<![CDATA[The Mind We Inherit ]]>https://christinaorteza.substack.comhttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BSQP!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8fe00277-9080-4d44-bdbf-20154e1ea62c_1280x1280.pngThe Mind We Inherit https://christinaorteza.substack.comSubstackWed, 02 Sep 2026 11:08:23 GMT<![CDATA[I became very good at being a mother while disappearing as myself.]]>https://christinaorteza.substack.com/p/i-became-very-good-at-being-a-motherhttps://christinaorteza.substack.com/p/i-became-very-good-at-being-a-motherTue, 25 Aug 2026 17:55:31 GMT

The woman my children know is not the woman I once imagined I would become.

Read more

]]><![CDATA[To My Mom]]>https://christinaorteza.substack.com/p/to-my-momhttps://christinaorteza.substack.com/p/to-my-momMon, 30 Mar 2026 13:27:07 GMT


Dear Mom, 

Im a grownup now.

Im a mother now.

I understand now.

I took off my rose colored glassses for a while and got to know you.... though I crave to know so much more.

You've been on my mind for some time now.

You were betrayed. 

By people you trusted. 

People you thought were good, were wolves in sheep's clothing.

I was taken from you. For no fault of your own.

 And I'm sorry.

But your strength through it all is unmatched.

I'm know it broke you, for a long time....

Letters that poured in, I still have to this day.

You and I are a lot more alike than you think.

I love you. 

I see you.

I feel you.

I am apart of you. 

I love you, Mom.
]]><![CDATA[Leaving My Old Life Behind]]>https://christinaorteza.substack.com/p/leaving-my-old-life-behindhttps://christinaorteza.substack.com/p/leaving-my-old-life-behindFri, 23 Jan 2026 21:24:20 GMT

I’m leaving my old life behind.

Starting from scratch.

Not because I want to forget or erase it, because can you really?

But for my peace.

I’m a 35-year-old mom of two. And yes, people say I’m still young, that I still have so much life ahead of me, and that’s true. But I’ve also lived through events that change you. The kind that change your brain chemistry, your body, your sense of safety, and your understanding of the world.

From childhood trauma and abuse that ultimately led to emotional a

Read more

]]>