From mother to mothers: Thoughts on motherhood

“Mothers and their children are in a category all their own. There’s no bond so strong in the entire world. No love so instantaneous and forgiving.” ? Gail Tsukiyama, Dreaming Water

MANILA, Philippines — In the weeks leading to Mother’s Day, a major event in the country, a crass public servant did the unthinkable in this day and age: he insulted a mother. Mothers are the very core of any society, most especially for the tight-knit, family-oriented landscape of the Philippines. To do so means insulting the thousands of children and adults who make the Philippines what it is: loving, hospitable, and caring. We are where we came from and the reason why many of us are who we are is because of the strong women who raised us.

And so today, with more resolve than ever, we celebrate mothers from all walks of life to remind ourselves and those around us of their importance; and what they have sacrificed to do what they do and let us be who we are with a love that is truly one of a kind.

Angela Medalla Yeo

Mother of two, makeup artist, beauty writer, entrepreneur

What is your definition of being a mother?

Motherhood is having multiple job titles at home. In the family, I am the teacher, the doctor, the nurse, the assistant, psychologist, stylist, chef, referee and cheerleader. It’s a tough job but mothers are the heart of the home.

What were your expectations of motherhood?

Before having children, I did not expect motherhood to be very challenging. I thought to myself, “How hard is it to take care of a little baby?”After giving birth, lo and behold, all the challenges set in – postpartum depression, sleepless nights, the initial pain of breastfeeding, and exhaustion. I honestly wasn’t expecting all of that, but I feel blessed to have my mom help me through the early stages of motherhood. I also couldn’t have survived without the help of my husband, family and household helpers at home. Mommy friends are a good support system too.

How do you view it now?

Now, I realize that all the sacrifices are worth it, and that I must cherish every fleeting moment because children grow up so fast!

How is it like raising girls?

I love raising girls! They are like my little dolls. We do all sorts of girly activities, but my husband and I take them out on adventures too like kayaking, camping, and riding zip lines. Girls are so precious and delicate, but I make sure to teach them how to be strong and brave.

What is your greatest mommy hack?

Prayers are my biggest hack! I always pray for them and also for myself, to have strength to raise them well. My girls are forces to be reckoned with, so while they are young, we try to instill good values, enrich their faith, nurture good hearts and teach them about the power of prayers.

What is the secret to remaining youthful, calm, at peace and successful despite raising two kids and being a wife?

I take care of myself so that I can take care of others. A mother can’t pour out of an empty cup. I fill my cup by having some me-time, and by doing things that make me happy! Now that my kids are bigger, after work and duties at home, I squeeze in yoga, zumba, or spinning into my routine. Sometimes, I catch up with friends over lunch or dinner. Traveling is also a good way for me to recharge when I feel burned out (babysitting grandparents to the rescue!) These are the things that keep me balanced and happy. After all, happy mom = happy home!

Lei Norwood

Entrepreneur, mother of two boys (With another one on the way!)

What is your definition of being a mother?

Being a mother is a blessing. It means being given the honor of bringing life into this world and selflessly committing oneself to nurturing it.

What were your expectations before becoming a mom?

I have always dreamt of being a mom someday, but knew it was definitely no easy feat.

How do you view it now?

Motherhood is more than I ever imagined. It is rewarding and terrifying at the same time. It is a constant challenge to improve and grow for my husband and children. It’s so much more than what I expected, and I can’t get enough of it.

What is it like raising boys in a very public environment since your family is a local celebrity?

My husband is blessed to be playing basketball as his profession, and we are thankful for the opportunities presented to him and our family. Our boys are exceedingly proud of Daddy. In any environment, we are doing our best to raise them to be happy, faith-grounded and respectful young men.

What’s your biggest life hack in raising boys in this environment?

One of the most important parenting hacks I have learned is to lead by example. If you want to teach your kids to act a certain way, BE that way. They will always emulate what they see you do, over simply doing what you say.

What is your greatest life hack in terms of being beautiful and successful on your own and yet still having the time to take care of your family?

Determining your passion—which would lead to identifying your purpose and eventually making plans based on that—is a simple formula I go by. A stay-at-home, entrepreneurial mom can be just as fulfilled as a career-driven one who gives all her extra time for her family. The secret lies within you and your drive to pursue your passions and prioritize accordingly.

Karina Cinco

Model, mother of one and a proud solo parent

What is your definition of motherhood?

My definition of being a mother is her unconditional love. It is the most powerful need of a human being. As soon as the child is born, the baby clings to her and only lets go when he is ready. But until then, she will never stop loving her children, even when they turn into adults. A mother brings everyone together and no one can take her place as she is the backbone of the family.

Share with us the story of your pregnancy. Was it a surprise when you found out? How did you deal with it at a young age?

I found out I was pregnant at a very young age. As a 19-year-old teenager who had dreams of becoming a beauty queen and actress, yes it did crush my soul. I was still in school that time, juggling school activities, thesis and pregnancy. It startled everyone. Everyone’s been talking behind my back. It was the darkest days of my life, I didn’t know how to handle my pregnancy, especially since I have only been with the father of my child for just two months at the time. However, I knew I had to be strong and still focus on my studies. My pregnancy was a walk in the park, I never had any problems and I have the biggest support system—my family.

What were the challenges you faced and how did you overcome it?

When I gave birth, me and the father of my child tried to stay together for the sake of our baby. He promised my family he would support us all the way. As time went on, while I was still in school, the man who I thought was going to support my child soon became complacent and he never had any money to buy our child’s basic needs (milk, diapers, vaccines, etc.) Let’s just say I had to work my way up, grow up and be a working student. I started doing TV commercials to support my son and that’s when I knew that God had planned this all along, I received a lot of great projects.

What’s the greatest misconception about being a solo parent?

The greatest misconception of being a solo parent is others often think we just got “knocked up OR na-ano lang” as Tito Sotto would say. No one knows the real reason as to why the person got pregnant, I can go on and on, but at the end of the day, there’s a live human being inside you and as long as you are breathing you need to take care of them. Courage is a MUST when you’re a solo parent.

What’s your life hack as a solo parent?

Being a solo parent in today’s generation means “taking risks.” It means you are on a roller coaster ride with no end point. I wish that solo parents don’t get the same treatment as regular employees as we also get tired twice as much. As soon as we wake up, we have hundreds of tasks on our to-do lists. A piece of advice? Wake up early and make sure your child knows he is loved. Being both the mother and father to a child is an honor and at the same time makes you crazy in a good way. I believe that every child deserves to be loved and that no matter how hard it gets, you’ll be the first line of defense, first person who will know everything, and the one and only person who knows that love is immeasurable.

Chay Ravanes

Entrepreneur, mother of four, mamita to two

What is your definition of motherhood?

Motherhood for me is being present, to always make my children feel that I am always there for them regardless. My grown children are now making their mark in the world in their own ways but I make sure that as their mom, I am always here, still guiding them. I’ve always believed that a child becomes confident about themselves enough to take on the world is if they know that they are loved and cared for.

How does it feel to have four grown up children? Was it difficult letting them go?

I feel extremely blessed. It was worth it to set aside my own dreams in order to make sure they are well taken care of. I feel very blessed with my children but of course it was a challenge letting them go because you always want to ensure their well-being. However, I am fortunate with my husband because we are growing through this season together as a team.

What’s the greatest mommy hack in letting go of grown-up kids?

The first will be the acceptance of reality, that you can’t have them forever and of course, a lot of prayers. However, it also helps to let your children know that they can always come home. As mothers, we have to create that safe space for them even if they grow into their own and that’s what my husband and I are doing: always letting our children know that they can come home, anytime, our home is always open.