With two young children at home, life has become a careful balancing act for Coleen Garcia.
Her eldest, Amari, is now five years old, while their second son is still a baby.
This puts the actress back into the demanding routine of sleepless nights, breastfeeding sessions, and endless diaper changes she last experienced half a decade ago.
Speaking to PEP.ph during the launch of designer Debbie Co’s Jardin du Soleil 2026 collection at Manila House Private Club on July 27, Coleen admits that parenting two children is vastly different from raising just one.
“It’s so hard,” she says with a laugh before quickly clarifying that the challenges have also become some of the most rewarding moments of her life.
The five-year age gap between her sons meant she had to relearn many of the routines that came naturally when Amari was a baby.
“It’s huge because I’m trying to get used to it. It’s been five years since I had a baby.”
The adjustment has become even more noticeable with husband Billy Crawford spending the past three months in France for work.
“To be breastfeeding, not sleeping, not doing much for myself, doing the school drop-offs and pick-ups, and taking care of meals for both of them, it takes its toll.
“Just the fact that I don’t get sleep, it’s already hard on me.”
Despite the exhaustion, Coleen said she wouldn’t trade this chapter of motherhood for anything else: “It’s doable, it’s fun, and there’s nothing else I’d rather do.
“It’s really the time to be alive for me. I’m having the time of my life.”
Nonetheless, she is honest enough to recognize that enjoying motherhood doesn’t erase its difficult moments.
“There are days. It’s not hard every single day, but it stretches you.”
Although she describes herself as a hands-on mother, Coleen acknowledges how being a parent does not have to mean doing absolutely everything alone.
She personally handles school drop-offs and pick-ups, because she treasures the moments she gets to spend with Amari during the ride.
“I don’t drive because I like to be at the back and spend time with Amari. Every day, that’s our intimate moment that we share.”
When Billy returns from France, she even plans to convince him to give up the driver’s seat.
“I told Billy, when he gets back, don’t drive. Stay in the back with us. I enjoy that time. I value that every single day.”
Those small everyday routines, she says, have become more meaningful now that their household revolves around two growing children.
Read: Billy Crawford, nasa eroplano nang isilang ang second baby nila ni Coleen Garcia
Why reliable house help is priceless to Coleen
Coleen does not shy away from admitting that she has household staff helping keep their home running smoothly.
Instead of seeing it as a shortcut, she considers it one of the biggest reasons she gets to devote nearly all of her energy to her children.
“I have people who help with the housework, especially cooking.”
Cooking, she confesses with a laugh, is one household chore she’d happily delegate.
“I can cook, but I’d rather not. I’ll clean the whole house. I’ll do everything. I just don’t enjoy cooking.”
For Coleen, hiring someone to prepare meals is about making room for more meaningful moments with her family.
“When you have a lot of chores to do, when you have a lot of things to do at home, it really takes away time also from the kids.
“I’m so fortunate. I’m so blessed to have people helping me at home because all of my time goes to my kids. Like, all of it.”
The actress currently has a houseboy, a cook, another household helper, and a yaya for their baby, helping their family manage daily life.
She also relates that her mother-in-law lives with them, making their home a busy but supportive household, especially while Billy is away.
“They really take such good care of us, especially now that I’m alone.”
Read: Here's how Coleen Garcia disciplines son Amari Jayden
Finding people you can trust
Among the biggest concerns of many parents today is finding household staff they can truly rely on.
Stories about dishonest or abusive helpers have become increasingly common, prompting many families to become extra cautious when hiring.
For Coleen, however, finding trustworthy people has ultimately come down to patience, discernment, and faith: “Suwerte-suwertehan na lang talaga.
“I really pray about it. I say, ‘Lord, if this person’s not meant to be here, please take them away. Please find a way na hindi na lang matuloy.’”
She would rather postpone hiring someone altogether than welcome a person into their home whom they cannot fully trust.
“Mas okay na sa akin na we don’t have help kaysa pumunta and then biglang we can’t trust that person pala.”
Fortunately, the people currently helping raise their family have become more than just employees.
One of their long-time household staff first worked for Coleen’s mother before eventually joining her own household.
Meanwhile, the nanny caring for their youngest son has stayed with the family far longer than originally planned.
Coleen initially intended to hire someone for only three months while adjusting to life with a newborn.
Instead, the nanny formed such a close bond with both the baby and the family that she has remained with them ever since.
“I’m so blessed, honestly,” Coleen says.
Read: Coleen Garcia draws fitspiration from 70-year-old grandma Glo Garcia
No shortcut to finding the right people
While Coleen now considers herself fortunate to have built a reliable support system at home, she reveals that it hasn’t always been smooth-sailing.
Like many Filipino families, they also experienced difficult situations with household staff in the past.
“Wala. In the past yes, I’m not gonna lie,” she says when asked whether they had experienced horror stories.
Although she declines to elaborate because she does not want to embarrass the people involved, she admits that what happened was “kinda malala.”
Thankfully, those experiences are now behind them.
The people currently working with their family have stayed long enough to build trust, causing their day-to-day life to be much easier for everyone inside the Crawford household.
Coleen recalls how one of their cooks was hired through an agency after they had gone through several replacements.
Their previous cook, whom she describes as “the best cook,” eventually chose to retire after experiencing health problems.
The woman who replaced her has become another welcome addition to the family.
“She’s great also. Sobrang sarap din magluto.”
For parents still searching for dependable household staff, Coleen doesn’t believe there’s a guaranteed formula.
Whether someone comes through an agency or a personal recommendation, trust still has to be built over time.
More than anything, she notes, finding reliable help often comes down to luck, patience, and prayer.
Read: Coleen Garcia defends Billy Crawford's viral appearance
A home that grows with your family
Life at home has also changed the way Coleen approaches spending.
Gone are the days when shopping mostly meant buying outfits for television appearances or events.
These days, practicality wins.
During her years hosting a daily television program, Coleen looks back on how she often found herself purchasing trendy clothes simply because she needed something different to wear almost every day.
Now that she spends far more time at home with her children, her priorities have naturally shifted.
Running a household, for example, involves more than groceries and children’s clothes.
The Crawfords, just like the rest of Filipino households, also have to contend with rising utility costs.
Coleen confesses she was just as surprised as anyone when their electricity bills suddenly climbed despite having solar panels installed at home.
“You know we have solar panels,” she says, puzzled by the unexpected increase.
“But it’s been so bad. We’ve been paying almost double of what we’re used to paying.
“It’s ridiculous, honestly. I don’t know when it’s gonna resolve itself or if it ever will.”
Even with higher electricity costs, Coleen says there are certain expenses she simply cannot cut back on.
Their youngest child, still a baby, struggles to regulate body temperature, making air-conditioning a necessity rather than a luxury.
“The baby doesn’t really regulate his temperature very well because he’s just a baby.
“He’s always being held, so mainit. So, kailangan ng aircon.”
Their home also relies on an induction stove for cooking, adding another major appliance to their monthly consumption.
Taken individually, those expenses may seem manageable. Combined, they quickly add up.
“I don’t think we consume so much,” she remarks. “We consume enough.”
Still, Coleen believes there are situations where saving money shouldn’t come at the expense of her family’s well-being.
“Alangan naman hindi na kami magluluto. Alangan naman papatayin ko na yung aircon the whole day.”
While she acknowledges that families sometimes have to make sacrifices, she also believes comfort and health deserve equal consideration.
“Sometimes you have to make those sacrifices, but also the comfort of my family really matters.”
Read: Coleen Garcia bares authentic appearance on days she's tired