Today we’d like to introduce you to Nelli Leon.
Hi Nelli, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
As a young 23-year-old, I moved from Puerto Rico to Texas in 2013 with hopes of a better future for my husband and me. We wanted to start a family and create opportunities for ourselves. We stayed there for eight years and after many efforts, we realized that we didn’t feel like it was our home. So we packed our bags, and our then 2-year-old twins and a dog drove for three days and moved to our dream state of Utah.
The nature, the mountains, and the family-focused culture made us feel like we finally found what we were searching for. As I went through this move, I realized that I had been stuck at home during the pandemic with infant twins and felt absolutely the loneliest I’ve ever felt. I had left a career in higher education behind to stay home with them, but i knew that I had so much to offer and that somehow I could find a way to raise my children but still use my creative mind to help others.
I decided in late 2020 to start an Instagram page to share my story with other moms who like me felt alone and judged in every step of their motherhood journey. I knew my experience could benefit others. And so my “TwinMamaNels” page begins. From there it has grown to almost 13,000 people who share this amazing rollercoaster called motherhood with me and my little family. It is now a way for me to support my kids, which seems unbelievable to me still.
I share ideas, advice, and creative ways to make every day a joyful opportunity to thrive and keep hope alive. I post content on everything from DIYs to funny parenting moments, anecdote videos and so much more. My goal is to make moms feel heard and comfortable in who they are. This past year my page has also evolved into an advocacy space for Autism after one of my twins, Lucas, was diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum Disorder. Seeing my autistic son flourish and see the world in such a unique and curious way, inspires me every day.
I know the world is not made for autistic people. And that’s why I create content showing our experience in this journey with Lucas from his perspective and also mine as a mom to a child with special needs. He brings so much joy to our lives and my hope is that this page gives others a little bit of a look into what life looks like for him and teaches them to not judge others. Simply love and accept them for all they are.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not much has really come easily for our family, but we consider ourselves very blessed. Leaving our island of Puerto Rico and our family behind was devastating but we felt like we had no choice but to look for better jobs and a prosperous future for our family. Then after arriving in TX, for years I struggled with infertility. It was quite a journey to have my twins. I have PCOS and complex endometrial hyperplasia (which is a pre-cancerous cell growth in the uterus).
It took us five years to finally get pregnant but it wasn’t all butterflies and rainbows. At 25 weeks I went into pre-term labor, which put my twins at risk of being born extremely early. Thankfully, a 65-day stay in the hospital ensured that it didn’t happen and we made it to 33 weeks. Having preemies, Post-partum depression, and being in the middle of pandemics with babies, sent me on a downward spiral.
My faith and my very supportive and loving husband, helped me get out of that hole and push forward. That’s the only way I’m here today and the main reason why I have my page. I don’t ever want another mom feeling alone like I did. Instagram can sometimes create a fake sense of “attainable” perfection when in reality it is creating a lack of confidence and a sense of not being worthy enough in so many women.
In addition, this year my page has shifted its focus a bit into Autism advocacy inspired by my beautiful son. My hope is that I can create a better world for him. One of acceptance and appreciation for who he is, not who society thinks he should be.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As a content creator, it is very hard sometimes to stand out. The only way that I have found my way on this platform is by being entirely myself. Honest, raw, and candid. I use my creativity to spread hope. And I think many moms have related to it. I create a safe space for women to express themselves.
It is a judgment-free zone and one of support for our community. There are millions of Instagram accounts out there trying to create an illusion of what life should look like. I always say “I don’t have the perfect Instagram life, and I will never pretend to”. The moments that make me feel the proudest are the small private conversations I have with women around the world who share their stories with me.
Those who write and say “I feel heard”. That’s all I ever wanted with this page. A little bit of laughter, love, and lots of acceptance. Knowing that just ONE mom feels heard is enough for me to continue every day.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I love creating connections and collaborating with companies and others who have the same mission as me: Creating a safe and fun space for women to express their unique journeys. The best way to support us is by following us along and engaging with our content.
If anyone out there would like to connect, they can feel free to email me and we can come up with a collaborative or sponsorship effort to benefit this beautifully growing community on this page.
Contact Info:
- Email: twinmamanels@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/twinmamanels
Image Credits:
Lindsay Hayes Photography
