Little Hands, Big Plans - Motherhood and Business

How to build your village: motherhood away from family

• Emilia Coto • Season 1 • Episode 8

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Gabriela Rivera shares her journey from Panama to Michigan, revealing how she built community as a homeschooling mom and barre instructor without extended family nearby. Her story demonstrates that intentional friendship-building requires the same strategic approach many apply to business development.

• Originally from Panama where both parents typically work, Gabriela discovered the possibility of staying home with children in America
• Became exposed to homeschooling through a church family during college, drawn to the freedom and creativity it offered
• Teaches bar fitness classes 4-5 hours per week, finding it energizing and community-building rather than draining
• Approaches friendship strategically by setting goals: going to a park to meet one mom, getting a phone number, following up
• Avoids small talk by asking deeper questions that quickly reveal whether meaningful connection is possible
• Seeks three types of relationships: younger moms to mentor, peers in the same life stage, and older women who offer wisdom
• Delivered her first baby during the pandemic when family couldn't travel to support her
• Recommends the book "Breath as Prayer" for new moms dealing with anxiety

If you've ever felt lonely in motherhood, take the first step to build your village. Don't wait for someone to invite you – be the one who reaches out, sets the date, and pursues your people. Your community is out there, it just takes time and intentionality.

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with another mom who needs encouragement. Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and connect with me on LinkedIn.

For other episodes and resources, visit our website at https://littlehandsbigplans.co/pages/podcast

Speaker 1:

Today, I am joined by Gabriela Rivera, a bar instructor, homeschooling mom and community builder. Her story is full of intention, heart and joy. Gabriela is originally from Panama and her vision for motherhood was shaped by a blend of cultures and seasons. What started as a plan for full-time work evolved into a calling to stay home, homeschooling her children and building a life rooted in presence and connection homeschooling her children and building a life rooted in presence and connection. On today's episode, gabby shares about her journey into bar, how she created a village far from extended family, and why she believes being strategic about friendship is just as important as being strategic in business. If you've ever felt lonely in motherhood or wondered how to make it all work, in a new season, this episode is full of encouragement and practical wisdom.

Speaker 1:

Welcome to Little Hands Big Plans, the podcast for moms who want to reimagine work after kids and build a life where family comes first, without giving up your dreams. I'm Emilia and I know firsthand how much motherhood shifts our careers, our priorities and our pace. But instead of seeing it as a setback, what if we saw it as an invitation, an opportunity to design a life with a little more freedom, a little more presence and a little more fulfillment. Each week, we'll have honest conversations with moms who've shaped their work and business around what truly matters with moms who've shaped their work and business around what truly matters. Whether you're considering a career pivot, dreaming of a slower pace or just wondering what's possible, you're in the right place. So grab a little something warm, settle in and let's hop right in and talk about what your work, life or career was like before kids. What did you imagine it was going to be after kids and what actually happened?

Speaker 2:

okay, so I thought I was gonna be a full-time working mom. I went to school for food science so I thought I was going to be in the food engineering industry working r&d long hours. I don't think I ever thought about what it would look like once I had kids. But I come from Panama, central America, so people in that country work. Both parents have to work because wages are so low that that is the only way to truly make it. So that's all I knew growing up. Both my parents worked. I don't think I knew anybody that stayed at home with their family because that was just not the norm.

Speaker 2:

So what actually happened after I graduated, and like the summary would be I got married the summer before my senior year, moved to panama with my husband, so we lived there. We both work. I actually ended up going into teaching preschool, which was not even the original plan moved back back to the US recently I guess six years ago, not recently but we moved to the US after that and decided to start a family and because I didn't have a work permit at the time, I just couldn't go into working right away. And then we got pregnant and so from that moment on, I guess I just stayed home. I never went into working. And then I realized I didn stayed home, I never went into working, and then I realized I didn't want to anyway. I wanted to stay home with my kids.

Speaker 1:

So that's kind of how it went down so was it before you were pregnant you knew, or were you just gonna see how it went month by month?

Speaker 2:

how so decide? The first time that I got introduced to a new concept when it came to staying at home with the kids was when I came to the us for college. So I started going to church and all the moms were staying at home with their kids and I was like, wait a minute, is that even possible? Then I met moms who were homeschooling and I was like what even is homeschooling? That was not a thing in my country. So I thought what a privilege to be able to stay home with your kids and provide them with an education. So I think once I got pregnant I knew that was an option, because now we were in the US and my husband was probably gonna make enough to make that an option and he gave me the freedom like what do you want to do?

Speaker 1:

but I think in my heart I knew that's what I wanted to do from when we got pregnant that's interesting that you say that, because in Honduras it's the same, and when I talked to my mom about why she was not a stay-at-home mom, she said that was not an option, or if it was, it's just. Yeah, the wages are so low that it's very difficult to do that. So, yeah, that is a perk of living here, I think. Yeah. So homeschooling, too when did that come about? Because ever since I met you, yeah, I think that has been what you've hoped to do.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I think going back to that first time when I saw it in action. So there was a young couple at the church I attended when I was in college that basically adopted me. We're like you're like the oldest sister and I would nanny for them sometimes, but I got to see what it looked like to homeschool. It was just so laid back and on their own schedule, and their kids were different, like they were just enjoying life. They were not chasing a schedule, they were just being adventurous and learning through things that they actually enjoyed, and I think it just opened my eyes to what was available. So I knew from that moment that I wanted that to be an option for my kids and so, yeah, so this was before your Panama.

Speaker 1:

So when you went to do preschool did you think oh, this might help me.

Speaker 2:

I didn't I honestly, I always enjoyed kids. I was like this is fun, but going into preschool as a teacher, I think that's when I really fell in love with the concept of teaching. Yeah, especially those young ages, where they are just little sponges, want to absorb all the things that you have to say, and just seeing them develop so quickly like by the end of the year they were completely different kids was so rewarding so now you're still teaching a little bit, a different audience you teach yes I do and how did that come about?

Speaker 1:

how did you get into that?

Speaker 2:

so when I was in college I got certified to teach zumba and that was my first exposure to teaching group fitness classes and I thought this is so fun. I love dancing, grew up dancing. I like all things choreography, coordination. I like exercising. I am not somebody that will go to the gym and push the machines and, you know, like the big weights, it has to be fun. So I started that in college and then when we moved to panama, I started teaching dance, but came back to the us and when we moved to michigan, the first thing I looked for was like a smaller studio that offered group fitness classes and I fell in love with what they were doing and I told my husband I want to work here someday. Two pregnancies later, babies were born. I knew, okay, now is the time, so I just went for it. I applied, they do a little interview and then they train you, they certify you and now I love it. It's just such a great space to not just build community but build people up individually and yeah, encourage them.

Speaker 1:

And for someone that might want to do that. How does someone become a bar instructor? Do they have to be a member first?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so you can just approach your nearest bar studio. I work specifically for bar three. They're always looking for people that want to become instructors. Yeah, you just have to audition, because they're looking for specific qualities and the way you speak and that is motivational, that you have musicality, that you can follow a beat. Do they train you for?

Speaker 1:

Other than that, I mean other than that For the audition, or it's natural talent.

Speaker 2:

No, for the audition they give you a template and they say teach this, you know. So you're not going in blind, you know what they want you to do. And then, if that works out, then they train you. Now, this is something you pay for because you're getting trained, yeah. So it is like a I want to say it's like a six-week or even longer process, okay, but by the end of it you feel like a complete pro.

Speaker 1:

Yeah. Because you have you know, applied and really studied all the things that there are to learn and then, once you become a bar instructor, do you have to work a minimum number of hours? Can you make your own schedule? What is that like?

Speaker 2:

you can work as many hours as you want or, I guess, as the studio needs you. I came in towards the end of a season where they were shifting schedules and so as a newbie you kind of pick up whatever hours are available. But as you continue to grow you can pick more and more shifts. I think it just depends on the business. Our local studio they own four different studios so if I wanted to teach in all four of them then I could get more hours. But because I love being home, I don't. It's just, it's honestly my little outing, it's like my little me thing that I get to do outside of the home and being with my littles, so it is something that energizes me.

Speaker 2:

It doesn't feel like work. I get to love on people and I get to build community, so it's like truly the best of all the worlds.

Speaker 1:

I really really enjoy it. Your class is so fun and when you are teaching you can tell that you're so alive and having fun and it doesn't feel forced, and it was really fun to see you doing that, thank you friend, it was fun how many hours are you working a week?

Speaker 2:

So right now I'm working five. Well, it's a little longer, but in theory theory, like each classes count as an hour. So I'm teaching five classes a week. Um, and then it ebbs and flows. So in the summer I'm just going to teach four, and when the winter comes I can teach a little more again. It just depends on what they need. A lot of the instructors are stay-at-home moms. A lot of instructors have full-time jobs and then they do this on their free time um, so yeah, is there anyone that does it full-time as a full-time?

Speaker 1:

no, not really, unless they're like, unless you're a mentor to the people or you're a manager of the studio yeah it is pretty much a part-time job, yeah do you see yourself wanting to add more hours in the future, or what do you think as your kids are older and you're still homeschooling? What do you see as potential next?

Speaker 2:

There's so much potential. I think there's always going to be a limited amount of hours that I can pick up, though, because there's other instructors, so we have to all work as a team to make sure that everybody has shifts that they can cover. I think, eventually, the more knowledge I gain, the more I can go into like more personal training or branching out, because right now I'm working under a specific brand, under a specific franchise, but I think that if I wanted to like branch out of that to build my own community, that would be available in the long haul for sure and what do you do for child care when you're working?

Speaker 2:

so the beauty of this place is that the managers are so gracious. They actually provide free child care for the instructors while we're teaching. So that is that's how I knew this was meant to be, because I have a four-year-old and a two-year-old and they come to work with me and they get taken care of while I teach that's amazing.

Speaker 1:

So you mentioned that you moved, yes, from Panama and your family's still in Panama mostly, and then I know your husband's Alex family is also not in Michigan. So what do you think has been the hardest part about raising a family away from both of your families?

Speaker 2:

that's it. That's the hardest part. Not having family around is very difficult because you don't necessarily have any help in the day-to-day, you don't have people to celebrate holidays with, necessarily, in essence, everything that you count your family for. You have to start all over, you have to create that family. So for us the hardest thing has been Just seeing our kids grow up without those multi-generational relationships that are so important for them to have relationships with their grandparents. And thank God for technology we do get to talk to them over the phone and FaceTime and whatnot, but it's definitely not the same.

Speaker 2:

So I think it can be very difficult emotionally also to see other people that do have family around and help around as a mom be like oh man, how different would my life be if I had a little set of extra hands. And it also has changed the way we even go into family planning, like, do we want more children, knowing that we won't have to help? Other people have three, four children and we're like we want three or four children, but they have grandparents coming around and we don't have that. And so how do we either find contentment in what we have, how do we build that community and those grandparents that might be your neighbors, those aunts and uncles that are single people that are out there that need community, that would love to be included in a family. So I don't know, in our perspective, those people are out there. We just have to be diligent about building that community.

Speaker 1:

I would describe you as extraordinarily good at building community. So what does that look like? Because I think for you it comes so naturally. I don't even know if you really realize how. Maybe it's not as easy for other people to create groups of friendships and bring people together and introduce people. I just met someone the other day that I met through you, but you don't even, I don't even know if you remember Well, that's how we even met, remember?

Speaker 2:

That is crazy. That's a crazy story for sure. I think the first step is to be humble and to acknowledge your need. A lot of people want to appear like they have life all together and they're fine. I think it's just realizing there is a gap. There is a need that I have. So how do I meet it? Personally, I think it has to do with being strategic. I think a lot of people, when it comes to building a business, are so strategic and if they use those same techniques that they use to connect in the business space but they did that in friendships they would see so much growth.

Speaker 2:

I always joke about I don't know if this happens to you like people you haven't talked in 20, 10, 20 years will send you a dm on facebook, be like hey, I'm selling now. Like, if you want this product, and I'm like you're reaching out to me and you haven't talked to me in 20 years, but because it's a business and you believe in the product that you have to sell, you approach people. Well, what if you saw your friendship as a product? What if you realize that you have something to give to people and that it is something desirable? And I go in that way I'm like, here's my strategy, like I am a fantastic friend when I devote to my people, so I'm just gonna put it out there, right. And so I think it has to do with taking that first step, because why are you bold about selling me a product, you know, but you're alone like you're not that bold to like build a friendship. So for me specifically, I am the one to take the first step.

Speaker 2:

I think a lot of people just sit and wallow, kind of like oh man, I wish somebody would invite me to dinner, I wish somebody would invite me to a play date. No, girl, you plan the play date right. Go out in the park, see the mom and like make your little goals. Like today I'm going to go to the park, I'm going to meet one mom and let's go like dating and I'm going to get one phone number and I'm gonna build that friendship. So I think it's just being strategic and on mission.

Speaker 2:

There's different strategies, right, like you can host big groups of people. Um, you can find for me what's key to find a facebook group. Lots of areas, have them. You know, moms and play dates, and so that's how I met a lot of moms. And then be strategic, like, okay, now that I've met everybody in group setting, who am I clicking with, then approach them for that next quote-unquote date you know what I mean. Like the next play date. It takes time, right, but like if you have a vision of what you want to build, then you can go towards that. So I would say there's so many wise business women that are probably listening to this and they had never, ever thought let me be a strategic with my friendships as I am with my business. The moment that comes to life, you're like, okay, why not? Because I think a lot of people think, oh, friendships are something organic, it just has to happen naturally. And I think it's kids that happen in school, right at the park.

Speaker 1:

But now that we're adults we kind of have to add a little extra strategy there to make sure that it actually happens something that I found hard when I first moved to Michigan is that it was easy to meet people but it felt very small talkish and so it was hard to make true friendships and it always felt like the friendships were not going to be as strong as the already existing ones because it was so new and so superficial. But you're just so intentional with the conversations that you have that I think it makes it easier to connect. What is your strategy for that or how how do you do that? Yeah, because that's something that I noticed right away when we first met. It seemed like you right away went with like deeper questions, that I was taken aback by.

Speaker 2:

I honestly, I just struggle with small talk. I cannot do it. It seems very shallow to me and so I'm like. So, like how are you doing? How are you doing Really Right? Like what do you feel is your purpose? Like what you know, what are you doing with your life? I feel like a lot of people are just like whoa, but then I know that people that do enjoy that, that are seeking for that, are totally there for that, for those conversations.

Speaker 1:

So do you ever get someone with a weird reaction of I just met and you're asking me yeah, I've had people kind of like jokes, like okay, we're good, we're going there.

Speaker 2:

I'm like if you want to, totally fine, if you don't. But I think I also like because of my faith I live very much on mission like I want to know where you are at in your journey? What do you believe? Do we have similar core values? You know so, yeah, all conversations are interview, whether you know it or not.

Speaker 1:

But yeah, I think it's just it pays off to be that strategic, because then you know and then you know how to introduce someone that's going to be similar friends with someone else, because you've already, yeah, gone deeper. Um, you talked about faith, yes, and so how does that play a role in community building?

Speaker 2:

yeah, okay. So I'm a christian, so I believe in jesus and I believe that all people who trust and put their trust in him will be saved. And so, like I think it makes you be more missional about your community, like you're always looking for people to share this good news about jesus with, no matter how they take it, like you're just open to sharing that. Um, people see there's a deepness to you, that you're very open to spiritual things, that you're going for deeper conversations. So I think I think people notice that and so you will quickly find your community because either they share those beliefs or they're interested in those beliefs. And so in the season of live I'm in people kind of fall in one of these categories.

Speaker 2:

There's people that I'm like pouring into and there's also generational. It doesn't even have to be all about faith, but there's younger moms, there's like college students who are like a generation behind or a couple years behind. That I get to pour it into right, and these are the people I'm just like wanting to invest in because of the little experience that I have or wisdom that I can give. Then there have my peers, the people who are in the same season. We're in the thick of it. We look at each other. We're like no clue what we're doing, but we're doing it together.

Speaker 2:

And then we have the people who are like the next generation, those moms that are a couple years ahead or a couple of decades ahead, that we are wanting wisdom from, and I think that's like what I'm lacking in the season I'm I'm so desperately looking for because I've had it all growing up and so now I'm like, okay, where are those moms, where are those grandmas that can like infuse that? So that's like just like in the women's circles. But I think it's also so important to have like couples, if you're married, that um click, like husbands clicks, wives clicks, the kids get along, um, but the only way to find out that out is like saying like hey, do you guys want to come over for dinner? Hey, do you want to meet at the park? Hey, do you want to go to a baseball game? So it takes intentionality, it takes, it takes that like constant pursuit.

Speaker 1:

So I think the things that we prioritize in life, it's just gonna show what's important to you looking back, because because now you're older than five, so you've been a mom for five whole years, Almost. Yeah. What would you tell your younger self before you became a mom about the journey?

Speaker 2:

I think I would tell my younger self there is going to be a pandemic when you're pregnant and about to deliver this baby. You're gonna deliver a baby and the craziest time ever, your mom is not gonna come. They don't even like I think that was the craziest to. Yeah, your family's not gonna be able to be there. I think I would just warn her. It's gonna be a lot rougher than you know.

Speaker 2:

Young Gabby might have imagined. But, joking aside, I think I would have talked to myself about postpartum, just that fourth trimester we talked about, because I feel like I wasn't aware of how hard, how foggy, how cloudy your mind is and how exhausting it can be, because we just highlight the good stuff. You're're going to love it, you're going to snuggle and we want people to be excited, but when do you tell your people? There's also a really hard side to this, in a loving way, without scaring them away, because obviously it's beautiful and it's still life giving, but it can be a little draining too, and also, if you know, then you might be more intentional about building a village before.

Speaker 2:

Yes.

Speaker 1:

Because you're not going to need it Exactly. It's not going to be easy.

Speaker 2:

And you're going to be ready to talk about it. It's like, okay, I'm experiencing those things that you told me about, instead of feeling lonely and thinking I'm the only one going through this. What?

Speaker 1:

was the thing that surprised you the most when you first became an alum.

Speaker 2:

How short-tempered I am. I guess, like it really highlighted the weaknesses in my character. I think marriage is very refining. And then you're like, wow, look at me, I am such a amazing human. And then you have a kid, and then you realize I'm so impatient with this little creature, like what is going on. And so I think again. I think we're all on a sanctifying journey and this is just part of those growing pains, realizing that I was giving the gift to mentor and shepherd this little soul, but that in my own strength I'm not equipped to do it because I'm still a human and I'm still imperfect. So that really, really rocked me, because I thought I'm so good with kids I've been working with kids, you know and then I'm like, wait, I'm not as patient, I'm not, as you know, amazing as I thought I was um yeah, what um because you mentioned pouring into younger moms.

Speaker 1:

Do you have any resources that you point to to someone that's about to become a mom?

Speaker 2:

I think classes like I don't know if you do, do you do mom unnatural? I just sort of point like birthing resources specifically.

Speaker 1:

I wish I did. I wish I prepared more. I was not. I did not feel well prepared.

Speaker 2:

I think not. Yeah, I did not feel. Yeah, I think, prepared. I think it has to do with, like, podcasts and books, you know, things to listen to when you have the time, when you're nursing, when you're at about 4 am, but I think it's mostly just saying hey, I'm here for you.

Speaker 1:

One book that you shared recently, even though I'm I mean, maya's almost eight months now. But the Breathless Prayer, I think would have been amazing resource to have. It's a book that has really short prayers that you can do with breath to calm down when you're feeling anxious or very stressed, and I think something like that would have been so incredible to have but. I mean now, but also as a new mom, absolutely.

Speaker 2:

And the funny thing is I didn't even know about that book. My friend Hannah gave it to me. I think she gave it to me like for my birthday, maybe two or three years ago. And it's funny because she just gave it to me and I don't think I had shared any. She just probably read me and was like I think you need this. So I took it seriously. I was like okay it's really good.

Speaker 1:

You can read a couple of pages. It's not overwhelming. You can use that prayer for a few days and you're feeling you want to move on or try a different one, you can yeah, and it's just like a phrase or a bible verse that you like.

Speaker 2:

breathe in and meditate on that and breathe out and meditate on the second half of it it's just like a sentence.

Speaker 1:

So as part of our conversation, you talked about how much your life has been changed and unexpected twists and turns, like having a baby during the pandemic. With that in mind, how do you look ahead? Or do you just give it to God and see how is that part of your life?

Speaker 2:

I think I have been a planner in other seasons where I felt like I was more in control of my choices, aka like college and, you know, even high school. But I think I am in a season now where there's only so much planning I can do. Or I guess, like I just stopped planning because I realized that things were not coming to happen the way I thought they would. And I don't know if I stopped doing the planning just to like spare the grief or because I'm just like living a more surrendered life. So I don't necessarily know exactly why. I'm I'm very good at planning the day to day and like the micro things. But if you went ahead and asked me, like where do you see yourself in five years, I couldn't tell you. I don't think I have an answer for that Because I have stopped planning for the bigger things and I don't necessarily think that's a good or bad.

Speaker 2:

I think it's definitely good to have vision, but I think my, my vision now has become more general, which is just like yield to what you feel god is calling you to do and go for it. And some people do have like a very solid like god is calling me to this big thing, and this is the 5-10 year plan and we might have that happen to us in the near future, but for us right now it's just kind of like okay, we're just trying to be obedient with like what's happening now, whether that is having more children or homeschooling or doing foster care or jobs for alex or moving um, so a lot of things are not strategic. In fact, we've made lots of decisions in our lives that to most people look really, really dumb, but we bring. We knew we were doing them and taking them in obedience, because we knew god was calling us to do that just specifically when it comes to your career, it's the same.

Speaker 1:

So you don't plan in five years I'm going to be doing more or less, or you just take it season by season I do, yeah, which again?

Speaker 2:

but for some people it's like that's awesome. I can totally resonate with that. Um, but I feel like an entrepreneur, like it's okay to have vision right, like I think, as long as you're surrendered to the lord and know that like things can like take a little plot twist here and there and and you're not hanging on to any promise with, like your fist right, but like you have an open hand, you are probably going to succeed because you are giving it to your creator and his plans are always greater.

Speaker 1:

So is there anything else that you want to share, or anything that? You have in your heart to share and if not, where can listeners connect with you? Take a class with you, get to experience some of that fun.

Speaker 2:

The last thing I would say is I'm very passionate about encouraging people to build their village. So take the time, you know, take the heat. Sometimes you know things don't work out, but don't give up. Take the time to meet new people. Keep at it, because they are out there and when you continue to push, like I promise that people will come, you're going to find your circle. You're not alone. It just takes time. So give yourself grace, but take those first steps, like, be the one to initiate.

Speaker 2:

I have a friend who always corinne, she's our friend and she always, after we have a meetup or I went over to dinner to her house and she texts me back and says thank you for initiating. I just love that she notices that because I am very intense. Sometimes I'm like so when are we meeting? So when is you know? When is this? Let's put it on the calendar. But it takes that. So just pursue people intensely and find your village and then, if you want to come, hang. I teach at Bar 3 in Rochester Hills. I teach their signature class, I teach their cardio class. You can find me there in person and we can sweat together. It's going to be great.

Speaker 1:

Okay. So for today's episode takeaways. Plans change, and often for the better. Gabby originally studied food science with a career in research and development in mind, but motherhood led her into teaching, homeschooling and fitness coaching, all of which bring her more joy and purpose than she imagined. Raising kids without extended family is hard but possible.

Speaker 1:

Gabby opened up about the emotional toll of living far from family and the intentional work it takes to build a strong community from scratch. If you are feeling lonely in motherhood, it is important to be strategic and put effort on building meaningful connections. Look for a local mom group and start there. Gabby's biggest advice is to build your village. Don't wait for someone to invite you. Be the one who reaches out, sets the date and pursues your people. Your village is out there and it just takes time and intentionality. Fitness can be a great outlet and connection point. Becoming a bar instructor gave Gabby a creative, energizing outlet outside the home and a chance to pour into others while still prioritizing her kids. Free child care at her studio made it all doable. So for moms considering a part-time outlet, gabby's experience with supportive employers and flexible schedules offers hope and possibility. Homeschooling can come into vision from seeing other families that are going through that journey. After seeing a model that worked, gabby was drawn to the freedom and creativity of homeschooling and now lives it with her own family, and faith fuels her missions. So, from navigating the pandemic and motherhood to building intergenerational relationships, gabby shared how her Christian faith has kept her rooted, purposeful and open-handed with her plans.

Speaker 1:

That's it for today's episode. Thank you for spending this time with me. I know how valuable your time is and I hope you're walking away feeling encouraged to dream a little bigger about what's possible for your work and family life. If this episode spoke to you, it would mean so much if you shared it with another mom who needs this kind of encouragement. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and if you want to keep the conversation going, connect with me on LinkedIn. Just search Emilia Cotto. That's E-M-I-L-I-A, c-o-t-o. Until next time, remember, motherhood isn't the end of your dreams, it's just the beginning.