Christina Rios shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Christina , thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
As a mom of 3 boys with my eldest on the spectrum my first 90 min of my day are chaotic scrambled of getting everyone up, dressed, feed, and ready for their day. often punctuated by quick self-care moments for myself amidst the demands of my boys who can be quite lively and demanding. There’s a focus on juggling different needs, a constant underlying theme is the desire for some peace and order before the day’s activities begin.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Welcome to my world! My name is Christina or Khriztinaa if you’re on my social medias! I’m a SAHM mom of three boys and 4 bonus kids—my life is beautifully loud, often messy, and full of love. A huge part of our journey is celebrating my 17-year-old son on the autism spectrum, sharing our lifestyle with authenticity and humor. I share the reality of our family life and the joyful moments of raising a neurodiverse child. But my world isn’t just carpools and laundry. It is also where you’ll find me indulging my creative side: I’m obsessed with makeup, counting down the days until fall and Halloween, and expressing myself through painting and the art of tattooing. I’m working on a unique blend of honest motherhood, neurodiversity advocacy, creative pursuits, and seasonal obsession!
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Honestly, I probably didn’t truly grow up until after my first marriage. So I would have to say my fiancé Phillip, absolutely! Because I met him about a month later. Coming out of my marriage, I was seeing myself through a damaged lens. I believed I was too broken and too difficult to love, because my ex had spent years telling me that I was. Phillip didn’t see the ‘broken’ part; He only saw the resilience. He saw my passion and my courage where I only saw ‘oversensitivity.’ He created a space where I could finally believe that my voice was important, and that my feelings were valid—that’s the true ‘me’ I was finally able to step into, all because he showed me it was safe to be that person.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
It probably taught me humility the most. I have seen first hand how success can lead to pride & an inflated sense of self. I actually owe that to my parents being completely transparent with their own financial struggles growing up. Especially my father Rene, He taught me that adversity strips away arrogance and self-sufficiency, teaching me that you are not immune to failure and that you need patience, hard work, and often the help of others.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Oh, most definitely! Even though I’m a Virgo and often am reserved. I’m very much one to keep it real & honest. But I mean I’m in my late 30s I just do not have the energy to try and be two different versions of myself in public or behind closed doors so I rather just be myself no matter what happens. It is literally ok to not be someone’s cup of tea. Just be you.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
Wow, that’s kind of hard to answer. Let’s see, I would hope they tell people about how my life wasn’t just lived; it was crafted. That I never saw ‘stay-at-home’ as ‘stay-put.’ That I saw it as ‘stay-inspired,’ and my greatest canvas was my home and family. That it wasn’t just the beautiful things I created or how I kept my home or family. That I proved that the highest form of art is living a life of intentional beauty and generosity. My legacy isn’t stored in a museum; it lives in the confidence of my children, in the warmth of the painting I’ve created for family & friends and in the sheer, vibrant memory of a woman who turned her everyday existence into a masterpiece of love and creativity.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khriztinaa?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-rios-08072987?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@khriztinaa?si=MQGpdwWvC4EvWi9-
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@khriztinaa?_t=ZP-90KwA6fegE2&_r=1
