Meet Magüi Moreno | Life Coach and Mindfulness Teacher for Special Needs Parents

We had the good fortune of connecting with Magüi Moreno and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Magüi, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
As a special needs mom myself, I wanted to help out other families of kids with autism, ADHD and other developmental differences. In my own parenting journey, I have met many professionals working to help neurodiverse children. But who helps us, the parents? Who supports us, the front-line team? Who nourishes us, the care-givers?

It seemed clear to me very early on that there was a lot less support specifically focused on parents’ wellbeing. And special needs parents have very high levels of stress and are often overwhelmed. A US study from 2009 showed that autism moms suffer from stress levels that are comparable to those of deployed combat soldiers!

Around the same time that my son was diagnosed with autism at the age of 4, I was finishing my life coaching and mindfulness teacher certification. I felt I could offer not just insights from my own experience as an autism mom, but also from my training and practice supporting other parents.

It’s a mission I strongly believe in because really being there for yourself is the first step to being there for others. This is specially true when your child has additional needs and challenges.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My mission is to support other special needs parents on a mindful, kinder, and clearer path to their best life through mindfulness and self-care practices. I provide 1-on-1 coaching as well as online courses and group facilitation.

When my son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in 2014, I was in the midst of training as a mindfulness coach. My mindfulness practice saved me from my own critical and negative self-talk. Instead of falling into anxiety, my usual response pattern in the face of life’s difficulties, I was able to take it one day at a time, to maintain a lovely connection to my son, and to manage the stress of the situation.

In 2018, I decided to focus my coaching business on supporting special needs parents because I had seen first-hand that unfulfilled gap where very few professionals were focusing on parents’ wellbeing.

I’m most proud of my reach so far: I’ve worked with clients from around the world in both English and Spanish. To be able to accompany them in their own search for meaning and wellbeing in their own lives, both personally and as parents. To see the shifting of perspective from victimhood to empowerment. To appreciate how all this personal work increases connection with their kids and loved ones.

The hardest bit was overcoming my own fears and reservations about visibility (my own and my child’s) as I share a lot from my own parenting experience too. But I’ve learned that trust and authenticity are what brings a business alive and gets one the results in terms of connection with potential clients.

I’d like to tell special needs parents that mindfulness is not a magic bullet. It’s not going to take away the reality of your child’s differences, of their struggles, and the regular difficulties they (and we, as their parents) face. But mindfulness and self-awareness can help us change HOW we perceive that reality. What we make of it. How we relate to it. And there lies our power!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Washington DC is an amazing place. I lived here 20 years ago (I met my husband here!) and I can honestly say that it has plenty to offer whatever your chapter in life, whether as a single 20-something or a soccer mom!

I love visiting the National Mall and walking around the Tidal Basin, especially in the spring and autumn for the beautiful colors. I would definitely recommend visiting some of the Smithsonian Museums, like the National Air and Space Museum (for kids and adults alike) or the National Museum of African American History and Culture. There are so many fun places to go to! The National Zoo is another favorite for all.

In terms of eating and drinking, my favorites areas are Georgetown and U Street. If you prefer to be by the water, definitely visit the Wharf DC. There are so many areas to explore!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My own son deserves a massive shoutout, as he’s been more patient and often-times present than I have throughout the 10 years I’ve had the honor to be his mom! He remains the happy, smiley and sociable person he showed signs of being from the day he was born. His hugs and kisses are epic. His kindness and empathy are surprising under the heavy load of his diagnosis (he was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in 2014).

And then, of course, my husband who has help my hand every step of the way and been my enabler in so many ways.

I’ve been particularly influenced by Dr. Shefali Tsabary’s book “The Conscious Parent” and Tara Brach’s teachings on mindfulness.

Website: www.maguimoreno.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/mindfulautismmama