When Tuesday Vargas became a mom in 2001, she was not daunted by puyat.
As a band vocalist and a stand-up comedienne with nightly gigs, she’s used to living "with little sleep."
Even her work environment did not become a problem when she decided to purely breastfeed her son.
At the media launch of SM Little Stars 2019, where she will become a judge, she told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), "I was able to do that until he was almost one year old.
"I would go home, change completely kasi siyempre the bar scenario is mausok, madumi, and then I would breastfeed my son.
"There were times when before ako mag-perform sa stage, nasa isang tabi ako, I would pump.
"Dinaan ko talaga sa sigasig.
"Pero nung sobrang pumayat na ako na hindi na kaya ng health, health naman yung reason, nag-formula milk na kami.
"That’s when I started na parang having more time for myself, kasi hindi ko na kailangan mag-pump constantly."
Embracing her then-new role as a mom, she also changed her lifestyle.
"I didn’t smoke. I didn’t drink.
"'Tapos after stopping mag-breastfeed, I became a vegetarian. Ang nasa isip ko kasi nun, I had to be healthy rin for my son, I had to take care of myself.
"Pero ngayon, hindi na, hindi kaya ng activities ko na walang kahit konting fish or chicken."
Was she able to easily adjust to the demands of having a baby and being a working mom?
Tuesday replied, "It has a lot to do with prioritizing what’s important in your life.
"I’m very determined as a person also. And doing that alone, being a single mom, my parents were really hesitant na, ‘Hindi mo kaya, mahirap.’ Pero naitawid naman."
To this day, she reaps the rewards of breastfeeding.
"Having said that, I mean, yung physical contact with a growing child while building your career was super important to me.
"Hindi kasi ako yung super tutok na mom, so every chance I could get, kinakarga ko siya. That kasi would make him feel secure.
"Ngayon, kahit na lagi akong wala with so many other things, I have with my events business, my showbiz career, ‘tapos lagi rin ako nagta-travel cause I also do travel blogging, my son really grew up to be very independent, very self-sufficient.
"Health-wise, very strong siya, kasi nakuha niya yung mother’s milk when he was younger."
MOMMY'S 'GROUPIE'
She did not let her gigs get in the way of being a hands-on mom, hence, wherever Tuesday went, her son Kaya was there.
The 36-year-old star said, "Lagi namin siyang bitbit sa biyahe. Talagang pinakita namin yung mundo namin. Kaya puro matatanda ang mga nakakausap dahil lagi naming kasama sa trabaho.
"'Tapos eventually, he developed his own talent, his own taste, mga likes and dislikes.
"Mayroon na talaga siyang sariling karakter makikita mo as early as six.
"Maraming na-pick up from us, pero mayroon siyang sarili niya, e, na hindi galing sa amin."
One thing she’s most grateful for: Kaya did not grow up feeling entitled.
"Fear ko yun since he meets a lot of popular people, di ba. Pero he’s not even using the 'my mommy is a celebrity' card. He wants people to know him as himself, as Kaya, ganyan.
"Pag nasa school, he wants me to sit at the back, pero he’s not ashamed of me, ha.
"He could focus more kasi when he doesn’t see mga gano’ng distractions na people look at me, take pictures with me.
"Ako rin siyempre, nahihiya din ako kasi it’s his moment, it’s his parang eksena so ayokong ako pa yung reason bakit mawawala sa kanya yung limelight.
"Pero talagang gusto niya na magkaroon siya ng sariling name. He has a band of his own. He is creating his own music now. He is recording, ano na rin siya, very inclined siya sa arts."
NOT A NAGGER MOM
Tuesday’s parenting style is "chill," and she "rarely gets mad."
She does not have rules, but "marami akong negotiables."
She's not also the "nagger" type who has a lot of reminders.
She said, "Kaya is 17, so when I talk to him, like an adult.
"But ever since, I don’t dictate anything to him even religious belief, even the way he’s supposed to speak, to dress up.
"Example yung curfew, I will ask him, ‘Anong oras ang dapat na uwi?’ Then we will both agree.
"Very important yun kasi yung gano'ng age, medyo delikado.
"Hindi naman sobrang aga, 10 p.m., 11 p.m., puwede na sa akin pag lalabas.
"Pag weekend, puwede namang a little late as long as kilala ko mga kasama at nag-aabiso kapag lampas sa curfew."
One thing she appreciates: Their communication lines are open.
"He always replies. He answers my calls.
"Yun yung nakakatakot pag nagiging secretive yung bata, it means na nag-o-obey sila because of fear, na nagsisinungaling na kasi natatakot mapagalitan.
"Pero ako, I rarely get mad, alam niya yung mga several things na ayoko lang.
"All the rest, maluwag, maluwag kami, pag ano nagkukuwento."
Does he confide about girls?
"Oo. I think he has several other girlfriends. May dalawa pa akong neighbor,” she quipped, laughing.
"I grew up with a very strict dad, e. Medyo traumatic yun for me as a girl growing up.
"Natuto ako na alam mo yun, gumimik nang hindi nagsasabi, mag-overnight sa bahay ng kaibigan pero kunwari gagawa ng term paper, mga ganong kalokohan na puwede namang hindi.
"Ang mundo ngayon, diyusko, ang daming mga sira-ulo sa kalsada. Hindi natin alam kung mapapano yung mga bata.
"At least alam mo kung nasaan, kung sino kasama. Hindi natatakot magsabi, mas maalagaan, mas ligtas yung mga bata kapag open sila."