Being a first-time mama gives one experiences that truly last a lifetime. From the immense joy of welcoming our little one into this world to the heartbreaking pain of seeing them unwell, new mamas learn how to deal with baby situations as they go along this overwhelmingly exciting journey of motherhood.
Ana de Leon, mama to 10-month-old Amalia Catalina or Molly, knows these all too well. “The best thing about being a mama is seeing someone become your life’s purpose. You are the person who molds them and lets them blossom in their own way and how you constantly strive to be a better or perhaps the greatest version of yourself each and every day because of your children,” she muses.
This statuesque and stunning mama once dreamt of becoming a pediatrician. “I was really fond of kids and I just pictured myself working with kids,” reminisces Ana, who was taking up pre-Medicine course at the De La Salle University when she was “discovered” by a talent agent after she was spotted on TV performing at a cheerdance competition. She eventually pursued acting and hosting, and never looked back.
Sharing her motherhood journey
Today, she uses her platform to inspire women—specifically fellow moms—and share with them little nuggets of wisdom she’s gained so far as a first-time mother. “I am proud of everything I have achieved and endured so far: from pregnancy to labor, childbirth up to postpartum. It’s true that motherhood is the hardest job anyone could ever have,” she asserts.
She describes her parenting style as nature, nurture, and authoritative. Ana explains, “Nature, because I believe that our genes play a huge role in a child’s growth and development. Nurture, because I, together with environmental factors, play a huge role in honing Molly’s potential in life so I let her experience and explore things on her own. Authoritative, because I want my relationship with Molly to be reciprocal and responsive in a way that I get to talk to her and hear what she has to say—when she learns how to talk already—so that we both would build mutual trust and respect.”
Mama to mama: Tips and life hacks
With almost 40,000 followers on IG, Ana is aware of her influence, and she doesn’t take this for granted. Every now and then, she shares snippets of her motherhood adventure, one milestone after another.
A peek at her account shows stylish shots of her adorable baby girl. On playing dress-up with your little one, Ana has this advice to mamas: “Just be yourself and don’t dress to impress. Wear anything comfortable and whatever makes you confident!”
One of her go-to brands when dressing up her daughter is bean by edamama. “I love bean’s pajamas and their cute onesies. I actually love everything! The materials of the clothes are really great,” Ana happily shares.
She also recommends Alilo educational toys and Cetaphil items as must-buys for your little ones. But she reminds moms to also treat themselves every now and then.
Ana concludes, “My wish for all mamas is that we be able to trust and believe in ourselves. We may have days that we question ourselves but at the end of the day, I pray and hope that we learn to love and appreciate ourselves more. Be kind, be patient, and be forgiving to yourself, mama!”
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