Ask the Experts
Q: You’ve been serving Austin families for years through Mi Casa Es Tu Casa. What inspired you to open Austin Baby Café?
A: Motherhood can be deeply lonely, especially for immigrant parents. When we moved to South Korea with my 10-month-old, the isolation took a real toll on my mental health, even though I consider myself highly resilient. What sustained me was access to baby cafés, which offered relief and connection during an otherwise isolating season.
After my second son was born, I became acutely aware of the lack of truly baby-friendly spaces in Austin. Most play areas are designed for children four and up, with hard surfaces or unsafe materials that make normal developmental exploration stressful—or even dangerous—for babies and toddlers—not to mention the overstimulating environments they usually have. As a working parent balancing a business, a growing family, and everyday demands, I needed a place where I could breathe and trust that my child was safe to explore freely. Austin Baby Café is the natural next step: a welcoming, thoughtfully-curated space where families of all backgrounds can pause, connect, and breathe while their babies and toddlers explore safely.
Q: Share a little about your background and your passion for supporting Austin families?
A: My work is deeply rooted in my own journey. I trained as a clinical psychologist in Venezuela and later moved to the U.S. to pursue a PhD in psychoneuroimmunology. Before completing it, I became a mother—and that experience changed everything. Motherhood has a way of awakening what still needs healing, and for me, it brought unresolved childhood trauma to the surface. I understood early on that I had a choice: to do the inner work required to become the mother I wanted to be, or to pass those patterns forward. But I was young, isolated, and without a community to support that process; so, I built what I couldn’t find—a space where parents could heal, grow, and be held in community. There’s a saying that comes to me every time someone asks me what motivates me: “The medicine we give is the medicine we need(ed) the most.”
Q: What families can expect when they walk into Austin Baby Café for the first time?
A: Upon entry, families are met by a welcoming team who truly sees and honors parents and children. We are deeply invested in each family’s well-being and committed to making parenthood feel more supported, not more overwhelming. Families can enjoy high-quality treats, coffee, tea, and made-to-order juices and smoothies: 100% natural, organic, low-sugar, and chosen with the same care I use for my own children. The state-of-the-art play space is intentionally designed to support healthy physical development while keeping babies and toddlers safe. Austin Baby Café removes the pressure of schedules and offers families the freedom to stay, connect, and explore at their own pace. Because when parents are well-supported, children thrive.
Q: Mi Casa Es Tu Casa has built a massive community over the years. What has made it resonate so deeply with local families?
A: Most parent-child classes out there are just classes for the child that have little or nothing to do with the parent. Mi Casa Es Tu Casa resonates because it is built on genuine care and intentionality. While it is often described as a Spanish music class for young children, at its core, it is a program for parents. Every class weaves together early childhood development science, conscious parenting tools, emotional regulation practices, and simple techniques parents can use in real life. Using my background as a Clinical Psychologist, I personally train every teacher in a process that can take up to 18 months, allowing our team to truly hold space for families—not just for joyful milestones but also for exhaustion, vulnerability, and overwhelm. Our families come seeking an educational and fun activity for their little ones and later thank us for creating a healing and nurturing space for them!
Q: How do music, language, play, and connection show up across both businesses?
A: “Spanish. Music. Play.” are the words at the heart of our logo and the foundation of Mi Casa Es Tu Casa. They are not the end goal, but powerful pathways we use to support emotional regulation, secure attachment, and confident parenting, while deepening the parent-child bond. At Austin Baby Café, those same principles show up in a more open, self-directed way. The space itself invites exploration, conversation, and ease, allowing connection to unfold naturally—between children and, just as importantly, between adults.
Q: What challenges did you face opening a second business, and what has been most rewarding about that process so far?
A: The biggest hurdle has been construction—what I imagined would take months stretched into nearly two years. Along the way, I gained a working knowledge of building regulations and development that I never expected, but now truly value. In many ways, opening Austin Baby Café has felt like motherhood all over again. One business is more independent, while the new one needs constant attention—much like raising an older child alongside a toddler. The greatest lesson in this process has been the power of trust and team. I’ve been able to bring the Baby Café to life because Mi Casa Es Tu Casa is held by an extraordinary staff I trust completely.
Q: How does being an Austin-based, woman-owned business influence the way you lead and grow your companies?
A: Being a woman-owned business deeply shapes how I lead. I am committed to supporting women because we are the emotional and relational backbone of our communities. I believe our greatest power lives not only in force or urgency, but also in wisdom, care, and the ability to let things unfold with intention. That philosophy is woven into both businesses. Our work is nurturing, respectful, and with firm boundaries, much like conscious motherhood itself. Austin is a city that values this softer, more sustainable approach to leadership, and I feel incredibly aligned—and grateful—to be growing this work here.
Q: What excites you most about the future of Austin Baby Café as it opens its doors to the community?
A: What excites me most is witnessing what becomes possible once the space is truly in the hands of the community. The Austin Baby Café is built on strong, intentional values, and I trust that when families bring their own stories, cultures, and wisdom into the space, something far greater than any single vision will unfold. This isn’t just the opening of a café—it’s the beginning of a living ecosystem, shaped by the families who gather there and the care they bring with them.
Q: What advice would you give to new parents who are looking for meaningful ways to connect with their child and their community?
A: Community is essential to mental and emotional health. Humans are wired to live in supportive groups, sharing experiences and responsibilities, not to raise children alone behind closed doors. Isolation is one of the strongest contributors to anxiety, depression, and burnout in early parenthood. My advice is to seek out communities that align with your values and get actively involved with them. Whether through music classes, play cafés, or other supportive spaces, being part of a trusted community gives parents a place to share, reflect, and grow. Small moments of human connection matter more than we realize.
Q: Where can readers find you or learn more about upcoming classes and the café opening?
A: For Mi Casa Es Tu Casa, class information and registration are available at SpanishMusicClass.com. Use code EAST26 for a special treat!
To follow the opening of Austin Baby Café, visit AustinBabyCafe.com and subscribe for updates.
Contact:
SpanishMusicClass.com
@MiCasaSTuCasa
AustinBabyCafe.com
@AustinBabyCafe
