When I announced that my family and I were making the big move to Mexico, I honestly wasn’t prepared for the response. Within hours of posting, my DMs were flooded with dozens of messages – some from mamas thinking about making a similar move, others just curious about our crazy adventure. Your questions have been so thoughtful and honestly helped me think through things I hadn’t even considered.
So here I am, answering your real questions – the practical ones, the emotional ones, and even the ones that made me laugh out loud.
The Logistics: Documents, Citizenship, and Storage
Let’s start with the paperwork because I know this is what’s keeping many of you up at night wondering “but HOW do you actually do this?”
The Citizenship Journey
We’re coming to Mexico as citizens – well, mostly. My two boys and I are already dual citizens, a process we tackled about two months ago in Guanajuato where my family is from. Here’s what I learned: going to Mexico to handle the paperwork is actually way easier than trying to get appointments at the consulate here in the US. The consulates have very limited appointments available, but if you can make the trip to Mexico, the process is much more seamless.
Alex is still working on his dual citizenship, and it’s been quite the journey. His birth certificate had errors – his mom’s name wasn’t typed correctly – so we’ve been waiting on the Cook County Clerk’s office to make changes. It’s wild how these little details can hold up such a big life change! We’re literally on our phones every Monday at 9 AM trying to snag those limited consulate appointments in Chicago.
If he doesn’t get his citizenship in time, he’ll enter as a tourist with his US passport, which allows him to stay for 180 days. Since we’re planning to come back to Chicago in October for a wedding, the timing actually works out perfectly.
What We’re Taking (And What We’re Not)
People keep asking if we’re getting a storage unit, and yes, we are! We actually already have one from when we downsized to live in our investment property. The storage unit holds our most precious belongings – my piano, my accordion, family heirlooms – things that are more sentimental than practical.
As for what we’re bringing to Mexico? Essentially our clothes (minus my winter coat because I am DONE with Chicago winters!), some equipment, and a few toys for the boys. That’s it.
Here’s what surprised me most: when I visited León, where we’re moving, it’s basically like a mini Chicago. There’s so much to do, eat, and shop for at every budget level. From mercados for budget-friendly shopping to El Palacio de Hierro (which is more bougie than Bloomingdale’s, let me tell you!). And yes, they have TWO Costcos with all our favorite Kirkland products. As long as there’s a Costco, I’m good to go!
The Kids: Schools, Language, and Community
This is where it gets real because these decisions affect the whole family.
School Choices
I’ll be honest – I was contemplating homeschooling, but I am NOT that type of parent. I’ve been craving alone time and boundaries, and I need to focus on my business. In Mexico, childcare costs are significantly less than the US (which we all know sucks at supporting families), so this was definitely a major factor in our decision.
We toured several schools during our spring break trip and chose a private Montessori school. Y’all, if you know the cost of Montessori schools in the US, you know families like mine usually can’t afford them or don’t feel our kids would belong there. The fact that my kids are going to a Montessori school in Mexico feels surreal and amazing.
The school requires an evaluation called a “valoración” for every student before enrollment. It’s not an admissions test – they won’t deny you if you don’t “pass” – but it helps teachers understand where each child is academically, socially, emotionally, and even motor-wise. I was impressed that they take this individualized approach from the start.
The Language Decision
A lot of you asked about bilingual schools since bilingualism is so central to our family. Here’s the thing: bilingual schools in Mexico work almost opposite to dual language programs in the US. They start with 90% English and 10% Spanish, gradually balancing out. Since we want our kids fully immersed in the Mexican experience, we chose a traditional Spanish school.
Our school offers one hour of English instruction daily, and the kids will hear Alex and me speaking English at home. I’m not worried about them losing English – when we eventually return to the US, they’ll be immersed in it again. Right now, Spanish immersion is the goal because this is part of reclaiming our roots.
The Real Talk: Money and Community
Cost of Living Reality
Let me break this down for you: a three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom house in Chicago costs about $2,500-$3,000 to rent. In León, we’re renting the same size house for about $1,000-$1,200. We’re literally saving over a thousand dollars just on housing!
Alex is keeping his remote job, and we’re generating income from our three-unit investment property in Chicago. The rental income covers our expenses in Mexico while we build equity in our US property. It’s been a game-changer for making this move financially possible.
Building Community From Scratch
Community building is definitely going to center around the kids’ school since they’ll be there five hours a day (five hours to myself – I literally cannot wait!). I have a cousin and a friend in the area, and I’ve already connected with other US families who’ve made similar moves through social media.
The power of sharing our story publicly has been incredible. A mama reached out because she and her husband just moved to León too, and we ended up talking for almost two hours on Zoom. If you’re thinking about a big change like this, don’t keep it to yourself – share it with the world because you’ll find your people.
What’s Next
We’re signing a one-year lease in León, and honestly, we don’t have a concrete plan beyond that. We might come back when Diego starts kindergarten, or maybe when Mateo starts kindergarten. We’re taking it one year at a time, and I’m surprisingly okay with the uncertainty.
This whole experience has taught me that sometimes the scariest decisions lead to the most beautiful opportunities. We’re not just moving to Mexico – we’re reclaiming our roots, giving our kids a different perspective on the world, and showing them that home can be anywhere family is.
To everyone asking if this is possible – yes, it absolutely is. It takes logistics, planning, preparation, and a lot of mindset work, but it can be done. Sometimes the American dream includes going back to where your family came from.
Show Notes
In this first episode of the “Living in Mexico” series, I’m diving deep into our family’s big move to Mexico! After posting about our decision on social media, you all flooded my DMs with the most thoughtful questions, and I’m answering them all. From the practical logistics of dual citizenship to finding schools for the kids, I’m sharing everything about this crazy adventure we’re embarking on as a family of four.
What You’ll Hear:
- How we’re navigating dual citizenship for our family
- The real scoop on Mexican school systems – from guarderías to Montessori schools
- Cost of living comparisons that will blow your mind
- How I’m planning to build a community in Mexico
- The emotional journey of reclaiming our roots and going back to the motherland
Resources Mentioned:
- How to Get Dual Citizenship: Free virtual session with Samantha Alvarez from Hood Girls Travel Too – Tuesday, June 24th at 7:00 PM CT
- Cost of Living Comparison Tool: Database comparing costs between two cities around the world
- Viva la Mami Collective: Join our community for more resources and support
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.
