If you’ve been wondering where I’ve been lately, let me fill you in on our recent adventure. Truth be told, life threw us a curveball, and sometimes you need to step back and focus on what truly matters, which for us has been familia. Our life has been in complete transition mode as we’ve made a big move from Chicago to Leon, Guanajuato.
Why the Move?
Moving to a new country with a family is no small feat, especially with two little ones in tow. Our decision to relocate stemmed from a desire to reclaim our roots and pursue a dream that differed from what our parents had envisioned. Unlike their journey to America out of necessity, our journey back to the motherland is a privileged choice – a step towards rebuilding a life that resonates with our family values and dreams.
The Road Trip Adventure
The questions have been flooding in, and I’m here to answer how exactly we prepared for this monumental move, which started with a five-day road trip from Chicago to Mexico. Amidst juggling two toddlers and a cat unfamiliar with travel, we weighed up driving versus flying. We ultimately decided to drive, keeping our vehicle with a temporary import permit, or TIP, in Mexico. This decision came with unexpected expenses, including Mexican car insurance—an expense that, in hindsight, might have been avoided had we flown.
Our road trip was as much about logistics as it was about the experience. Carefully chosen essentials were packed, ensuring that the journey would be comfortable for all, especially my toddlers. Their comfort toys and some activities, alongside familiar snacks, played crucial roles in keeping them entertained during our long drives.
Route and Detours
We hit the road on the 23rd of July, originally intending to enjoy our last city experience in Chicago, but ended up staying at a suburb hotel due to unexpected booking issues. This taught us the importance of flexibility and the reality that not every plan goes as expected. Our itinerary included stops in St. Louis, Missouri, and Dallas, Texas, where we took a breather and met up with fellow mamas making it a delightful rest period.
A highlight of our journey was crossing the border between the Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras—a surprisingly smooth process where documentation wasn’t extensively scrutinized, offering a stark contrast to typical experiences. Despite my meticulous preparations, it was a humbling reminder of the privilege we hold in this reverse migration.
Lessons Learned and Reflections
Through this experience, I’ve learned valuable lessons. First, our children are more resilient than we realize—they adapted brilliantly. Secondly, while planning is critical, maintaining flexibility ensures you can roll with the punches when things deviate from the script. Most importantly, our journey highlighted the privilege and responsibility inherent in our ability to migrate freely, a stark difference from our ancestors’ journeys to the United States.
This venture is only the beginning. We are entering a chapter marked by community, culture, and a pursuit of an enriching lifestyle for our family. As we continue to build our life here, I am eager to share more about our experiences and insights on living in Mexico.
Join the Conversation
I invite you, dear readers, to continue sharing this journey with us. If you’re contemplating a similar move or life transition, remember that it’s achievable—it all begins with overcoming fear. Our journey is proof that with intention and community, dreams can indeed be realized.
Stay tuned for more updates as I continue the ‘Living in Mexico’ series. Don’t forget to listen to our podcast for weekly episodes and follow along on Instagram for the latest updates. Gracias for being part of our journey, and I look forward to catching up with you in our next episode!
Show Notes
In this episode of the “Living in Mexico” series, I address my recent hiatus and share the journey of moving my family from Chicago to León, Guanajuato.
You’ll hear about the planning and preparation for our road trip with two toddlers and a cat, the challenges and decisions we faced, and the valuable lessons we learned along the way. I also answer your frequently asked questions, discuss community support, and reflect on the privileged nature of our reverse migration.
Join me as we embark on this new adventure and explore what it means to pursue a different dream for our family.
What You’ll Hear:
- The logistics of planning a move to Mexico with a family of four
- Overcoming challenges during our road trip
- Our experience crossing the border
- Lessons learned about resilience and flexibility
- Our ongoing journey of reverse migration and reclaiming our roots
Resources Mentioned:
- Amazon Storefront link to the products we used during our trip
- Episode 130: In-depth discussion on why we decided to move
- Follow mi amiga, Juliana @thebilingualmomlife
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.
