Chynna Ortaleza (center) with daughter Stellar and son Salem —From Ortaleza’s IG
In a matriarchal society like the one we have, mothers are the ones who form their children’s character and personality. They mold us into mini versions of themselves. As we grow older, many of us find ourselves repeating things they used to tell us when we were younger. This extends to how we rear our children as some celebrities found out when they became mothers themselves.
Sparkle artists Sophie Albert, Chynna Ortaleza and Maricar de Mesa talked about their experiences as new mothers, and what they learned from their own mothers that they find themselves now imparting to their kids.
“Becoming a mother was definitely a learning experience for me. It’s been a process of growth and discovery every step of the way,” Sophie said of Avianna, her 2-year-old daughter with husband Vin Abrenica.
One of the challenges she faced was learning to breastfeed, but what she found most difficult to take was her low milk supply.
“It was a real blow to my confidence as a new mom, and it took some time for me to come to terms with it. But as time went on, I began to really enjoy all aspects of being a mom. There’s nothing quite like watching your child grow and develop her own unique personality,” Sophie said.
“Every day is a new adventure, and I’m constantly amazed by the person my daughter is becoming. It’s an indescribable feeling, really. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to be a part of her life and to watch her grow and thrive,” she added.
Sophie Albert with daughter Avianna —FROM Albert’S IG
Next generation
Sophie said her mom Linda, a businesswoman, was a big influence on her journey to motherhood. “What really struck me was her incredible strength and protectiveness towards us. I admired her so much for that. Now that I have my own little one, I can see how much I’ve taken after my mom. I find myself being overly protective of Avianna at times, just like my mom was with me. It’s funny how we naturally pick up things from our parents!”
Since her daughter is still very young, Sophie said she hasn’t begun using the exact phrases and actions her mom used to say and do. It’s only a matter of time.
“I can definitely see myself passing on the same sense of love and protection that my mom instilled in me. It’s amazing how our parents’ influence carries on to the next generation, and I’m grateful for the lessons I’ve learned from my mom that I can now share with Avianna.”
Chynna likened becoming a mom to a switch being turned on. “It’s true what they say—when your baby arrives, there’s a natural switch that turns on and then you become a mom! And because that comes abruptly, the easing into it takes time in your head,” Chynna said.
Despite this, she sometimes felt she wasn’t doing enough for her first-born, daughter Stellar. “With my son Salem, the challenge was how I could be present for both my children but again, you surprise yourself with how much love can flow out of you.”
Chynna first had to come to terms with her concept of what a mom should be. There was a lot of pressure then to exclusively breastfeed one’s baby, but this scenario didn’t work out for her. Instead, she resorted to mixed feeding for both Stellar and Salem where they were fed formula and breast milk as infants.
Maricar de Mesa and daughter Sky —FROM De Mesa’S IG
‘Not about me’
“‘Fed is best’ is still my motto. I learned very quickly that being a mom is not about me. It will always be about what my children need,” she said. “There are many things that I enjoy though, from changing diapers to first milestones. I also live for baby’s scent! Ang bango bango.”
Chynna credits her mother Leah for making her realize early on that being a mom means putting your child’s needs before your own.
“Mama taught me to parent with an open hand [which entails] supporting and guiding your child through all phases. So I try my best to listen to what they want to do and I make sure to be there for anything that they may want to try or achieve.
“It’s not easy for me to let things be or to see my child openly fail, honestly. However, the beauty of life comes from that. I realized how strong my mother really is because she had to sit through my failures and not once did she make me feel that if I went against her wishes, I would lose her love or support. I hope I am able to make Stellar and Salem feel that as well,” Chynna said.
For Maricar, becoming a mom was a role that she took on quite easily.
“I got into being a mother right away as I had been waiting for Sky to come for a long time. I just had to struggle with sleepless nights during the first few weeks. Other than that, everything was enjoyable as my mom helped and guided me along the way,” she said.
The one true thing Maricar learned from her mother Senna is unconditional love. “Having a child comes with a huge responsibility. I learned from my Mama that nourishing your child with so much love and care will help develop them, not only emotionally, but mentally as well. I want to nurture Sky with unconditional love and care.”