SEPTEMBER 2020

Moms We Admire with Aurelia Ugarte

An artist, restaurant owner, and mama of two on loving yourself fiercely and finding little pockets of peace.

For this installment of Moms We Admire, we sat down with Aurelia Ugarte — a maker of just about everything, the owner of Heirloom Taco in Jacksonville, Alabama, and mama to two amazing and independent girls. There is genuinely no limit to her creativity or her hustle.

Tell us a little about yourself:

Hi everyone! My name is Aurelia Ugarte, I am a mother of two amazing and independent children, and I am 25 years old. I love to craft all the things, and I have so many projects going at once because I am such a busy bee.

I also simultaneously have a restaurant named Heirloom Taco in Jacksonville, Alabama. So overall, I like to keep my time filled with lots of different projects. I am extremely passionate about slow and ethical fashion, and slow food, which go hand in hand in my book.

Did you have to fight off any body image issues while pregnant or postpartum?

The last time I had a newborn was around three years ago, and let's face it, it was all a blur to me. What I do remember is how lost I felt during it. Not so much in a body-conscious way — I felt like I had lost myself as a person.

I fought so hard to get a piece of myself back, and I now realize that I need to love myself fiercely in order to become a good mom to my kids. While I do face my issues with body positivity, I do my best to never speak negatively about my body with my girls. I also heavily relied on mom groups online. I would've been so lost without them.

Favorite go-to snack while pregnant?

Fries, definitely. I would make my husband go to this particular restaurant in town and order me a large fry with a side of spicy BBQ sauce. And I loved all things salty. I could never get enough salt.

What helps you when you feel overwhelmed by motherhood?

Whenever I'm feeling too overwhelmed, I know I have to take a step back. I have to center myself and face what I'm dealing with to figure out the root of the issue. I'm so fortunate to have a partner who knows when I need this, and who steps in seamlessly to help.

I typically bury myself in self care, whether it's art, skin care, cleaning, or just taking a good long cry. I know most of the issues I face with parenting are rooted within myself, and not the situations I face.

What is your favorite thing to do for YOU?

I absolutely love skincare. I love taking a long bath at the end of the day and taking the time to pamper myself. It's my quiet time at the end of the day, and I cherish it with all my heart. I also really enjoy art.

Any advice for mamas trying to stay mentally healthy through a hard season?

I've found myself more anxious than before. I get irritated quickly, but it's also taught me so many lessons. I no longer take the little things, like going out to the farmers market, for granted.

I've found that I need to find little pockets of peace within my day. I need to cry if I feel like crying, and not feel guilty about it. I needed to know that every reaction I've had is normal, because this is hard. We deserve grace.

What is something motherhood has taught you?

That there is no right or wrong way to do this thing. It's hard. There are days when I throw my hands up in the air and think “I can't do this.” There are moments when I feel so lonely in it — but within those moments there are tiny hands reaching at me for hugs.

Motherhood is so rewarding. Watching these tiny humans become their own person is magic in itself. Having them teach me lessons I never thought I'd need to know is truly amazing.

Best advice you've ever received about motherhood?

To not get lost in it. That while I am a mother, I am also my own person. That is probably the best piece of parenting advice I've ever received.

Moms We Admire is an ongoing EMME series celebrating the mothers in our community.