Jodi Sta. Maria is going to have teenager soon when her son Thirdy Lacson turns 13 in December.
Have there been changes?
"Right now, siguro, it's more of—he's in a phase where he's trying to find his identity. Parang his place in this world, his place in the sun," the celebrity mom told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) after an endorsement shoot early this month.
"Challenge din yung, of course, nandun siya sa part ng life niya wherein he tends to compare na, 'Mama, how come my other schoolmates are taller than me?' Or, 'Mama, how come this and that?'
"And parang, I just continue to support him, love him, care for him, and most importantly assure him that his time will come…"
BALANCED PARENTING STYLE
As a single parent, Jodi described her parenting style as "balanced," being both father and mother to Thirdy.
"If I need to be strict, that's what I do. Sometimes I remind him, 'Hey, we are not friends. I’m still your mom.'
"Or sometimes I joke him na, 'How dare you, I'm your mother!' Parang jino-joke ko pa rin siyang ganun.
"Pero I can be a cool mom na parang sasabayan ko siya.
"If he loves NBA, oh my gulay, kahit hindi ko kilala yung mga NBA plays, sige, makikinood. 'Who’s that player? Who's your favorite player?'
"[Or minsan, sasabihin niya,] 'Mama, we want to watch the PBA game, parang Ginebra versus SMB [San Miguel Beermen]'
"Then I would say, 'O tara, let's go to Araneta!' ganyan, or 'Come on, invite your friends over.'"
Jodi's parenting style is anchored on love rather than fear.
"I want us to build a relationship. I don't want that kind of authoritative type wherein you follow me, I’m your mom.
"I want him to follow me because we have a relationship—because he loves me."
Jodi was quick to say that showbiz is not Thirdy's cup of tea.
She said, "At first, we did commercials and, yeah, okay naman sa kanya. He's happy with that.
"Pero parang siya kasi yung type na kapag ayaw na niya, ayaw na niya.
"Kasi in our business, hindi puwedeng, 'Ayaw ko na ng taping, pack up ko na sarili ko. Uuwi na ako.'
"Hindi naman puwedeng ganun. Also, at a young age, I exposed him to the type of work that I do.
"So nakikita niya yung umaabot ng madaling araw, so if you ask him, 'Would you like to be an artista?' [He will say,] 'No, commercials lang kasi ayaw ko mapuyat.'"