Today we’d like to introduce you to Alyssia Aguilar.
Hi Alyssia, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
The Lofty Mom was initially created because I was expecting my first child, and I wanted to become a “mommy blogger.” I was excited at the chance to share my experiences and insights on all the baby must-dos and don’ts.
However, I quickly realized that motherhood would consume me of little downtime and unrealistic standards to become “the next mommy blogger.” Shortly after my first, I found out that I was expecting again, but this time with TWINS.
This pregnancy I learned the hard truths of what a “high risk” pregnancy would be like. I was in and out of the hospital and finally had to undergo an emergency c-section at 25 weeks’ gestation. The twins were considered micro preemies, only weighing 1lb 14 oz each, and now had to start fighting to survive.
At 16 days old my son’s fight came to an end as he passed away in the NICU due to Sepsis, and it absolutely broke me. I carried guilt as a mom, believing that if my body was better or strong enough, he would have survived. I started to use art as my way of healing and to help me express my emotions through a creative outlet. I started to donate art at the NICU for other families to take and use as decoration for their Child’s bedside.
I started to then use social media to post and share the art that I was creating under The Loft Mom handle. Lofty Mom was then born in a new light of art and passion, which allowed me to share my story of loss and grief but also how beauty can truly come from pain. Since then, my art and story have been featured with Parents.com, Sepsis Alliance, Twitter, Times Square NYC, UNGA78, Bella Magazine, and more. I have been supported by and collected by incredible people and organizations such as The Houston Texans, Eva Longoria, Randi Zuckerberg, Chef Spike Mendelsohn, and many more. The Lofty Mom has now become my identity as a proud Latina Artist who works hard as an entrepreneur and single mom.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
IMPOSTER SYNDROME. Have you heard of it? This has been and will always be a bump in the road, especially as a minority woman who is self-taught and has had to juggle being a single mom to two little girls with Autism in the mix.
I wish I could say things have been smooth sailing, but it’s because of those bumps in the road that have driven me to be more passionate about who I am and what I stand for. I remember being dismissed countless times by men in the art industry who would automatically judge me based off of my name “The Lofty Mom”. I would be told- So you are a mom who just stays home and cleans all day? Putting me down in a category where being a Latina was not important, being a mom was just a job, and my art was just for women.
I knew that by continuing to share these “labels”, which were useless and worthless to them but for me- empowered and ignited my passions to share even more. I wanted to use these labels to honor their value and show that being a mom and a Latina was not only important to the work I created but essential to the art world. Because representation matters, and I know that one day my own daughters will be looking for that representation that will ignite their own passions, and I hope to be able to be that for someone now. I know that by being a single mom who works as a creative brings on little sleep, long days and a lot of mom guilt. BUT I am able to provide for my daughters and be in a creative industry that I love so much. I know that my hard work will pay off, and my creativity, persistence, and drive will inspire many to do the same and never give up. So, if my road is bumpy, so be it.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
The Lofty Mom is known as an artist and designer. I have created countless logos and custom art pieces and have been able to work and showcase art with incredible brand collaborations. I specialize in custom graphics and illustrative designs.
Being able to utilize Lofty Mom as a way to share my story and connect with people on a deeper and more real level sets me apart from your day-to-day designer. I feel it is vital for people to know who I am, what I stand for and see my integrity first. So that way, when they do decide to work with me, they already know where my heart is and why I do the work that I do.
I am most proud of being able to honor my son’s life by advocating and giving back alongside Sepsis Alliance. I am proud to uplift his story and donate art and graphics for families to use and learn more about Sepsis. I have also been able to get Sepsis Awareness Month recognized in the city of Houston and State of Texas.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Honor the hardships. We all have a story- and we all have our own realities that we have to face every day. I want to encourage you today that you are not alone. I want to share that your story is not less than the next, but how are you using your story to inspire the next person? Not everyone can connect with me and what I have walked and faced as a mom, but those who can connect, I hope, can feel motivated to reflect and see how they, too, can take their own power back and rise above. Be fearless and go for it. I am the HAPPIEST I have ever been, and have an incredible circle of love and support, and having that special guy now in my life makes it even better. This era of my life has been about growth and truly going after new opportunities and achieving new heights in my professional and personal life. Most Importantly for me, God has been the one factor of my success and my peace. I have never felt alone, and I know he will continue to guide me and help me do what I need to do for my girls and myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://loftymom.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theloftymomart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLoftyMom/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theloftymom/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheLoftyMom
Image Credits
Zach Tarrant
Lofty Mom
SHEIN
