Celebrating My Birthday (with cumple con causa)

Acacia sometimes gives me unsolicited gifts, like the mess she makes eating on the couch.

In this blog, however, I want to talk about all the (unsolicited) gifts I’ve received so far, ones I am deeply grateful for.

At the end of this blog, I also have a very special birthday request. If you live in Panama, I’d love for you to read to the end and consider supporting a noble cause as a birthday gift 🙏🏽☺️

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/16cee5_7c33c6adc5e642d9a7845645de4dfe5e/360p/mp4/file.mp4

Motherhood has given me so much.

Sleepless nights and moments of intense exhaustion.

Poor posture.

And even navigating anxiety and post partum depression.

So far, I’m not exactly selling you on the idea of motherhood 🤣 Not everything has been gloomy, though. In fact, I have so many things to be thankful for. My gratitude list includes the hard stuff, but there’s so much good as well.

Along this journey, I’ve learned to find solutions even with limited rest and external support.

I’ve made new, aligned, and sincere adult friendships, reconnected with old ones, discovering common ground and mutual support even across time zones or geographic barriers. Letting go of relationships that no longer served me has also been a gift.

Many moms talk about love and satisfaction like they’ve never experienced before. I can relate to that too.

But Acacia has given me so much more than I ever expected. She’s given me the opportunity to grow, rediscover myself, heal generational wounds, and work through feelings that had been stuck for years.

In the video, I share how Acacia has gifted me resilience and how I apply those gifts in our daily life (like cleaning up her messes on the couch while she watches a bit of My Neighbor Totoro on TV).

Acacia has made me a more patient, loving, and compassionate woman. Being a mom and raising my little one has given me the gift of staying connected to my emotions, recognizing them, and naming them.

She’s even given me the courage to study and explore things I’ve wanted to do for a long time—things I recently started and will tell you more about next year 😉.

Motherhood has filled me with curiosity, renewed my creativity, and sparked my desire to create a future aligned with my values and full of purpose.

Acacia, thank you for all these gifts.

So you see, it wasn’t clickbait when I said I’d share all the gifts Acacia has given me. Well, not all of them, but certainly some of the most memorable ones.

And if it’s not clear yet, I want to say this: today is my birthday.

I wanted to celebrate by “bragging” about the gifts I’ve already received and asking for something. (Hey, I get to ask for things today 🤪 It’s my birthday, remember?)

This group of volunteers has been working for 66 years, supporting families—often led by mothers—navigating not just the ups and downs of the public health system but also caring for at least one sick child.

I deeply admire their work, which not only focuses on practical support but also takes a holistic approach through various programs.

As you’ll see, the amazing team at Cumple Con Causa Panamá has connected me with these noble volunteers to ensure that everything we raise goes directly to them.

In the next few images, I’ll share more about how we can support the Volunteers of the Children’s Hospital (and celebrate my birthday by helping other moms).

While the CCC team tells me that every little bit counts and there’s no minimum goal, everything we raise will help the hospital volunteers in their mission. I love the idea of setting a target (one I hope we can reach together).

There are also other ways to continue supporting the volunteers’ efforts, including supporting them through paypal (I don{t have those details as i write this blog but if you message me directly I will find a direct contact with the volunteers to set it up for whoewer you wish to contribute towards their labour) to help all those women, mothers, who sacrifice so much to care for their little ones during health crises.

As a mom, I know the best gift we can give a mother is to help her help her family. Remember, taking care of the women who care for their families means taking care of these families too.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I hope I can count on your support to celebrate my birthday with a cause.

Sending a big hug x