Episode 505: Brittney Valles on Getting out of the Suffering Olympics and Embracing Motherhood

·45 min·4 clips

Brittney Valles confesses the baby stage is not her favorite and she finds it hard when her daughter 'gives me no material to bounce off of.'

Paulina and Bricia Lopez, hosts of the Super Mamás podcast, introduce the episode by noting it's spring and they are moving to a biweekly schedule. They welcome back Brittney Valles, a close friend who was last on the podcast before becoming a mom. Brittney is now a mother to a one-year-old daughter and has closed her restaurant, Guerrilla Tacos. The conversation begins with Brittney joking about being an 'experienced mother' now that her daughter is one. She reflects on gaining more appreciation for her own mother, who had four children close in age. Brittney admits that even with support from her husband, sister, and resources like ChatGPT, she still feels overwhelmed and has no time for herself. She discusses being the baby of her family and the adjustment to no longer being the baby after having a child. Brittney is honest about not enjoying the baby stage, finding it difficult because her daughter doesn't talk back yet. She explains she closed her restaurant to be present with her daughter but finds it hard to be fully present. The hosts relate to her feelings, with Bricia sharing her own past depression from suppressing similar emotions. Brittney offers advice to new moms, emphasizing that each experience is unique and the importance of relying on a village. She warns against the 'suffering Olympics,' where moms feel they need to suffer to be good, something she sees in Latina culture. Brittney recounts the events leading to her restaurant's closure, including a fire and a robbery, which made her realize the constant anxiety wasn't sustainable. She decided to close in January, before her daughter's March due date, allowing time to wind down. After closing, she felt a sense of divine alignment and her spiritual bankruptcy lifted. Brittney began exploring stand-up comedy and tarot, finding creativity healing. She discusses how her upbringing discouraged big dreams, but she's now allowing herself to consider stand-up. The episode ends with Brittney promoting her work with the Independent Hospitality Coalition and encouraging support for small businesses.

As heard by us

Motherhood, restaurant loss, and the guilty math of asking for a break.

Paulina and Brescia Lopez open on spring and a lighter stretch after winter in LA, then settle into a candid talk with Brittany about the suffering Olympics, the urge to feel earned before taking a break, and the shift from running a restaurant to raising a child.

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Why you'd press play

When rest starts feeling like something you have to earn.

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