Television host and blogger Divine Lee had a lot of realizations upon becoming a mother.
In May 2018, Divine and husband Blake Go welcomed their first son, Baz. At present, she's in the last trimester of her second pregnancy.
She reflected on her motherhood journey during her event for a baby brand held last August 13, at Blue Leaf Events Pavilion in Bonifacio Global City.
Before, she was known as the life of the party with a fashion-forward sense of style.
But everything changed the moment her child was born. These days, she has been staying away from gimik, and has lessened her shopping sprees.
Divine told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) and other members of the press, "Before, YOLO, di ba? Gimik, travel, Coachella music fest, but now you have a kid, iniisip mo, ‘Naku, sale ng diapers, mag-stock na ako!’
"So it’s more like, yung planning mo, hindi na for the next music fest, next shoot or next fashion week. Ngayon, more on the kid na talaga."
Becoming a mother also made her appreciate her own parents' efforts in raising her.
She said, "Everything will be different, and you will start to understand your parents more also when you become a parent.
"You start talking to parents about education, ganyan. Ang lakas maka-adulting, di ba? It will really change your life, your priorities."
DIVINE LEE ON MANAGING EXPECTATIONS IN MOTHERHOOD
Like most soon-to-parents, Divine read a lot of parenting books. However, the 36-year-old celebrity mom realized that nothing can really prepare her for parenthood.
"I think before becoming a parent, ‘Ah, I’m gonna be like this or like that.’ But when the baby comes, nagbabago talaga lahat iyan. I’m the first one to admit that I’m not perfect."
She continued, "At times na parang pag pagod na ako, ‘Bigyan ko na nga ng konting screen time ‘to.’
"That’s reality, e, that’s how it is to be a parent. But in the end, for me, each parenting style, wala namang perfect, wala ring tama."
As a mom, Divine considers herself a lenient one.
"It depends on your kid, how you will deal with your kid. I guess I’m very lax, I’m not strict, I’m not super organic kasi ako nga hindi ako nag-o-organic, yung anak ko pa, di ba?
"I think we just always want the best for them, but we also have to be real when it comes to all the rules, those things for them."
When it comes to discipline, Divine believes that talking to your kid works better than punishing him/her. The mommy blogger believes that this will help children realize the responsibility behind their actions.
She further explained, "I want him [Baz] to have options, kumbaga masanay siya na ine-explain sa kanya yung bagay kung bakit bawal siya.
"Hindi lang yung, ‘No, bawal!’ So at least maintindihan niya why so he can make good decisions when he grows older."
Other important values that she will instill in her children are contentment, appreciation for the little things, and dealing with their emotions.
She expounded, "When we look around, parang ang daming taong depressed, di ba? Ang daming may mental problems.
"So I feel like I have to teach my son to be happy with the simplest things, yung kaya niyang maging masaya mag-isa. So he can process his emotions, and, you know, sometimes it’s okay to be sad, parte ng buhay yun.
"Hindi naman something you should lose hope on, di ba? So it's grit, like the fighting spirit of life and learning to be happy alone."