Designing a Family-Centered Life with Betina Gozo: Motherhood, Marriage, and Homeschooling

Few people manage to harmonize professional ambitions, community-building, and a bustling household better than fitness leader and mother of three, Betina Gozo. Renowned for her collaboration with Nike, her online fitness platform (BGTV), and her vibrant social media presence, Betina recently shared an in-depth look at how she’s designing a life in which family comes first. Whether you’re a parent, aspiring parent, or simply someone keen on balancing multiple priorities, Betina’s experiences offer inspiring lessons in intentional living.

The Road to Motherhood

Betina’s motherhood journey has been filled with the usual mix of joy and unpredictability—only multiplied by having three children under the age of four. But even as she juggles diaper changes, toddler tantrums, and bedtime routines, Betina emphasizes how strongly she identifies not only as a mom but as a multifaceted woman with passions and dreams. “Every mom I’ve met—whether they work or stay at home—has so many unique gifts to share,” she says. Betina focuses on harnessing her own strengths and forging a flexible lifestyle that honors both her family’s needs and her own ideas.

Embracing Alternative Birth Experiences

If you’d told Betina years ago that she would choose to have two of her children outside the traditional hospital setting, she might have thought it impossible. But after delivering her first child in a hospital, she realized she wanted a different approach:

• Birth Center Delivery: For her second child, Betina went to a birth center. Though she didn’t make it to the birthing tub, this intimate setting offered more control.

• Home Birth: With her third child, Makoa, she chose a home birth—a calm, family-focused environment with no medication. “I was talking to my doula, my midwife, my husband, and my kids… splashing water at me,” Betina recalls. The sense of comfort and familiarity from being in her own home made the experience more relaxed.

Photo taken from Betina’s Instagram.

Blending Parenting Styles

An only child of a single mother, Betina grew up without the daily rough-and-tumble of siblings. Her husband Nic, in contrast, came from a traditional two-parent household, complete with older-brother sibling dynamics. It’s no surprise that their defaults sometimes differ:

• Betina: Soft and empathetic, she’s quick to absorb her children’s feelings and read child-development books on “gentle parenting.”

• Nic: Direct and honest—often to the point of bluntness!—yet deeply caring. “He’s just going to tell you exactly what he thinks,” Betina laughs. While Nic believes in firm boundaries, he brings plenty of humor and active play.

They balance each other’s strengths by acknowledging there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Betina gives her kids the warm, empathetic listening ear; Nic provides a sense of structure. Together, they believe that consistent communication—and addressing disagreements privately, rather than in front of the children—helps keep them on the same page.

Homeschooling for a Family-Centric Lifestyle

“People always ask whether homeschooling stunts social development,” Betina says with a wry smile. “We meet so many families who bring their kids to jiu-jitsu, library meetups, co-ops—it’s actually pretty amazing how many people homeschool here in Texas.” Their motivations include:

• Cultivating Core Values at Home: Betina and Nic love being the first point of reference for their kids’ worldview.

• Flexible Work Arrangements: Since both Betina and Nic often work from home, continuing the kids’ education in the same environment was a natural fit.

• Forming a Custom Curriculum: A big goal is to expand learning beyond desks and books. The Gozo-Shimonek kids learn life skills, from beekeeping and tending to chickens, to gardening and everyday chores.

• Safety & Trust: With uncertainties in traditional schooling landscapes, Betina appreciates the security of guiding her children’s early experiences.

They are well aware of potential challenges: “We definitely don’t have all the answers,” Betina admits. “If our kids decide they want to attend regular school—especially for sports or extracurriculars—we’ll navigate that conversation. We’ll figure it out.”

Family Over Everything

While Betina’s own mother instilled honesty and integrity, Nic’s family exemplified unshakable bonds. “Family over everything” is now tattooed on Nic’s arm—literally and figuratively. The result?

• Sibling Solidarity: Even though the children are young, they’re taught to protect each other and stand together if an outside conflict arises.

• A Safe Place to Land: Betina wants her children to know that even if they ever ‘mess up,’ Mom and Dad will be there to offer guidance without shame.

• Modeling Marriage: Betina notes that seeing Nic’s father treat his wife with respect deepened her admiration for Nic before they were even married. She hopes her kids similarly grow up witnessing unconditional love.

Photo taken from Betina’s Instagram.

Building a Community of Faith & Service

Raised Catholic, Betina felt many of the rules were anchored in fear. Now, friends in her local Texas community, many with strong faith backgrounds, have modeled a different approach—rooted in openness, love, and hospitality. These neighbors and church members brought her countless meals and gift cards after her third child was born.

“It’s simple, genuine generosity,” she says. “The more we lean into that kind of community, the more we want to reflect it in our own lives.”

The Tie Between Self-Care and Service

One of Betina’s core messages is: “Show up for yourself to truly show up for others.” Drawing on life lessons from her mother, she believes that taking care of your physical and emotional health is what enables purposeful service. Whether that’s hitting a daily workout or cultivating financial stability, Betina insists that stepping into your personal power can unlock more resources to share:

• Physical Fitness as a Pillar of Wellness: Betina’s online platform, BGTV, focuses on at-home workouts and mindful movement for all fitness levels, especially for mothers.

• Mindset of Abundance: “There’s nothing wrong with earning well. The more you have, the more you can give,” Betina states, reinforcing the idea that personal success doesn’t need to come at the expense of generosity.

Encouragement for New Mothers and Families

Betina shares these reflections:

• Trust Your Intuition: She did a home birth for her third child even when it wasn’t part of her original plan. Believing in the body’s innate wisdom went a long way.

• Embrace Each Other’s Talents: It’s normal for a couple to have different parenting styles—what matters is communication and respect.

• Keep an Open Mind: “We’ll figure it out” is a family mantra, ensuring they stay curious rather than rigid.

• Lean on Community: Betina attributes much of her smooth postpartum transition to the abundance of neighbors and friends who rallied around her.

Conclusion

In a world that often focuses on hustle and quick fixes, Betina Gozo and her husband Nic Shimonek show how intention and integrity can shape a thriving household. From navigating multiple births in different settings, to learning how best to teach and guide three children under four, Betina proves that with the right attitude, you can define success on your own terms.

“Sometimes you just have to say, ’We’ll figure it out,’” Betina muses. “That’s the beauty of a growth mindset—you’re always evolving, but as long as you’re doing it as a family, you’ll end up stronger and closer than before.”

For those seeking deeper involvement in Betina’s fitness and wellness teachings, look her up on social media (@betinagozo), or check out her BGTV platform, or to see her day-to-day family life and strategies for staying strong—in mind, body, and spirit—and discover why motherhood, marriage, and faith can all be woven into one rich, rewarding tapestry of life.

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