Siblings don't always get along; so, it's something to be celebrated when one's kids are genuinely kind to one another. Actress Judy Ann Santos counts herself blessed to have kids who are growing up close, without an ounce of rivalry among them.
She opened up about this to PEP, revealing that both Yohan, 11, and Lucho, 5 were excited to welcome their little sister, Luna--who is now 6 months old.
"Masuwerte kami dun sa part na yun na excited pareho yung mga kapatid ni Luna sa kanya," she gushed. "Si Lucho sobrang nanggigigil kay Luna."
(We're lucky that our youngest was welcomed by her siblings with excitement. Lucho finds Luna unbearably cute, wanting to pinch her.)
As early as now, Juday observes, Lucho is showing signs of becoming a caring and overprotective brother.
"Hinihintay niya talagang magising si Luna para malaro niya, yung nagagalit siya, 'Why does she have to sleep always? I wanna play with her!'"
(He really waits for Luna to wake up so he can play with her. He sometimes gets upset and asks, 'Why does she have to sleep always? I wanna play with her!')
Judy Ann recounts how, as soon as he wakes up, Lucho gives her a good morning kiss and heads straight to his baby sister's side.
The mom of three marveled at how gentle he is towards his little sister, especially when he asks to cradle her in his arms. Adding that it gives her joy to see her little boy maturing into a big brother.
Next page: How having three kids has made it harder to leave home
Having three kids has made it all the more difficult to say goodbye whenever she leaves for work.
'Iba-iba na kasi yung demands ng mga anak namin—iba na yung pakikipag-usap mo kay Yohan, iba na rin yung lambing mo kay Lucho, iba rin yung demands ni Luna so, alam mo yun, iniisa-isa mo siya," explains the working mom. "Pero, all in all, kumbaga, nami-miss ko sila."
(Our kids have different demands---Yohan needs to be communicated with differently, Lucho needs to be shown affection differently, Luna has different needs, so I need to attend to them one by one. But, all in all, I miss them.)
She also recalled when she left the house for work for the first time after giving birth. Yohan was asking why she had to leave. While Lucho told her he was going to miss you.
"So, may ganung moment. E, kung hindi ko rin naman sasanayin yung sarili ko na magtrabaho, I mean di ba, mahihirapan na talaga akong makabalik.'
(There are those moments. But if I don't help myself get used to working again, I'll have a hard time to get my momentum back.)
"And hangga't maaari sana, ayokong mag-work ng weekend kasi lalo pa't nagpasukan na yung mga bata, pero siyempre you have to set your priorities also," she continued. "Naiintindihan naman nila yun."
(As much as possible, I don't want to work on weekends especially once school starts, but of course you have to set your priorities also. They are very understanding.)
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