Redefining What It Means to Be a “Good Mom”

Monica Virga Alborno, founder of Wandherwild and Wand(HER)wild Family Retreats, returns to the mic solo in this intimate episode, reflecting on the often unseen emotional labor and evolution of modern motherhood. As she reclaims what it means to be a “good mom,” Monica invites listeners to challenge generational norms and lean into intuition, imperfection, and self-expression.

What unfolds is a beautifully candid exploration of breaking free from the performative standards that defined earlier generations—and embracing instead a soulful, authentic connection to both self and child. This moment of reflection sparked the creation of her Sacred Connections Cohort, a guided offering helping mothers rewrite old narratives and strengthen bonds with their children.

The Cultural Ideal of the “Good Mom”

Monica begins by acknowledging how media, generational modeling, and societal conditioning shaped her early beliefs around motherhood. The imagery was consistent: a mother who is perfectly groomed, tirelessly giving, endlessly agreeable, emotionally steady, and almost invisible beyond her role in the home. This portrayal, often rooted in 1950s pop culture, left little room for real-life complexities.

Even with progress in women’s education and careers, Monica reflects on the internal conflict many mothers face: “We’ve built meaningful lives, only to arrive at motherhood and ask—how do I still pursue what lights me up while doing right by my children?”

The Inner Reckoning

As Monica navigated this internal friction, she started asking herself: what really makes a good mother?

The answers surprised her. They didn’t include tidy kitchens, daily homemade meals, or a spotless emotional record. Instead, they centered around authenticity, self-awareness, intuition, and emotional openness. “My kids need to see me—crying, laughing, figuring things out—so they feel safe doing the same.”

By embracing her full range of emotions in front of her children, Monica offers them a living example of human complexity. Rather than shielding them from reality, she makes space for the messiness of life and models resilience in real time.

Modeling Vulnerability and Imperfection

Monica candidly admits she no longer tries to look “polished” for anyone—not even on camera. Having stepped away from corporate life, she now chooses presence over perfection. “If you saw me on the street, this is how I’d look,” she laughs, unapologetically showing up with unwashed hair and no makeup.

It’s not about letting go entirely—it’s about shifting the energy from performance to presence. For Monica, being a “good mom” now means:

Crying in front of her children without shame
Speaking kindly about herself and others in their presence
Making room for their autonomy—even as toddlers
Validating and owning her intuitive instincts as their mother
Taking rest days, even if that means skipping routines or breaking the usual schedule

Picture of a business woman holding her baby.

Why Intuition is a Radical Act

Monica urges other mothers to reclaim their intuitive wisdom—to stop outsourcing authority on how to raise their children. “Nobody knows your child better than you,” she says. And while external resources can provide insight, they can never replace lived experience.

This confidence didn’t emerge overnight. Monica credits years of self-reflection, soul work, and her study of ancient systems like astrology for helping her access deeper clarity. It’s through these tools that she first saw the profound impact of her energetic blueprint—and how her children’s charts echoed back relational dynamics and opportunities for healing.

From Personal Practice to Collective Offering

Her exploration of astrology, emotional regulation, and conscious parenting sparked something bigger—a desire to bring this soul-led work into community. That seed bloomed into the Sacred Connections Cohort, a five-week audio-led journey designed to help mothers reconnect with themselves and their children.

Each week of the cohort builds on a theme:

The Inner Self: Tending to the inner critic and self-narrative
Womb Wisdom: Tapping into intuitive guidance through the womb space
Astrology & Synastry: Exploring natal charts to understand relational dynamics
Human Design: Learning about energetic exchanges and personal blueprints
Triggers & Visioning: Moving through tension with grace and visualizing what’s next

This experience is intentionally light in structure, rich in integration, and accessible to busy mothers. The recordings are under 20 minutes, the guidance calls are supportive and optional, and all rituals are designed to meet participants where they are.

A Vision Rooted in Inclusion

Not every family can travel or invest in in-person retreats, which is why Monica prioritized making the Sacred Connections Cohort affordable and virtual. “We know what it’s like to be stretched thin,” she says. “This is a gentle invitation to do something for yourself that will ripple into your child’s life.”

She also highlights the live community aspect, including cacao circles, WhatsApp chats, and workshops designed for restoration and intentionality. The goal is not perfection, but presence—and giving mothers a safe space to be seen, heard, and supported.

A Movement, Not Just a Moment

This episode isn’t just a podcast—it’s a manifesto. It’s a soft but firm declaration that modern motherhood isn’t meant to follow outdated scripts. Monica speaks to every mother who feels the weight of invisible expectations and offers a new lens: one of conscious choice, spiritual inquiry, and emotional sovereignty.

At its heart, her message is simple: being a “good mom” isn’t about how things look—it’s about how things feel.

—

Want more real-talk episodes like this? Listen to The Wand(HER)wild Podcast and connect with our community over on Instagram @wandherwild or through our digital events at wandherwild.com/community and retreats at wanderwildfamilyretreats.com.