I Am a Fort Worth Mama: Alexis Nguyen-Gonzalez

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Alexis GonzalezFor seven years, Dr. Alexis Nguyen-Gonzalez has penned Fort Worth as her hometown. She met her husband, who is a transplant hepatologist, in New York City, where she completed her residency in emergency medicine and where she lived for seven years. With a small stint in California, Alexis and her family settled in Cowtown. She is mom to a boy, Evan (2), and a girl, Luci (6). Alexis is a mother and wife in the daytime, but sneaks off to work the night shift at a local trauma center when the children are sleeping the night away. She also manages vacation rental property in Florida on the side. She realllllyyyy enjoys traveling with her family, reading, gardening, and knitting gifts for family and friends. Check out her recently launched Etsy shop where she sells contemporary and fashionable knitted goods to benefit Doctors Without Borders.

If we peeked in your purse right now, what would we find?

I’m a minimalist: credit cards, iPhone, a knitting project (while I sit at red lights), and coupons.

Why do you call Cowtown home?

Because of my husband’s job we moved here from Palo Alto, California, less than a month after I gave birth to Luci. That was almost 7 years ago. So much has changed here in Fort Worth. This city is really thriving, and I’m noticing increasingly more young people choosing to live near the center of it all. The restaurant scene has gone from boring to fun and fresh. The level of quality has shot up drastically.

What’s been the greatest joy of motherhood?

Watching my children treat others with kindness and compassion (although they don’t always feel this for each other).

What’s been the greatest challenge of motherhood?

The most difficult part of being a mother (so far) was realizing that I lost a huge piece of myself in the first several months of motherhood. It was like a sudden awakening to “Who am I? Where did I go?” Perhaps it was the chronic sleep deprivation, the anxiety of being a new mother, and the physical changes (hormonal and physiological). I remember feeling hopeless, dark, and lonely. I think it’s a drastic life change for someone who is used to being busy and productive 18 hours a day.

How do you hope your life influences and/or inspires other women?

As an emergency physician, I see countless people who are hurting inside. People are suffering from anxiety and depression and, unfortunately, self-medicating or relying on other unhealthy methods of dealing with their illness. Some people are not dealing with it at all, but rather suffering in silence. Whether you are a mother or not, I hope that you will find a compassionate therapist to help you cope with this illness. It may be a “bad spell,” which many new mothers experience, or a chronic problem, but I encourage you to seek help. Every day is a blessing; and every day is a new day.

pinkbluemamaFort Worth Favorites:

  • Date night: Grace downtown followed by a nightcap at The Usual.
  • Dessert: Molten chocolate cake paired with a port wine. Saint Emilion does an unforgettable version of this divine dessert.
  • Entertainment: Interpol, Pixies, New Order concerts at the South Side Ballroom.
  • Shopping (clothing for you): I drool for Prada shoes. Unfortunately, so does my humongous black Lab. I have no patience for stores or parking lots so I shop online when everyone is asleep.
  • Relaxation: Pure Bliss Therapeutic Massage near West 7th has therapists who do amazing deep tissue massages.

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