Meet A Mom: Meet Crystal De Leon Sarmiento, Author of Becoming a Lioness | West University Moms

Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in Houston?

I am a Houston Native! I grew up in Bellaire and Southwest Houston. I lived in Houston until I remarried in 2015 and relocated to Manvel, TX.

Child(ren) and Age(s)?

Alyssa Princess 23,

Arianna Anahi 19,

Abriella Soleil 10,

Byron James 12,

Olvia Sue 11.

Son-in-law Byran Leonel Rodriguez, 23

Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? Please share!

Following what I believe is a God-given calling and what I am passionate about, I authored Becoming A Lioness, a book that details my upbringing as a daughter to a single father, an immigrant from Mexico, and an entrepreneur. Overcoming the death of my high school sweetheart and fiancé and emerging by finding my identity, I created my brand “Becoming A Lioness” offering seminars and workshops to women. My latest workshop called, “Jesus, Is My Sugar Daddy” focuses on empowering women to connect to our source, our creator God, and to receive our identity, our answers and find empowerment in his provision in all areas of our lives.

My workshop proceeds go to organizations that help battered women, and sex trafficking survivors. These are just a few of the issues that we have huge interests in.

I also founded a professional business and leadership development company, The ARI Source. We have empowered thousands to connect to the source, tap into their limitless inner potential and make powerful decisions to catapult them into new success trajectories. The ARI Source recently formed a program named Women in Leadership, a place where women can have access to leadership development offered to the highest level of corporations for a fraction of the cost. It’s a place to make professional lasting relationships, be challenged to new areas of growth, strategize and focus on time management.

In addition to these services, we offer comprehensive organizational strategies and business coaching. We offer powerful assessments that shed light on personality styles and traits that can be massive blind spots affecting communication and productivity in the workplace. We work with teams to bring unity and build effective teams. Having these tools prove to create amazing team-oriented work environments and wonderful work cultures.

What is the best advice for juggling mommyhood and running a business (or volunteering, working, etc)?

Peace and saying no! This is the advice I give and implement myself to protect my home’s peace. Peace is a very tangible fruit that can build or destroy a home and have consequential effects that spill over into work and our mental and emotional health. By protecting our peace, means setting steel boundaries around those areas that threaten our mental and emotional wellbeing.

Being a present wife and mother is a non-negotiable for me and I am strict with my calendar and time. I have learned to implement the importance of time management using the 4 quadrant method. I have also learned in the last 23 years, that many things we perceive as urgent and important, are not. I have learned that it’s ok to be the mom that picks her kids up late because of a work meeting running late. Understanding that I am not a bad mother, because I am late. It’s ok, they will survive. The fact is I am a working mother and I love that my kids know their mother is a productive woman operating her company and impacting lives. I make up for lost time by being very present when we are together as well.

I’ve also learned that not every work function or social function or invitation is necessary. I’ve learned that the word “no”, is powerful. Saying NO to the things that disrupt our family peace. No to the things that steal from the balance because I feel it’s pleasing someone. My favorite, no, is to my children. I can’t give them everything always and “no” is safe and they will survive. Making every party, every play date or every invitation is draining and unnecessary. I spent years of my life raising my 23 and 19-year-old daughters, thinking I had to make absolutely everything we were invited to. As my girls became accustomed to me bending backward to make everything – I came to the realization that it’s ok to say no.

What would you tell the old “You” before you had kids? 

That it’s ok to not be perfect or strive for perfection. We are human and the grace we give others is the same we should give ourselves.

I would also tell myself it’s ok to let them cry. I can’t and shouldn’t heal their every pain and every sense of loss. It’s ok for them to want and desire things I cannot give them. It gives them a reason to seek and find their identity in God and become independent. I would tell myself to know the difference between pleasing their selfishness vs showing love. I would also tell myself that each child will be different, that just because I raise them the same, doesn’t mean they will end up the same. I will not be their only influence. I would tell myself to prepare them that life is not fair and use real-life examples as learning lessons.

Funniest shortcut/routine for helping you through parenthood?

Paying for the school lunches!!! Saved me years of stress and time dealing with picky eaters. Racing during busy mornings. You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit! And let the lunch ladies have it out with them!

 

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