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This year we saw different parenting stories from celebrities we love that reflected our own experiences, from not potty training early, to being proud of our child with special needs, to being reminded that parenthood doesn’t disqualify us from achieving our dreams.
Below are the top seven lessons we learned together this 2022, based on the year’s top parenting articles.
2022 Top 7 Parenting Lessons
1. Motherhood comes first, but it doesn’t mean marriage is not a priority.
Kristine Hermosa and Oyo Sotto have five kids.PHOTO BY INSTAGRAM /KHSOTTOKristine Hermosa’s account of how she manages to look after her five kids and take care of her marriage to Oyo Sotto resounded with us.
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW"Kahit pilitin ko na wife ako muna, hindi ko magagawa 'yun. Sa lima kong anak, po-protesta silang lahat, 'Mama, mama, mama, kami muna.' Definitely, I'm a mother first, she said.
"Kasi alam naman namin ang pinasok namin." She added, "Na once magka-anak kami, ito talaga 'yun, it's a commitment.”
Kristine said ”Ganun di naman sa pag-aasawa. We just find time na kunwari kung maluwag, edi alis kami, 'di ba gano’n.”
Here's how Kristine balances being a mother to five kids and wife.
2. What a child learns at home is what they’ll keep with them till they’re older.
When Iya Villania revealed in Bernadette Sembrano’s vlog why her oldest son Primo is not formally educated yet, she reminded us why our homes and our role as parents is still the key in raising kids.
“I think for us, what's more important are the values, and I feel the values [are] what's taught and what they really pick up more at home,” Iya said.
CONTINUE READING BELOWwatch nowSchooling their kids can wait for Iya and Drew, who want to ensure that their kids love learning.
"I want them to be there [school] because they enjoy learning, they look forward to [it], and we have the internet now, there's so much they can learn now, at their own pace, on their own.”
Read why Iya and Drew aren’t worried about six-year-old Primo not being enrolled in school yet here.
3. There are a lot of updates when it comes to taking care of the baby, and it’s important to listen to professionals.
It seems that our generation of parents are striking a balance between tradition and technology. When it comes to baby care, we are listening to doctors and evidence-based advice.
'Magandang i-update mo sila kung ano na dito ang mga napatunayan ng mga eksperto' – Smart Parenting on how to deal with outdated baby care advice
Some outdated baby care advice parents are reconsidering include giving a newbrorn baby daily baths, huwag sanayin sa karga dahil magiging spoiled ang bata ‘pag tanda, and that a baby who hits her milestones early is considered to be ‘gifted’.
“Sa susunod na marinig mo ang mga payong ito mula sa ibang tao, magandang i-update mo sila kung ano na dito ang mga napatunayan ng mga eksperto, at alin ang hindi na dapat ipasa sa mga susunod sa henerasyon dahil paso na ang mga ito,” reports the Smart Parenting article on outdated baby care advice.
Read what the seven outdated baby care advice are here, and what professionals advice instead.
4. Dads can take care of the kids just as well as mom can.
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Nico Bolzico and Thylane's 36-hour solo trip alone was an adventure parents enjoyed following this year.PHOTO BY INSTAGRAM /NICOBOLZICOWhen Nico Bolzico took eldest daughter Thylane to his home country of Argentina alone, we loved following his 36-hour journey. It reminded us that parenting is a gender-less job, and that both mom and dad can very well take care of kids.
Nico and Thylane flew from Manila, to Doha, to Sao Paulo, before finally landing in Argentina. His series of Instagram stories documenting how he kept his toddler busy, a timer documenting the number of hours Till slept, and other snapshots presumably to send to perhaps an anxious mom Solenn felt just like the times Dad would take the lead in watching kids.
As we wrote in the article, “We love a hands-on, involved Dad who doesn’t ‘babysit’ their own child. It’s called fatherhood.”
Look back at Nico’s solo trip with Thylane here.
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW5. Moms can set an example for daughters on being independent.
Ruffa Guttierez’s advice resounded with many of us. Whether we’re raising daughters or are solo parents, her wish for daughters Lorin and Venice struck a chord.
“I just want them to have their own businesses, be independent women like their mom at huwag umasa sa lalaki, Ruffa told Dra. Vicki Belo in the latter’s vlog.
Her daughters’ tearful reunion with their father Yilmaz Bektas was also a story that inspired us this year, together with the girls’ getting to know their Turkish family and roots better.
Read more about the example Ruffa is trying to set for her daughters here.
6. Savor each stage of parenting.
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWIya’s youngest son Astro was born this year, and based on the Arellano’s social media accounts this is their last baby.
She shared during her post-delivery check up that her OB-GYN joked that she could have another child to which the mom of four answered, “No na please!”
“Flying kiss at apir nalang muna tayo ah! She tells husband Drew via her Instagram stories.
But it’s Iya’s honesty about not enjoying the notorious newborn stage that got us: “Savoring these moments. The last newborn I’ll have.
She captions a selfie with newborn Astro, “I’ve never actually been a fan of this stage. But this time it’s different knowing I’ll never go through it again.
Read more about Iya enjoying each stage of parenting here.
7. Validate kids’ emotions, but set boundaries.
Smart Parenting Board of Experts member Dr. Gail Galang, family expert, shares in this article that strong emotions in children are normal. Rather than telling our kids how to feel, she advises to give them tools on how to deal with strong emotions. “…at an early age, it is best to teach children to be aware of strong emotions, so that they have the tools to control them on their own later on in life, says Dr. Galang.
'Teaching children how to deal with anger is an important life skill' –Dr. Gail Galang on helping kids cope with strong emotions
The top mistake parents make? Telling kids to “stop” being angry is not productive. “Teaching children how to deal with anger is an important life skill… if they have the tools to manage their anger, they are able to deal with life’s challenges and uncertainties with more confidence and calm.”
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWFind out the three things you can say to an angry child here.
Which of these parenting lessons did you learn and apply this 2022?
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