conversations with others,the way that you interact with
others.
(10:34):
Like it changes everything inyour life.
So it has an impact on, so ifyou leave it out, you know, it's
going to, you won't have thosepositive impacts, support you
through those times.
That can be really difficult.
toni-ann-from-real-happy-mom (10:48):
I, I really appreciated that
because I think a lot of times,you know, We have these
unrealistic expectations and wewant to do more than we're
actually capable of.
So asking for help for sure andthen just knowing that it will
create the space I think is sobeautiful.
And one thing I want to circleback to was about the retreats
(11:10):
that you have.
And I know that you do these inperson retreats.
one, tell us a little bit aboutthem.
And then two, like What is thegoal and how do you incorporate
intentional motherhood duringthe retreats?
monica-virga-alborno_1_01-22 (11:26):
So I started hosting mother and
child retreats after becoming amom.
I was just so driven to createthis space where we could
explore more, like who we are inthis chapter of life.
Because it is so.
Transformational when you stepinto this, this phase, and so
(11:48):
that the goal was really to themission, I should say, is just
to get away from all thebusyness that we've kind of been
touching on, get away from that,where we are able to nourish
your mind, body and soul.
And.
You don't have to worry aboutcooking.
We're preparing earth to tablefoods that are providing
(12:10):
nutrients to your body that arereally good, that feel good,
that give you clarity in whatyou're eating.
Um, and there are, you know,things that kids and moms are
both excited about eating.
It's, it's a food experienceand, and it's also an
opportunity for mothers andchildren to have.
(12:37):
These curated activities thatprovide a holistic approach to
life.
Um, we do things likeinteractive sound journeys where
we, we really explore thehealing powers of sound.
We do things like mommy, meyoga, but in a very intentional
(12:59):
way that, um, strengthen thebond and connection between
mother and child.
Um, We spend a lot of timeoutside in nature.
There's a few hours each day ofnature based forest school
inspired child care where thekids really self lead in these
different activities, where wecreate like earth offerings and
(13:23):
we'll like, Hug a tree or likewe did something recently in our
retreat this past weekend wherewe Had like a blindfold and you
had to go up to a tree and likejust Connect with it feel the
texture feel how big it was andthen get stuck But around and
figure out which tree it was.
So like things like that, whereyou really just start to, um, be
(13:45):
more aware of the beauty aroundyou to like the natural beauty
around you and, and the mothershave opportunities when the
children are doing that toreally.
Just let go and release a lot ofthings that we hold on to.
And a lot of things that can bedifficult to even share with our
(14:06):
friends every day.
There's a lot of tears.
There's also a lot of laughter.
Um, we usually open up the firstday with a cacao circle, which
is just a sacred circle ofsharing.
Um, And there's just a lot ofemotions that come up.
Like a lot of us are stillgrieving things like birth
experiences or, um, time forourselves or, you know,
(14:29):
different things that come up ina lot of deeper things too, but
like, uh, everybody hassomething personal that they're,
they're navigating.
And so it's an opportunity toalso share that in a very safe
space without judgment, withoutanyone giving unsolicited
advice.
And it's just a space where.
You feel open and you feel opento release that and then just
(14:52):
come in community with mothers,which is so important because we
don't always get thatopportunity.
toni-ann-from-real-happy- (14:58):
Yeah, and this is, is so good because
I feel like, especially ifyou're listening, you're like,
that sounds great.
Like you can create this.
for yourself.
I feel like because you'retalking about even the foods
like that's something thathonestly like I love to eat, but
I wasn't even really thinkingabout how that can play such a
huge role as far as theintentionality part and then the
(15:20):
yoga and being outside and allof these different activities
that you have within theretreat.
I know that this really createsan experience that is It's not
only beneficial for the mothers,but for the kids too as well.
And yeah, like I said, this issomething that I know that, we
can take some of these, ideasand definitely incorporate them,
within ourselves and at ourhomes.
(15:41):
But you do have something thatwe could attend, even if we are
not, wherever your retreats are,we can attend something
virtually, um, that it has asimilar feel that can definitely
help with us living moreintentionally.
And that is the intentionalliving for mothers audio event,
which coming up February 3rd.
(16:02):
I just wanted to talk to youabout that.
What are some of the things thatwe could look forward to and
where can we learn more aboutit?
monica-virga-alborno_1_01 (16:12):
Yeah, it's, it's intentional living
for mothers.
It's an audio event that's goingto be taking place February 3rd
through the 7th.
And, um, you know, I, Iacknowledge that our retreats
are an investment in time andalso money that not everybody
can, can get.
Geographically there, whereveryou are in life, like there's
(16:32):
reasons you won't always be ableto attend a retreat with us.
So this is a way to still, asyou touched on, like, if you're
excited about what we're sayingwe do at the retreats, like, you
can still do a lot of this athome.
This is still work that can bedone individually in your home.
And then, You can also connectwith us virtually through our
member space or, you know, finda community that you have that
(16:55):
support with.
And so, this event is really toboldly help you embody the life
you dream of, really, inparallel to motherhood.
I've always been a person whoreally doesn't believe in glass
ceilings.
Like if you can believe it, ifyou dream it and you really want
it, you can have it.
So this is to really help youmake those, those steps towards
(17:19):
that.
And we've brought together 30plus incredible women in the
online space, all mothers, whoare very passionate about
supporting other mothers tointentionality.
And We're going to be havingconversations with, parenting
experts with, with doctors whoare, in certain fields like
(17:43):
pelvic health, for instance.
there's published authors in theparenting space.
There are health and wellnessprofessionals.
there are a lot of, like, momcoaches.
Like, it's just a really.
incredible group of women who'veall come together with a similar
passion for supporting othermothers and Also the important
(18:04):
piece for me when I was lookingat who I wanted to speak was
that everyone is so authenticand real.
They're not spitting out advicethat like isn't practical.
So I'm really excited for allthe conversations that are going
to have in there.
There's something that you'regoing to take away from every
single conversation that you canstart doing now.
Like, these are things that areyou can start making these small
(18:27):
changes or just pick up what youneed, take what you don't.
But yeah, it's going to be areally great week of, of
learnings and inspiration.
toni-ann-from-real-happy-m (18:36):
Yes, yes.
I, I'm really excited to see howeverything unfolds for you.
I was looking at the speakerlineup and looking at all of the
presentations and they are allreally good ones.
So, I know it's going to be areally, really great event.
So, I will definitely have thelink in the show notes or in the
description of wherever you'relistening.
So, don't worry, I got youcovered there.
(18:58):
But, Before we go, Monica, Ijust wanted to circle back to
the beginning on intentionalmotherhood and um, just get you
to give us just like one thing,one thing before we go that you
want us to remember when itcomes to being more intentional,
especially with motherhood.
monica-virga-alborno_1_01 (19:18):
Yeah.
Just start small, start beingjust practical.
And today just maybe put yourscreen down, turn the TV off.
Turn the music off, put yourphone aside, put anything in
your home that you have to workon, if it's dishes, laundry,
whatever, like just put it downfor even five, ten minutes and
(19:39):
just fully, fully see your kidsand just see them for who they
are.
And also just be present, bepresent with yourself and just
be appreciative for like, what'saround you and these, these
little humans in your life andthis chapter, because it does go
by so fast and just start there,you know, just start there and
(20:02):
see how it makes you feel whenyou take those five to 10
minutes and just carve outdoing, doing nothing, but
connecting with them and beingpresent with yourself.
toni-ann-from-real-happy-m (20:13):
Yes, I love it.
I love it.
thank you so much for coming onand sharing all of this with us.
monica-virga-alborno_1_01-2 (20:18):
All right.
Thank you so much.
toni-ann-from-real-happy-mo (20:19):
No, that's it for this episode of
the real happy mom podcast, tofind the links in the show
notes, head on over to realhappymom.com/ 2 4 9.
There you'll find the links toeverything that we talked about
in this episode, including theaudio event that is starting
here very soon.
So make sure you check that out.
All right, that's it for thistime, take care.
(20:42):
And with lots of love.
Did you know that the averageparent spends about 34 minutes
of, undistracted time with theirkids each day?
I know it doesn't sound likemuch, but let's just be honest
between work chores schedulesand the never ending to-do
lists.
It's easy to slip into autopilotand just get through the day.
But here's the thing.
(00:20):
What if small, intentionalmoments.
Could completely change how youexperience motherhood.
And that's what we're going totalk about in this episode.
Hey there.
My name is Toni Ann.
I'm the podcast host of the realhappy mom podcast, the podcast
for busy working moms who wantsto gain more time and achieve
their big goals without pullingtheir hair out.
(00:42):
And in today's episode, I amtalking to Monica.
The mom and entrepreneur whohosts.
Mother and child retreats.
And it's going to share with usa little bit about what it means
to be intentional in motherhood.
And one way that we can be alittle bit more intentional is
by making sure that we'restaying focused.
(01:03):
I know it's hard, especiallywith work going on.
I know I find myself easilygetting distracted and having a
hard time staying focused.
But things have changed since Istarted using magic mind.
Magic mind is a mentalperformance shot that I take in
the mornings when I have severaltasks that require me to focus
and concentrate.
So instead of drinking anotherlatte or red bull, I like to
(01:25):
drink magic mind.
And I feel calm and focused.
It's kind of like when Mariogets a mushroom inside a super
Mario, you know, the game.
So instead of jumping higher,like Mario does, my superpower
is a sharper mind and increasedproductivity.
Anytime I take this magic shot.
I know that I can focus oncreating some great content for
(01:46):
real happy mom.
Plus I can manage my busyschedule and still feel calm,
which is surprising, consideringall the things that I have going
on around me.
So no more feeling like you havea squirrel brain or get an
easily stressed out.
Use magic mind and you'llabsolutely love it.
If you want to give it a trytoo, you can go to www dot magic
(02:07):
mind.
Dot com.
And experienced the mentalclarity and calm that I have.
toni-ann-from-real-happy-mo (02:14):
All right.
Welcome to the podcast, Monica.
I'm excited to have you and chitchat with you today.
monica-virga-alborno_1_01-22 (02:21):
Me too.
Thank you for having me.
toni-ann-from-real-happy-m (02:23):
Yes.
Yes.
For people who are listening anddon't know about you, can you
share a little bit about you andwho you are and what you do?
monica-virga-alborno_1_01 (02:32):
Yeah.
So I'm Monica.
I am a mom of a four and a twoyear old who really completely
changed my world when I wentfrom just being a working
engineer for a large energycompany, uh, Um, traveling
around the world and then becamea mom during the pandemic.
(02:53):
And, um, everything just kind ofchanged from there.
So I've become an entrepreneur,very passionate about supporting
mothers in the space of just.
Really self development.
And I host mother and childretreats in the United States.
And I also have a virtualcommunity for mothers to kind of
(03:15):
take that retreat typeatmosphere and development.
To a virtual space where you cancontinue the work or, or, or
also just join us in a waythat's more affordable.
And geographically doesn'treally have any boundaries.
So I currently live in Norway.
I'm from New Jersey and myhusband is Saudi Arabian.
My kids are learning Norwegianand English.
(03:36):
They're already bilingual.
So we have a very multiculturalhouse going on.
And, um, yeah, that's me in anutshell.
toni-ann-from-real-happy- (03:46):
Nice.
And I know at these retreats, Iknow there, are a lot of things
that you do with them, but inparticular, I know you really
focus on intentional motherhood.
So first I wanted to just askyou, what does intentional
motherhood mean to you and whatdoes it look like?
monica-virga-alborno_1_01 (04:03):
Yeah.
So I think, yeah, intentional issuch a like.
It can be such a buzzword, butlike the roots of it are really
fully taking intentionality inthe decisions that you make and
the way that you spend your timeand even just your day and your
motherhood journey.
So looking at, you know, makingdecisions that can really feel
(04:26):
good to you versus maybe justthings you've been told carving
out time to be really present.
Making things in a moreintuitive way that just like,
maybe aren't always what you seeon social media or the way you
were raised or the way someone'stelling you things should be.
Um, but instead to really likeget in the driver's seat, get
(04:48):
off kind of this like autopilotapproach that, you know, a lot
of us have, cause we're so tiredand burned out most days, but,
but really carving out that timefor more presence and just,
Doing things in a way whereyou're taking intentionality to
it.
Like you're, you're thinkingabout those decisions and how
(05:10):
they can affect your ownmindset, your own body, your own
soul.
And also the children thatyou're, you're guiding in this
life as well.
toni-ann-from-real-happy- (05:20):
Yeah, you brought up a couple of
points, um, as far as just beingintentional in the way that
you're doing things.
Because I know a lot of times, Ifeel like we get in that.
Autopilot mode where we're justkind of getting through the day.
But are there certain thingsthat you would say to, to either
think about or to try to do sothat you can be more intentional
(05:42):
throughout your day?
So you're not running onautopilot?
monica-virga-alborno_1_01 (05:45):
Yeah, completely, because I, yeah, I'm
all about, like, making thisrealistic, right?
Because, like, we can't takeaway everything on our plates.
We, we can try and change somethings over time in our lives to
create more space, but itdoesn't happen overnight.
So, like, being realistic withjust starting out with small
things, like, carving out timefor just fully being present
(06:08):
with my kids, for instance, orwith your kids where you put
your phone on silent, you know,you put any work that you have
to do aside, you leave whateverthing around the house you have
to do and just put it aside andjust fully be present to spend,
even if it's 20, 30 minuteswhere you're really just.
(06:28):
Fully, fully there having aconversation or just really
witnessing and being with yourkids, um, and with yourself, you
know, just like how you'refeeling in that moment without
thinking about all the things.
And maybe the thoughts are stillgoing to come in your mind, like
similar to meditation, but youjust let them come in and go
out, observe and, and staypresence.
(06:50):
Um, You know, just stay groundedand stay present.
So that's something for me that,you know, everybody can find 20
minutes, hopefully in their dayto, to just put things, put
things aside, carve out thattime.
Um, and.
You know, and then you'll see,like, it'll grow.
(07:12):
Like you'll be able to probablyfit those pockets in more and
more.
I also just really enjoy like,Getting outside, like that's
always something that being innature is so calming and like
for your nervous system for, itjust, It's somewhere where you
can be creative and it's just sosimple.
(07:35):
It's so simple and you don'treally have to have an agenda or
anything planned.
Um, so that's like a lot of my,my go to weekends a lot with my
kids, when we have timetogether, we just sit outside
and we might watch the sunriseor make a little campfire.
Outside before bed one night.
Um, whatever it might be, justgo for a walk and collect
(07:58):
different pine cones and rocksand look at the different
textures and connect with oursenses.
Like when you get away from thedistractions, just, you'll see
kind of what opens up and itfeels really good to.
You, you know, it's a way ofgiving yourself some care, and
also connecting with your childaway from all these other to do
(08:22):
lists and things we have.
Cause I think sometimes being inyour house, you'll, you'll just
see like, Oh, I got to clean upthat mess.
So I got to throw that in thelaundry.
So like, just get like removingyourself from your house can be
an easy way of just like, okay,there's nothing out here.
That's going to really pull meto do something.
So that's another one that Ithink is.
Um, yeah, it's an easy way toget started with intentional
(08:45):
living that you can do today.
toni-ann-from-real-happy- (08:49):
Yeah, you brought up a lot of.
Really good points.
And, um, I like when you'retalking about, getting outside
and removing yourself from, Icall them the distractions that
are gonna suck you into, notbeing as intentional as you want
to be.
But I know there's sometimessome moms who are in just
different seasons of life thatare a little bit harder, whether
(09:10):
it's Um, dealing with a sickparent or having a chronic
illness or things like that.
What would you say to those momswho are like in a tough season
and they're really like, youknow, Monica, like, how do I do
this?
Like, I want to, but it's just alot.
What would you say to them?
monica-virga-alborno_1_01 (09:28):
Yeah, there's Those are definitely
tough situations to be in.
And there are always going to bethese, and everyone's story is
different, but like there'salways going to be these times
in everyone's life where thingsare more difficult and it's more
difficult to fit in thesemoments of presence.
but I would still say it'sreally important and maybe even
(09:50):
more important for thosedifficult moments.
and it, it's, It's just a matterof maybe asking for help if you
need someone else to step in forfive minutes so that you can
take a breather, and just maybelooking at your week as a whole
and planning it out a little bitof, like, carving out, you know,
Just space in your week so thatyou can fit in some of these
(10:14):
things because when you are moreintentional with your time and
you have these moments ofstillness and these moments of
presence and connection, itchanges the way that you react
and the way that you.
Have conversations with others,the way that you interact with
others.
(10:34):
Like it changes everything inyour life.
So it has an impact on, so ifyou leave it out, you know, it's
going to, you won't have thosepositive impacts, support you
through those times.
That can be really difficult.
toni-ann-from-real-happy-mom (10:48):
I, I really appreciated that
because I think a lot of times,you know, We have these
unrealistic expectations and wewant to do more than we're
actually capable of.
So asking for help for sure andthen just knowing that it will
create the space I think is sobeautiful.
And one thing I want to circleback to was about the retreats
(11:10):
that you have.
And I know that you do these inperson retreats.
one, tell us a little bit aboutthem.
And then two, like What is thegoal and how do you incorporate
intentional motherhood duringthe retreats?
monica-virga-alborno_1_01-22 (11:26):
So I started hosting mother and
child retreats after becoming amom.
I was just so driven to createthis space where we could
explore more, like who we are inthis chapter of life.
Because it is so.
Transformational when you stepinto this, this phase, and so
(11:48):
that the goal was really to themission, I should say, is just
to get away from all thebusyness that we've kind of been
touching on, get away from that,where we are able to nourish
your mind, body and soul.
And.
You don't have to worry aboutcooking.
We're preparing earth to tablefoods that are providing
(12:10):
nutrients to your body that arereally good, that feel good,
that give you clarity in whatyou're eating.
Um, and there are, you know,things that kids and moms are
both excited about eating.
It's, it's a food experienceand, and it's also an
opportunity for mothers andchildren to have.
(12:37):
These curated activities thatprovide a holistic approach to
life.
Um, we do things likeinteractive sound journeys where
we, we really explore thehealing powers of sound.
We do things like mommy, meyoga, but in a very intentional
(12:59):
way that, um, strengthen thebond and connection between
mother and child.
Um, We spend a lot of timeoutside in nature.
There's a few hours each day ofnature based forest school
inspired child care where thekids really self lead in these
different activities, where wecreate like earth offerings and
(13:23):
we'll like, Hug a tree or likewe did something recently in our
retreat this past weekend wherewe Had like a blindfold and you
had to go up to a tree and likejust Connect with it feel the
texture feel how big it was andthen get stuck But around and
figure out which tree it was.
So like things like that, whereyou really just start to, um, be
(13:45):
more aware of the beauty aroundyou to like the natural beauty
around you and, and the mothershave opportunities when the
children are doing that toreally.
Just let go and release a lot ofthings that we hold on to.
And a lot of things that can bedifficult to even share with our
(14:06):
friends every day.
There's a lot of tears.
There's also a lot of laughter.
Um, we usually open up the firstday with a cacao circle, which
is just a sacred circle ofsharing.
Um, And there's just a lot ofemotions that come up.
Like a lot of us are stillgrieving things like birth
experiences or, um, time forourselves or, you know,
(14:29):
different things that come up ina lot of deeper things too, but
like, uh, everybody hassomething personal that they're,
they're navigating.
And so it's an opportunity toalso share that in a very safe
space without judgment, withoutanyone giving unsolicited
advice.
And it's just a space where.
You feel open and you feel opento release that and then just
(14:52):
come in community with mothers,which is so important because we
don't always get thatopportunity.
toni-ann-from-real-happy- (14:58):
Yeah, and this is, is so good because
I feel like, especially ifyou're listening, you're like,
that sounds great.
Like you can create this.
for yourself.
I feel like because you'retalking about even the foods
like that's something thathonestly like I love to eat, but
I wasn't even really thinkingabout how that can play such a
huge role as far as theintentionality part and then the
(15:20):
yoga and being outside and allof these different activities
that you have within theretreat.
I know that this really createsan experience that is It's not
only beneficial for the mothers,but for the kids too as well.
And yeah, like I said, this issomething that I know that, we
can take some of these, ideasand definitely incorporate them,
within ourselves and at ourhomes.
(15:41):
But you do have something thatwe could attend, even if we are
not, wherever your retreats are,we can attend something
virtually, um, that it has asimilar feel that can definitely
help with us living moreintentionally.
And that is the intentionalliving for mothers audio event,
which coming up February 3rd.
(16:02):
I just wanted to talk to youabout that.
What are some of the things thatwe could look forward to and
where can we learn more aboutit?
monica-virga-alborno_1_01 (16:12):
Yeah, it's, it's intentional living
for mothers.
It's an audio event that's goingto be taking place February 3rd
through the 7th.
And, um, you know, I, Iacknowledge that our retreats
are an investment in time andalso money that not everybody
can, can get.
Geographically there, whereveryou are in life, like there's
(16:32):
reasons you won't always be ableto attend a retreat with us.
So this is a way to still, asyou touched on, like, if you're
excited about what we're sayingwe do at the retreats, like, you
can still do a lot of this athome.
This is still work that can bedone individually in your home.
And then, You can also connectwith us virtually through our
member space or, you know, finda community that you have that
(16:55):
support with.
And so, this event is really toboldly help you embody the life
you dream of, really, inparallel to motherhood.
I've always been a person whoreally doesn't believe in glass
ceilings.
Like if you can believe it, ifyou dream it and you really want
it, you can have it.
So this is to really help youmake those, those steps towards
(17:19):
that.
And we've brought together 30plus incredible women in the
online space, all mothers, whoare very passionate about
supporting other mothers tointentionality.
And We're going to be havingconversations with, parenting
experts with, with doctors whoare, in certain fields like
(17:43):
pelvic health, for instance.
there's published authors in theparenting space.
There are health and wellnessprofessionals.
there are a lot of, like, momcoaches.
Like, it's just a really.
incredible group of women who'veall come together with a similar
passion for supporting othermothers and Also the important
(18:04):
piece for me when I was lookingat who I wanted to speak was
that everyone is so authenticand real.
They're not spitting out advicethat like isn't practical.
So I'm really excited for allthe conversations that are going
to have in there.
There's something that you'regoing to take away from every
single conversation that you canstart doing now.
Like, these are things that areyou can start making these small
(18:27):
changes or just pick up what youneed, take what you don't.
But yeah, it's going to be areally great week of, of
learnings and inspiration.
toni-ann-from-real-happy-m (18:36):
Yes, yes.
I, I'm really excited to see howeverything unfolds for you.
I was looking at the speakerlineup and looking at all of the
presentations and they are allreally good ones.
So, I know it's going to be areally, really great event.
So, I will definitely have thelink in the show notes or in the
description of wherever you'relistening.
So, don't worry, I got youcovered there.
(18:58):
But, Before we go, Monica, Ijust wanted to circle back to
the beginning on intentionalmotherhood and um, just get you
to give us just like one thing,one thing before we go that you
want us to remember when itcomes to being more intentional,
especially with motherhood.
monica-virga-alborno_1_01 (19:18):
Yeah.
Just start small, start beingjust practical.
And today just maybe put yourscreen down, turn the TV off.
Turn the music off, put yourphone aside, put anything in
your home that you have to workon, if it's dishes, laundry,
whatever, like just put it downfor even five, ten minutes and
(19:39):
just fully, fully see your kidsand just see them for who they
are.
And also just be present, bepresent with yourself and just
be appreciative for like, what'saround you and these, these
little humans in your life andthis chapter, because it does go
by so fast and just start there,you know, just start there and
(20:02):
see how it makes you feel whenyou take those five to 10
minutes and just carve outdoing, doing nothing, but
connecting with them and beingpresent with yourself.
toni-ann-from-real-happy-m (20:13):
Yes, I love it.
I love it.
thank you so much for coming onand sharing all of this with us.
monica-virga-alborno_1_01-2 (20:18):
All right.
Thank you so much.
toni-ann-from-real-happy-mo (20:19):
No, that's it for this episode of
the real happy mom podcast, tofind the links in the show
notes, head on over to realhappymom.com/ 2 4 9.
There you'll find the links toeverything that we talked about
in this episode, including theaudio event that is starting
here very soon.
So make sure you check that out.
All right, that's it for thistime, take care.
(20:42):
And with lots of love.
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