Migrant Motherhood: Together on the Journey

By Mónica Caballero

Being a mother far from family, especially in the United States, is an experience many women live through in silence. Behind every smile, there is effort, long days, and nights when all we wish for is to have someone close who reminds us that everything will be okay. We take on multiple roles: mothers, entrepreneurs, workers, students, dreamers... and in that constant giving, we often forget about ourselves.

We grew up believing that love means giving everything without expecting anything in return. However, there is a truth that is rarely said out loud: we cannot give from an empty place. When we don't take care of ourselves or find space to recharge, exhaustion comes—and it also affects those we love the most.

Motherhood under these circumstances can feel lonely, but it isn't. There are many of us walking similar paths, facing the same challenges and carrying the same determination to move forward. Perhaps what's missing is creating more space to talk about it, to normalize it, and to support one another.

And starting can be simpler than it seems: a short walk, a coffee with a friend, a few quiet moments with a book, writing down what we feel, disconnecting from our phones, or simply giving ourselves permission to rest without guilt. These are small acts of self-love that, little by little, begin to fill our “cup” again.

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Migrant motherhood: together on the journey

By Mónica Caballero

Being a mother far from family, especially in the United States, is an experience many women go through in silence. Behind every smile lies effort, long days, and nights when all we want is someone nearby to remind us that everything will be alright. We take on multiple roles: mothers, entrepreneurs, workers, students, dreamers… and in this constant giving, we often forget about ourselves.

We grew up believing that love means giving everything without expecting anything in return. However, there's a truth that's rarely spoken aloud: we can't give from a place of emptiness. When we don't take care of ourselves or find time to recharge, the burnout sets in and also affects those we love most.

Motherhood in these circumstances can feel lonely, but it isn't. There are many of us walking similar paths, facing the same challenges and with the same strength to keep going. Perhaps what's needed is to create more spaces to talk about it, normalize it, and support each other.

And starting can be simpler than it seems: a short walk, coffee with a friend, a few minutes of silence with a book, writing down what we feel, disconnecting from our phones, or giving ourselves permission to rest without guilt. These are small acts of self-love that, little by little, refill our "cup."