Of all the roles she has played in life, Key Biscayne resident Natalia Araujo considers motherhood to be the most important.
A native of Colombia, Natalia attended the University of Miami and met her husband George Dangond here at a real estate fair. Something told her early on that the two were compatible and would make a good match. She remembers telling her mother, “I think I met the person I want to marry.”
Natalia and George are parents to Sebastian (13) and Isabella (10). They think of the island as a great place to raise children and appreciate its convenience. “If we lived on the mainland,” she remarks, “we might spend all our time driving up and down U.S. 1.”
“Here, I’m able to take my daughter places by walking or riding bicycles or in a golf cart. I have time to work out, to see the sunset, to get lots of things done in a single day. To have all that time — it’s magical.”
They are a nature-loving family and enjoy spending time outside. George is an early-morning beach walker. One Saturday before dawn he was lucky enough to see a few turtle hatchlings crawling towards the ocean. Full of excitement, he raced home to tell Natalia and the kids. They eagerly jumped out of bed and headed down to the beach, still in their pajamas. By the time they got down to the water the hatchlings had already made it out to sea. Always one to look on the bright side, Natalia recalls it as a beautiful family experience anyway. They stood together looking out at the ocean and marveling at the life cycle of turtles.
Natalia has keen insights into parenthood and observes that children are like mirrors — reflecting our own selves back to us. “Our children are always trying to teach us something. I look at them and I see the ways I want to grow. Parenting is emotional and it’s challenging, but it’s beautiful.”
She recognizes in herself a tendency to move very quickly. In her daughter Isabella, she finds calmness that encourages her to slow down. In her son Sebastian, on the other hand, she sees speed that encourages her to regulate her own emotions so she can better guide Sebastian through his.
Her own journey as a mother has inspired her to learn more about neuroscience and emotional intelligence. With the encouragement of friends, she started a coaching program called “Bloom.” She describes the program as a way to help women break free from autopilot and reconnect with themselves.
In recognition of Mother’s Day, she offers some advice for new moms. “Being a mother for the first time is overwhelming. It’s all new and it can be scary. We feel doubt. I think the most important thing is to let our intuition guide us and enjoy the process.”