By Valeria Picco, Spark Mom
Wow, what an interesting prompt! To pour into these lines how I’ve been feeling on this journey? Phew, that would take me quite some time, but I’ll try to be brief.
I believe the greatest challenge in life, when it comes to being a Mapache, is our own journey, not just at Tinkuy, but in life itself.
From the moment I knew my daughter was growing inside me, I promised myself I would do, and give my very best for her, even without knowing exactly how. Because many of us, or at least the vast majority, romanticize parenthood. But when you live it in the flesh, it’s, uff... very different. Like everything in life, it has its ups and downs, but I can say with certainty that it’s the most magnificent experience one can have.
Pregnancy was, for me, the most magical and beautiful experience I’ve lived, where I had such a special connection with my baby. I think, like most expecting women, I spoke to her all the time, told her what we were doing, how we were doing it. From that moment, I was always anticipating every step we’d take. That’s when this idea of raising with love, autonomy, and respect emerged, and I’m not only talking about love and respect as feelings, but also about respecting their own learning pace, loving every step they take, loving waking up each day, loving our own being and feelings. That’s it, being able to feel and always be themselves, wherever they go, and whoever they are with.
Bringing a person into this world is the most challenging act, as it is raising them. But, as I mentioned before, I was always clear about this: I would respect her timing. I would never dim her curiosity to explore the world, and I would let her experience it from her perspective, from her being. Because of course, we’re all different.
And so it has been, since she was born. Accompanying, supporting, walking together, side by side.
It truly is a great challenge, especially when we come from such different structures, but we are moving toward a shift in paradigms and frameworks. When we’re convinced this is the path, even if it often gives us headaches or leaves us with doubts, we keep going.
Always with the certainty that we’re on the right path.
When we moved to Lima, it never crossed our minds that we’d have to choose a school so soon, apply, and go through all the steps of the schooling process. I suddenly found myself overwhelmed, afraid that my daughter wouldn’t have a school to attend. So we spoke with some acquaintances, and they told us about School X. Off we went, rushing not to miss the opportunity. We applied, followed all the bureaucracy of the process, and we were accepted.
Over time, that school started to not feel right. There were many days and nights of long conversations with Mauri, lots of quiet, detailed research, until one day I said NO, this is not the place. I started studying Tinkuy more deeply, and everything aligned with the kind of education and perspective we’ve had for Lucía since her arrival in the world. There were many more talks with Mauri, and finally, one day we decided to apply, and here we are.
About my own journey at Tinkuy, although we’ve been part of this great community for a year now, I feel like it’s been a lifetime, but in a beautiful, integrated way. It’s also been full of constant learning, like figuring out this new platform (where we do our badges) or taking on each of the challenges my Puma faces within her studio.
This new year is full of challenges, Lucía finding herself once again in a different space, with Pumas who moved up to Discovery (the next studio), and new Pumas entering her studio, Spark. She started as one of the youngest, and now she’s stepping into a new role, as one of the veterans. And that’s when, after reflecting for several weeks, I understood her actions. I realized that’s just how it is, because we are constantly evolving, and that’s one of the beautiful things about this space.
I won’t deny that many times I ask myself if this is the right place for her, because I feel she’s not yet reaching her full potential. But that’s when I remind myself that the timing is hers, and always will be. Trust is key on this path.
As a Mapache, this year I promised myself I’d enjoy the journey more, the process, but it’s hard. I don’t know if it’s just my nature or something else, but it’s hard to let go and flow. Still, here I am, choosing to trust the process, both in my journey and in my Puma’s.
I’m also taking on new routes and working through the "unfinished business" I’ve carried with me for years. But as my therapist once told me, “Unfinished business belongs in your ears, not your life.” So I’m taking charge of my path, facing those “to-dos,” expanding my knowledge, and hoping that we all, at some point in our lives, can experience new challenges and how rewarding it feels when you overcome them.
I feel like this year, my biggest challenge is to Trust, Flow, and Let Go.
And as I write this, I realize that I must practice this not just in my own journey, but in Lucía’s as well. Even though I always trust that she can accomplish anything she sets her mind to, it’s about not insisting or checking if she’s doing it. Because I’m certain that when she feels ready, she will do it, and she’ll do it fully.
Every time I think about what would happen if we had to return to our country or move somewhere else, what would we do without Tinkuy? Phew… I think about it a lot. And even though I often have storms in my mind, and I sometimes doubt the path, I am more certain than ever that this is it.
After all these lines, even though I promised to be brief (sorry!), I hope that whoever reads my story, my journey, can truly feel it. That’s all, I let myself flow through words and experiences, both beautiful and not-so-beautiful, but all part of what makes this path magical.
And I invite you to trust, flow, and let go, because from that place, everything becomes even more magical.