I decided to start a Moxie-Moms chapter in my area because I thought there was a need for moms to have an outlet to meet other moms, enjoy fun activities with their little ones, and save money at the same time. There are mom groups that target a specific suburb but they don't necessarily provide opportunities for moms to venture out of their neighborhood and become active. I have always been a social person and I love to get people together. I was already getting some moms together for play dates or for a fun night out without the kids and I discovered that we could continue to plan those events with moxie-moms while having fun and saving money at businesses we were already supporting. This chapter should provide moms with an opportunity to meet other moms, remain active in their community and find places to save money for their families.

I am always looking for new activities to do with my son Bode (now 2 years old). We love to visit different zoos in our area; hike around the Illinois Prairie Path and other local parks; visit friends for play dates; and work out with Stroller Fitness. Bode and I also enjoy dancing and singing around the house, going to Cubs games and spending quality time with our extended family. My husband and I enjoy traveling and we'd love to visit a new country every year, but we had to stay relatively local once Bode was born. However, we were able to go on several trips since Bode was 4 months old and we have visited three countries with him. Now that we have another baby on the way we'll have to be more creative about our travel plans or get a babysitter to come along with us. We still love to travel and I hope that we continue to travel and experience new cultures with Bode and our soon to be Baby #2. I love to teach Bode about my Latin heritage and I only speak to him in Spanish. My hope is that Bode and his new brother/sister will learn to appreciate their diverse background as they grow up.

My mommy strategy . . .

I am a very positive person and I've tried to remain positive and patient in every aspect of being a mother. Since I'm a first time mom, everyone always wants to give me parenting advise (welcomed or non-welcomed =). However, I always follow my instincts and try to do what is best for my son. I believe that life is too short to worry about what others might think about one as a mom and that by trusting myself and following my values I will do what is best for my child. I always try to stay positive, communicate with Bode as a person (not as a child), allow him to explore and learn on his own, and teach him our core values. Having two kids will change things for sure but I should be able to apply the same principles and adjust quickly....Oh, I'm sure the first 3 months will be quite interesting to say the least =).

Before I was a mom . . .

I grew up in Cali, Colombia (South America) and attended elementary school and high school there. I traveled back to the US every year and developed my love for traveling and getting to know different people at an early age. I received a bachelor's degree in Management from the University of Notre Dame and I started working in the Information Technology industry after graduating college. I'm still working in IT sales today and I truly enjoy working with customers in the Chicago area. I earned an MBA from DePaul University while working full time, selling a condo in the city, buying a house in the suburbs and playing volleyball several nights a week. I've always been comfortable multitasking and doing a million things at the same time. However, when my husband and I moved to the suburbs I had a hard time finding fun activities in my area. It wasn't until we had our son Bode that I discovered there were other moms in my same position. I found a support group for new moms (Central DuPage Hospital's FYI Moms) and a great workout program (Stroller Fitness) that allowed me to meet wonderful moms and stay active.

I'd like to help other moms connect with new friends and continue to be energetic about playing multiple roles in their lives - moms, spouses, daughters, friends, etc. I believe everyone has great potential and we all just need the right resources and support to move forward. I hope to meet you soon and have an opportunity to get to know you and your kids better. You can reach me at Yvette@moxie-moms.com.

Thank you!

Yvette

Some of my favorite memories ...feel free to ask