Meet Mickey Lozano
When I was 16 years old, I was given an assignment in school to write an essay about life beyond high school graduation. While everyone around me was writing about summer jobs, college, and career plans, I could only think to write metaphors about roots and trees.
When I was 26 years old, I was given an assignment in culinary school to design a restaurant concept and a menu. While everyone around me was creating concepts based on American regional cuisines, I created a mock menu from handmade paper, and incorporated water sounds and essential oils in my restaurant ambiance design.
I have always been a little unique in my words, ideas, and dreams. I am a native Texan, born and raised in Houston, but I was always an Austinite at heart. “Keep Austin Weird” was a mantra that always seemed to echo back to me in some way.
Today I am the very proud wife of my husband Julio, and a mama of seven. After years of wanting to return back to school for my college degree, in 2010 I was a very fortunate recipient of the Project Working Moms scholarship. I returned back to school two weeks after the birth of my fourth baby, and I graduated from Ashford University with Bachelor degrees in Entrepreneurship and Organizational Management right before the birth of my sixth baby.
In 2017, after dreaming of living in Austin since I was 16, my husband was unexpectedly given a job opportunity in Austin. We said goodbye to Houston, left behind the furniture and everything that didn’t fit in an SUV, and created a brand new life. I am grateful for every moment in Mopac traffic, every day of intense summertime heat, and every overcrowded walk in the Barton Creek Greenbelt, because I am living the life I dreamed of having someday.
Our youngest two boys are toddlers. Our oldest child is a few years from high school graduation. My life exists somewhere in between plant cell structure discussions and making new batches of play dough. Both can be equally difficult at times.
Most of my days are spent wildschooling my two toddler boys, and learning along the way. Wildschooling is a movement that uses connection to nature as its guide. Other similar movements are forest schooling, nature schooling, Charlotte Mason, and the Reggio Emilia approach. Growing up in suburban Houston, I was not exposed to nature during my childhood as much as I would have liked. I wanted to change this for my children, and the greenbelts and trails of Austin have made a significant impact in the legacy I am able to create for them.
Getting outside in Austin, supporting kids to learn through exploration and discovery, and family volunteering are topics I would love to contribute to Austin Moms Blog. I am passionate about this wonderful city that has given us so much, and I love to give back in any measure I can.
