A proud Jodi Sta. Maria posted the latest photos of her son, Panfilo "Thirdy" Lacson III, as he gets ready to attend a graduation ball.
The pictures show Thirdy looking very dapper in a suit and some behind-the-scenes snaps as he was getting all glammed up by a hair and makeup artist.
"Oh how you've grown!" Jodi wrote poignantly.
She added with great pride, "Flex ko lang yung binata ko."
Jodi ended her post with the words, "I love you always, anak," plus three heart emojis.
Thirdy is Jodi's son with ex-husband Panfilo "Pampi" Lacson Jr., who is the son of former Senator Panfilo Lacson.
Although separated, Jodi and Pampi are cordial with each other.
Jodi even attended the baptism of Pampi's second child with actress Iwa Moto back in July 2022.
BEING A MOM TO A TEENAGER
Like all parents, Jodi revealed in December 2022 wanting to spend more quality time with Thirdy.
"Kapag nagiging teenager na po kasi hindi na ito yung tulad ng bata pa sila na ikaw ang gusto nila laging kasama. Ikaw yung favorite person nila in the world at ikaw rin ang favorite playmate nila," Jodi remarked in a press conference celebrating her best actress victory at the 2022 Asian Academy Creative Awards staged in Singapore.
Jodi won for her portrayal in the ABS-CBN series The Broken Marriage Vow, an adaptation of a British series titled Doctor Foster.
She added, "Ako po talaga gusto kong i-enjoy more of Thirdy. He's turning 17. Grabe, ibang-iba na po talaga kapag may teenager ka na. I know yung iba nakaka-relate dito."
Jodi observed how Thirdy started to value the opinions of his close friends.
He would also oftentimes prefer their company over hers or would rather stay in his room than go out.
"Unlike before kapag bata, malingat ka lang, hahanapin ka na nila agad. 'Tapos iiyak sila magbe-break down," recalled Jodi.
"So yun po, I want to enjoy him more kasi after college, habang lumalaki po siya, tumatanda po siya, gusto ko po talaga siyang i-enjoy kasi darating yung time na I will have to let him go."
A FRIEND AND A MOM
In 2020, Jodi shared during a Facebook live stream event for a product endorsement how she tries to balance her role as a mom to a teenager.
"I would say na, kung kailangan idisiplina, disiplinahin. Naniniwala ako na if you spare the rod, you spoil the child," said Jodi.
"Pero I just make sure na always come from a place of love and concern, so we do a lot of talking after ng pagdidisiplina."
She added, "But I make sure din na I'm 'fun to be with' naman, para naman hindi niya isipin na kapag nakikita niya si Mommy puro discipline, 'O, don't do this, don't do that,' ganyan.
"Kailangan makita niya ako na friend niya, but, at the same time, mommy pa rin niya."
Jodi will soon be seen in Unbreak My Heart, the series co-produced by ABS-CBN, GMA Network, and Viu Philippines.
Co-starring with Jodi in the series are Joshua Garcia, Richard Yap, and Gabbi Garcia.
The series will debut on May 29 on multiple platforms, including TFC, Viu, GMA-7, GTV, and GMA Pinoy TV.