Keeping It Real While Being The Best Version Of Yourself: Meet Smart Parenting Mom Squad

When we at Smart Parenting say that it takes a village to raise a child, we mean it. And that is why we continously surround our village with people who will journey with us and guide us as we parent our kids.

Meet the Smart Parenting Mom Squad, a wonderful group of mothers with different stories, perspectives, and  parenting styles who are all united in the same vision of raising happy, healthy Filipino families. There's nothing quite like knowing we're not alone in parenting children, and these group of women have found that in Smart Parenting and each other.

And we know you'll find your stories in theirs, too!

Scroll below to meet each one from this first installment. Check back here to meet the rest of the SP Mom Squad. 

SP Mom Squad

Epo Sindayen

Creating a safe space for parents

“Smart Parenting Mom Squad has given me an opportunity to create safe spaces not just for complete families but also for single moms like me,” Epo Sindayen, make-up artist and mom of one said. 

Epo is also an ESports talent manager. She shared that she found her guidance from other parents with Smart Parenting, “Smart Parenting is like an additional guidance for me since this community consists of different families and different perspective in life. It helped me to see what other parents do to be the best role model for our children.”

Melissa Lozada

"Being a mom at this age, made me better and stronger to conquer challenges."

Melissa Lozada, The MELlenial Mom, wants to break stereotypes, “For me, being part of the Smart Parenting Mom Squad gave me the opportunity to inspire 'young mommas' like me in their 20’s not to let judgment by others affect how you carry your own personal life. That being a mom at this age, made me better and stronger to conquer challenges. And at this very moment of my life, I enjoy every bit of motherhood.”

She further shared how as a young, newbie mom, Smart Parenting and Smart Parenting Village became her community without judgment all throughout her motherhood journey. “Since I'm a newbie at motherhood, Smart Parenting has helped me answer my 5Ws: Who, What, Where When and Why.

Melissa adds, "Not to mention may Smart Parenting Village kung saan you can freely ask and express anything without judgment at all. Smart Parenting gave me a chance to be with a community who can truly understand my journey.”

Rosie Domingo

“Smart Parenting helped me answer the difficult questions we can’t even ask others.”

Rosie Domingo said Smart Parenting helped her in her uncanny parenting woes, “Funny because I was just reading Joey Ong's article on circumcision last night. Smart Parenting has helped me answer the difficult questions we can't even ask others like 'anong cut kaya papagawa ko sa anak ko.'

With a huge following of 20,600 in Instagram, Rosie, a mom of three, recognizes the responsibility her influence entails. “I think with influence comes great responsibility. I'm grateful to Smart Parenting for allowing me and guiding me to use this influence for the betterment of others especially moms like myself.”

Dang Cenir

Smart Parenting supported me and helped me understand the responsibilities of a mom.

The Wais Mom of Taguig and a mom of two, believes that being part of the Smart Parenting Mom Squad means she “gets to inspire and motivate parents by sharing my authentic day-to-day mom and wife life (kahit hindi aesthetic!), while also being mindful of the influence I offer to the community.

Smart Parenting has become her guide in parenting since first becoming a mother, “It's not a secret that I had my daughter when I was 18 years old. It definitely was not my proudest moment to say the least. But as a single young mom back then, I had no friends to talk to about what's happening.

She adds, "Even though I had our family's support, I still struggled with parenting, that's how I discovered Smart Parenting. I would read articles daily just to wrap my head around the idea and responsibilties of being a mom, what I should do and whatnot according to experts.”

Five years later, she got married and gave birth to her second child and Smart Parenting is still her primary manual in parenting. "It also helped me not to be so hard on myself as a mom who works for her family.” 

Love Cosio 

"Smart Parenting has helped me to keep things real while encouraging me to be the best version of myself."

"Personally, it’s really a calling. Being part of Smart Parenting's Mom Squad is like representing a family ready to listen and empathize with fellow mothers who are looking for a safe space to vent their daily wounds and wins, Love said. Her husband Dreus is part of the Smart Parenting Dad Squad.

The added bonus of being a Smart Parenting Mom Squad is being able to help other parents, “I have the privilege and responsibility to share my experiences as a young mom of two with the hope that it can comfort another one who feels like parenting is a puzzle.”

Love grew up with all of Summit Media’s titles–from Candy, to Cosmo, to Female Network and Pep. It was then she discovered that there’s a one for parenting.

“The first time I browsed a Smart Parenting magazine was a feature about blogging as I was (and still am) into writing. Then when everything went digital, and that’s when I appreciated Smart Parenting more. It felt like 'hindi ko nag-iisa!' The stories shared, articles written were like knitted, woven into my stories and of other moms too.

“Smart Parenting has been helping me to keep it real, raw while encouraging me to be the best version of myself as a woman, wife, and mom. It does not also stop with my family, Smart Parenting helps me to overflow to others too. Ang sarap ng feeling na you get to journey with other families too,” Love said.

Sarah May Tanhuanco Tan

"It's like a dream come true to be part of Smart Parenting"

“It is like a dream come true to be part of the Smart Parenting Mom Squad!,” Sarah May Tanhuanco Tan, mom and content and digital creator, said.

“Being part of the Smart Parenting Mom Squad encouraged me to become a better mom. It has boosted my confidence and given me an opportunity to inspire, help (by posting daughter Sophia’s learning activities online) and bless other moms in this wonderful journey. It also meant a lot that I was able to meet new people especially moms who became my friends,” she continued.

Sarah picked up a lot of realizations and lessons from the Smart Parenting community, “As a first time mom, I’ve learned that each motherhood journey is different. It has its own ups and downs but with the love and support of the Smart Parenting community, it made our journey a whole lot easier.

"We, parents are never alone. I learned not to be too hard on myself, choose to be positive and enjoy my motherhood journey to the fullest!”

Shaina Santiago-Moraga

"It's okay to confront parenting hardships, because family is worth it."

“It’s okay to confront parenting hardships because every challenge about family is worth discussing, said Shaina. “Being part of the Smart Parenting Mom Squad means that I got the opportunity to share that parenting is a continuous process of learning to express the love that you give not only to your family but also to yourself.”

An educator and a civil servant, Shaina realized that “parenting may take so much of our time and energy from the things we used to enjoy,” but also found out it’s greates blessing, “but it brings out the greatest rewards in life - our children.”

She learned with Smart Parenting that having fun as a mom is okay, “because every milestone in the family is worth celebrating.” On the other hand, she also realized “that it is okay to confront parenting hardships because every challenge about family is worth discussing.”

Debbie Villanueva

"Smart Parenting reminds me of my purpose and passion."

Smart Parenting Mom Squad pushed Debbie to “... influence and inspire other moms who are struggling to make this parenting thing not feel like a chore but a purpose. It helped me share my learning as a parent and hopefully raise the next generation without the baggage of generational trauma.

Aside from having a virtual parenting village, Debbie consider Smart Parenting as her accountability partner for her parenting struggles, “Smart Parenting is a reminder of my purpose, my passion and my advocacies. It may be hard at times to juggle all the responsibilities of an adult and sometimes parents may take it out on their children but Smart Parenting makes me accountable of these. Thus, helping me raise happy children.”

Joselle Ona 

"It's widening my perspective with each story."

The Homeschooling Baker Mom Joselle Ona found it helpful that Smart Parenting Mom Squad consists of moms from different backgrounds, “The squad is blessed with a bunch of moms coming from different backgrounds. With that comes the knowledge that there's actually no single mold to being a good parent and there's no single way on how to "correctly" parent a child. There is indeed beauty in diversity.”

Joselle is also an active member of the Smart Parenting Village and would always read posts and comments of other parents, “I enjoy reading other people's stories, challenges and blessings. I find them relatable and useful. With each post, I am compelled to react, think, reflect and form my own beliefs about how I can be a better parent to my kids. 

"My perspective widens with every story. I tend to go beyond what I studied about family life and child development theoretically and get apply and compare them to the realities of modern day parenting," said Joselle.

Kathy Alcala

"Smart Parenting has been instrumental in enabling us to power through this period by enlightening us."

A business woman and a mom, Kathy said, “Being part of Smart Parenting Mom Squad means I get to interact with and also influence other parents as we all navigate through our very important role of raising the future of the world.

Aside from the usual parenting tips, they also went to Smart Parenting when the times get tough, “Like all families, ours also go through a period of trials and struggles. Smart Parenting has been instrumental in enabling us to power through this period by enlightening us with its informative articles and through the posts shared in SPV, making us realize that we are not alone in our struggles and that we can rely on the SP community to motivate us and provide moral support.” 

Victoria Dang

Being part of a village with inspiring and uplifting families.

“Smart Parenting Mom Squad means being a part of something greater than a community, but a village filled with inspiring and uplifting families. As a conscious parent, I always aim to be surrounded by encouraging, creative and proactive people, as I believe “a rising tide lifts all boats,”

Victoria is the author of Go Momshie. Victoria first became part of the Smart Parenting Village when she was just pregnant with her first child. Now that she’s pregnant with her second child, she continues to hang out in the Village.

“I ended up loving it because of its helpful ideas and encouraging support from parents around the country. Moreover, Smart Parenting helped me have a smooth pregnancy and make wiser and more reasonable decisions, from what great diapers, lotion, and body wash I can use for my baby to what parenting style I should practice.

“There are tons of ways Smart Parenting has helped me, and I can’t thank the team who endlessly writes quality articles to bring awareness and reach moms around the country,” Victoria said.

Dyan Gayas

Knowing we're not alone in this journey.

The Mommy Newborn Photographer of Cebu, Dyan Gayas uses her experience as a part of the Smart Parenting Mom Squad with her work. “Meeting different moms everyday with my work, I can always talk to them what motherhood is like especially for first time moms! I also share all the insights I learn from our community to my little community.

As a bonus, Dyan overcame her shyness, “I also made more friends from our network. And it built my confidence as I am a shy mom.

As mots parents share, Smart Parenting has been their guide especially during their first parenting. “I always read stories similar with my current struggle as a first-time-mom, way back 2013. Since then, if I have problems or I just want to read during my me time, I always check Smart Parenting for articles till now, even if my kids are a bit older!"

She further shares her learnings to the moms she works with, exchanging parenting tips during their newborn photoshoot, “We talk about some stories about parenthood so that they will know we are not alone in this journey.”

Nikki Viola

“You can balance your life as a Mom, career woman and so much more!

Nikki Viola, the Hosting Diva of Marikina wants to inspire other moms that there is so much more in motherhood, “This gave me a platform to inspire other mommas that you can balance your life as a mom, career woman and so much more! It made me feel so empowered!”

The mom who wear many hats - host, PBA courtside reporter and correspondent - she shows moms that we can still pursue what we love while being a mother, without the guilt.

“Smart Parenting helped me to cope with my “mom guilt”, and that it’s okay not to be okay. I usually feel guilty whenever I have days where I am swamped with work and never get to take care of my daughter, but Smart Parenting helped me to realize that a different and modern parenting style works wonders too.”

Jia Lacson

"Through this community of amazing dads and moms, I was motivated to raise a healthy and happy family!”

“Being a mother and a wife is a very precious gift. The Momtrepreneu of Pampanga, Jia Lacson shared, “I get to inspire other young moms like me to be the best version of themselves, both as a mom and wife, and at the same time I get to emphathize with my fellow moms who come from all walks of life!”

She continued to share that her journey with Smart Parenting, “made me realize that being a mother and a wife is a very precious gift. Through this community of amazing dads and moms, I was motivated to raise a healthy and happy family!”

Genina Domingo

“This allows me to be part of a loving family of parents.”

Also a part of #MySmartParentingStory, Genina Domingo, the IT Mom of Marikina, said, “More than just content creation, this allows me to be part of a loving family of parents who I can relate to. I hope with my story, I too can inspire more moms in their parenting journey.”

RELATED: A Single Mom's Letter To Her Fatherless Son: 'I Did Not Raise You Alone'

Genina never thought of becoming an influencer, but as she shared her story with Smart Parenting, she got to connect with others who experience the same, “I never considered myself as an influencer, but somehow a lot of people were touched with my story.

"I never want to promote being a single mom or raising a child in a broken family, but I do want them to know that as an Smart Parenting mom, this was the situation I was dealt with and I was able to handle it proud and strong, because I have an amazing support system with Smart Parenting.”

Geli Tamayo

“I knew I found the right community where I felt like I belong as a parent.” 

Just like all new moms who are unsure about motherhood, Geli Tamayo, the Crafty Mom of Las Pinas were looking for answers when she found Smart Parenting Village, “It's not just the name itself that caught my attention. With the community it builds, while reading different stories, concerns and help from other parents, with no judgement, I knew I found the right community where I felt like I belong as a parent.” 

In return, she is grateful for being given a chance to share what she learned, too, “The Smart Parenting Mom Squad gives me a sense of belonging. However diverse we may be--with different lifestyles, different views, different ways--we all have the same purpose and that is to be able to build, guide, provide, protect, love, raise and care for a family in the best possible way that we can.”

Geli also shared, “It helps especially when we see some relatable topics we don't search for but at the back of our minds, upon reading it, we'd realize that we wanted to learn about it and apply it in our daily lives! I've read so many articles in Smart Parenting and I guess there are times I unconsiously apply it in raising my own family, because aside from my mom, my lola, and the other parents in our family, I have no other source to get parenting tips from."

These are just some of the moms of the Smart Parenting Mom Squad. Check back to meet the rest! You can also get to know the Smart Parenting team here.