Name: Melissa Dominguez
Location: Miami, FL
Occupation: Founder of The House of Intent- Holistic Lifestyle Advocate.
My mission is to empower you to live a more healthy, clean, non- toxic, and balanced lifestyle.
Children: Mila 5, Cece 7, Alessandra 9
What brings you joy as a parent? I love living life through the eyes of my children. They are so present in the moment and live life with curiosity and purity which is so refreshing. I also love the constant creativity and entertainment they bring to our lives. Having three girls close in age was a true blessing and the fact they are all best friends is a dream.
What are some of your challenges as a parent?
Having 3 kids is tricky. I am constantly dealing with the guilt that I can not give them each equal attention while still finding time for myself. I also am a "fixer" and learning to sit back and let my children learn from their own mistakes can feel like torture. In the end, being a mom is the most rewarding job I have ever had.
What is the best advice you received or lessons learned as a parent? I have learned that every child is different so there is not one standard parenting style that works across the board. Whether you are a tough-love parent or a softer, more nurturing parent, I don't believe that one way is more successful than the other. You need to really get to know your kids and learn what works best for them and be open to changing it up along the way. Parenting is a journey and you can never quite plan for whats coming next.
How do you practice self care? Self care is a huge part of my life, and my family respects the time I make for myself. They know that a happy mom is a mom that has time for herself. I wake up every morning early to have an hour to myself before the rest of the household starts the morning rush. I meditate, journal, and either do pilates or a home workout. I also love epsom salt baths at night to relax and detox as well as monthly massages and acupuncture to make sure I am well-balanced.
How do you make time for your relationship with your partner?
I learned after my third child that date night was a must. We became ships passing in the night and only came together to discuss something that was going on with the kids so we got a standing sitter every Saturday so we can have time to spend together. Sometimes we go out to dinner while other times we just order in and watch a movie while the sitter puts the kids to bed so we can chat in peace.
Are your parenting styles different than your partner's? How do you manage parenting with your partner? My husband and I have actually grown more similar in our parenting styles over the past 9 years. Or maybe he finally gave up and let me just take the reins. He actually is very supportive of my decisions, and a good sounding board to let me know if I am being overly sensitive or overbearing. I really appreciate having a male's perspective in this house full of girls.
How do you spend quality time with your children? We make the little moments matter. The kids are so busy with homework and after-school activities. Time in the car is our sacred time where I really get to connect with my girls. We also try our best to do a weekly game night as a family on the weekends. The kids really look forward to it, and its so fun that they are at an age we can play fun games together.
What parenting tools work for you and your family? Meditation and just taking a few moments of conscious breathing are a go-to in our home when any of us feel off kilter.
Favorite parenting books or resources? I am a self help book guru. I read non-stop but the books that have helped me more recently are
The Blessing of a Skinned Knee by Wendy Mogel, How to Raise an Adult by Julie Lythcott-Haims, Growth Mindset by Carol S. Dweck, and The Gift of Failure Jessica Lahey.
What do you wish for your children? I hope my kids can grow up to be who they came here to be. Not influenced by what my or my husband's dreams are for them but what really makes them happy. It is such a gift to be so in touch with yourself and be 100% authentic.