austin bonus mom, stepmom, newlyweds

Hi there! I’m Cristina – a writer, newlywed and bonus mom keen on philanthropy, nachos and good puns.

Austin is my place of birth, but I grew up in the Rio Grande Valley of deep South Texas, where tamales are reasonably priced and the beach is always within reach.

I graduated from the University of Texas Pan American in [a long time ago] with a journalism degree, and then spent the next five years as a copyeditor and reporter with a couple of news organizations, including ABCNews.com in NYC. In 2008, I returned to Texas to expand my writing career into the wild world of advertising.

Professionally, I’m a senior copywriter at Dell, where I’ve been writing about new technology for the last five years. To be real though, I’m a recovering journalist. Always will be. Storytelling is my love language, and it’s locked in a three-way tie with food and travel.

Another passion I hold dear is the Austin nonprofit community. To that end, I’ve joyfully served hundreds of hours volunteering with or raising funds for the Girl Scouts of Central Texas, the Young Women’s Alliance Foundation and the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas. I love learning about new ways to serve our city – especially opportunities to educate and empower girls and women – and I believe that our passionate community of nonprofits and its volunteers are a huge part of what make Austin so fantastic.

That and the fact that I met my husband here. Just weeks before I turned 32, we had our first date at G’Raj Majal (back when it was still a food truck), and I knew soon after that my life was never going to be the same. Mr. Wonderful is the butter to my bread – a living, breathing looking glass, challenging me to challenge myself and earning the coveted spot as my safe place. Not easy to attain.

austin bonus mom, stepmom, sand ceremonyWe wed last summer in Mexico and I welcomed an instant family: 8-year-old twin sons whom I affectionately refer to as the “The Little Boys Club.” And while they may look alike, it wouldn’t take them long to show [read: tell] you how incredibly different they are.

My initiation into motherhood began when the boys were 5 and has since provided endless inspiration for storytelling. I’ve recounted some of my adventures in parenting on my blog – and these boys’ hilarious observations also inspired me to chronicle their kid quotes on Instagram @The_Little_Boys Club.

I’m really just learning as I go – which probably isn’t so different from most parents. But as a stepparent, navigating my role can feel extra weighty. Am I saying the right thing? What would their mother do right now? How can I make these boys feel most loved?  [My inner dialogue is the worst, y’all.]

But I’m doing my best. I’m learning not to be so hard on myself when I don’t have the answers. And the thing is, the boys already have two terrific parents, so thankfully, I can take my cues from them.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to write for Austin Mom’s Blog and I hope to offer a positive perspective on co-parenting to bonus moms and bio moms alike.

austin-moms-blog-cristina-reyna-neel

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