Mama Minute with Flavia Zorilla Drago

What part of motherhood feels especially magical to you right now?

My baby’s eyes, cheeks, tiny hands and her laughter! I also love seeing her experiencing things for the first time. It’s really easy to forget that at one point in our lives every sound, shape, texture or flavour was completely new. It’s really fun and interesting seeing her discovering the world. 

Is there anything your child has taught you about yourself?

After she was born I realized that there was a very special kind of love I hadn’t experienced before, the kind of love that goes beyond words and anything else I can describe. At the same time all this joy also came with a new level of worry because you suddenly realize how small and vulnerable babies are and how much they need us to keep them happy and safe! In many ways, she has taught me that I had never loved this much and also I have never had so much to lose.

Are there Día de los Muertos traditions or memories from your childhood that have stayed with you?

When I was a child I remember being really excited about making my first ofrenda. My mum took me to the market to get all the things we needed: pan de muerto, incense, candles, papel picado, flowers and sugar skulls. That night we poured some glasses of water so our loved ones could have a drink. They must have been really thirsty because the next morning the glasses were completely empty! To this day my mum swears she had absolutely nothing to do with it, but I am a bit skeptical.

How do you protect space for creativity when motherhood can be so all-consuming?

Being a creative mum is a tricky thing because you always feel like you are leaving something really important behind: whenever I work I wish I was spending time with my baby, and (sometimes) whenever I am with her I wish I could be doing my projects. I guess the best thing I can do is to fully focus on whatever I’m doing at that moment, rather than feeling guilty about the thing I’m not doing.

I also have a partner who is really supportive of my work and ideas. We try to share the responsibilities and tasks as evenly as possible, which means I can have time for my work while also being fully present with my baby. Having this kind of support makes a huge difference. I’m really lucky!

What is your favorite thing about celebrating Día de los Muertos?

My favourite part is building the ofrenda. As you put it together, you think about the things your loved ones used to enjoy and choose special objects to represent them: crossword puzzles for Grandad Allan, sweets for Susan, fairy-tale books for Mariana, tequila for the abuelos, Coca-Cola for my aunties and uncles, seashells for César, and so on. Choosing these little things brings back happy memories of who they were and all the things that made them special.

What does celebrating Día de los Muertos look like for your fam?

Although we live in the UK, I want my baby to feel connected to her Mexican heritage. This is why we make our own ofrenda at home. Over the past few years, we’ve also invited friends to bake pan de muerto and eat it with hot chocolate. Hopefully these traditions will help my baby learn about her family, her heritage and appreciate where she comes from.

Whenever I’m in Mexico, I love visiting the ofrendas around the city, you can see them everywhere: in people’s homes, museums, schools, shops and in the cemeteries! Being able to celebrate in both places has made me realize that, even though I live far away I can still feel connected to my family and to Mexico.

Any Tubby Todd goodies you find yourself reaching for?

Obviously all the seasonal specials are in my wishlist! This year's @sockerbitnyc + @crateandkids Boo Basket looks amazing! If they sold the products in the UK, I would definitely get the Mineral Sunscreen and the Lavender +  Rosemary Everyday Lotion.