The secret is finally out! After months of planning, dreaming, and preparing, I can officially share that my family and I are moving to Mexico. Not just for a vacation, not for a few months – we’re relocating to León, Guanajuato for at least a year, and possibly longer.

Two Years in the Making

This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. Alex and I have been talking about this possibility for two years, planting seeds with each other about what it would look like to actually make the move. The turning point came about a year and a half ago when we spent four weeks in Mexico with the boys. During that trip, we literally saw ourselves living there. We felt it in our bones – this could be home.

As second-generation Mexican Americans, we’re doing what some call “reverse migration.” While our parents were forced to leave Mexico out of survival, we have the privilege of choosing to return. It’s a unique position that comes with both opportunity and responsibility.

Why Now Felt Right

The stars aligned in ways we couldn’t have planned. Alex didn’t get the promotion he was hoping for – what initially felt like bad news became the catalyst for good news. Our boys, Diego (4) and Mateo (2), don’t have established friend groups here yet. We’re living in a one-bedroom apartment in our three-flat building, which we knew was temporary. Everything pointed to now being the right time.

The living situation was actually a big factor. We gave ourselves a year maximum to live in that one-bedroom with four people and a cat. Anyone who’s done that knows how quickly it gets to you! Instead of taking on another mortgage to buy a bigger place in Chicago, we decided to make our real estate investment work for us and pursue this dream.

León, Guanajuato – Our New Adventure

We chose León for several reasons. It’s the sixth largest city in Mexico, giving us that big city vibe we’re used to from Chicago, but it’s not overwhelming like Mexico City. My family is about an hour away – close enough for support, far enough for independence.

When people think of Guanajuato, they usually picture San Miguel de Allende or the capital city. But León offered us the perfect balance – urban amenities without the tourist crowds, authentic Mexican culture without being too far from family.

The Boys Are Leading the Way

If you’ve heard Diego speak, you know this kid only speaks Spanish. He’s obsessed with anything Spanish-speaking and has been asking to go to Mexico even during Chicago winters. When we officially told him about the move, his excitement was contagious. He’s more ready than we are!

Both boys visited their future school during our scouting trip, and they loved it. They’ll be in prekinder together, which gives me peace of mind about the transition. We’re working with Diego’s therapists to create a transition plan that honors his needs while embracing this change.

What This Means for Viva la Mami

This move isn’t changing my mission – it’s enhancing it. Viva la Mami will continue focusing on Latina motherhood, redefining what it means to be a modern Latina mom, and reclaiming our culture in contemporary parenting. But now I’ll be sharing from the unique perspective of someone living this bicultural, bilingual experience in our motherland.

Alex and I are partnering to create a YouTube series documenting our relocation journey. We’ll make all the mistakes so hopefully others won’t have to. From the logistics of driving from Chicago to León with two toddlers and a cat, to navigating Mexican school systems, to legalizing our car – we’re sharing it all.

The Viva la Mami Collective Evolution

I’m revamping the Collective to serve Latina moms globally, not just in Chicago. I’ve gotten requests from mamas in Texas, Puerto Rico, Australia, and Colombia who want to connect around this unique experience of raising children with dual cultural identities. The virtual format will allow us to build a truly inclusive community.

I’m exploring ambassador programs for in-person meetups in different cities, because I know how important those face-to-face connections are, especially after the pandemic.

Embracing the Unknown

I won’t lie – I’m scared about the logistics. The actual drive to Mexico with two little ones. Finding the right apartment. Navigating all the legal requirements. But I’m more excited than scared. This move represents core memories for our children, the chance to live authentically between both cultures, and an opportunity to show our boys that life is meant to be lived fully.

We’re earning US dollars while living in Mexico, which is a privilege I don’t take lightly. This is part of the American dream our parents worked so hard to give us – the ability to be bilingual, bicultural, and navigate between both worlds.

What’s Next

We’re moving within the next two months. I’ll be sharing everything – the preparations, the journey, the settling in, the challenges, and the victories. This is just the beginning of documenting our Mexican adventure.

If you’ve ever thought about making a big change in your life, take this as a sign. Pay attention when the stars align. Don’t let fear keep you comfortable when adventure is calling!

Show Notes

The secret is finally out – my family and I are moving to Mexico! In this episode, I’m joined by my husband as we share the announcement that’s been two years in the making. We’re relocating to León, Guanajuato with our boys, and I’m so excited to bring you along on this incredible journey.

I open up about how this decision came together – from our four-week trip to Mexico that changed everything, to the stars aligning with our current living situation, and most importantly, our boys being at the perfect age for this adventure.

What You’ll Hear:

• The real story behind our two-year planning process and what finally made us take the leap
• Why we chose León, Guanajuato over other Mexican cities and how it balances big city life with family proximity
• How the Viva la Mami Collective is evolving to serve Latina moms globally
• Why this move isn’t just about us – it’s about giving our children core memories in our motherland

Resources Mentioned:

• VLM Newsletter signup: vivalamami.com/newsletter (subscribers heard this news first!)
• VLM Collective: vivalamami.com/vlm-collective
• Follow our Mexico journey on Instagram @vivalamami
• Watch the full video version on YouTube @vivalamami

About Jessica Cuevas

Jessica is the founder and creator of Viva la Mami, LLC a community centered around Latina motherhood. Jessica created this platform after not finding empowering stories about experiences of Latina moms. She realized that there was a lack of representation in this space and felt there was a need for mamis to share their stories and to learn more about the nuances about motherhood through a cultural lens.

Viva la Mami’s mission is to empower the modern Latina mom to redefine the meaning of madrehood through education, story-telling, and cultural relevance all while bringing comunidad together.