In many Filipino households, parenting is often associated with structure, expectations, and the desire to set children up for success. But what happens when we shift the focus—from outcomes to growth, from pressure to presence? Manila Bulletin Lifestyle asked three moms to share how they guide...
As parents, we often get asked questions about Easter that can be simple on the surface, yet open the door to bigger or deeper conversations. Why do we have eggs? Who is the Easter Bunny? Why is today special? While some answers are easy to give, others can let us pause and reflect. We can use...
These days, it’s not unusual to see children packed with full schedules—weekday lessons, weekend classes, and the occasional tournament or recital in between. Somewhere in all of this is the hope that one activity will stand out. But this doesn’t always happen. To understand how children...
More often than not, the biggest parenting moments begin with something small. When fashion designer Vania Romoff’s 10-year-old daughter Emilia decided to submit a video audition for the international tour of “Les Misérables,” there was little expectation that it would lead anywhere. It was...
Money conversations at home are not a single sit-down talk. They evolve as children grow up. For Maiki Oreta, business broadcast journalist at Bilyonaryo News Channel and founder of Kiddo-preneur, financial literacy—and even entrepreneurship—is not reserved for adulthood. This begins in...
Let me paint you a scene most parents know by heart. Your child is on the floor, face red, fists clenched, crying over something that, to your adult brain, seems completely manageable. Maybe a sibling took their crayon. Maybe the sock feels “wrong.” Maybe they just can’t find the words for...
By Raph G. Doval-Santos As told to Jane Kingsu-Cheng As a family psychologist, I often remind parents of one simple truth: Before they were mom and dad, they were partners. This partnership still needs attention. We tend to prioritize our children so much that we forget to strike a balance. It’s...
A message sent in the middle of the day, a surprise hug, a request to sit beside you—these are the welcomed interruptions that remind us of what truly matters. These moments may be small and almost ordinary, but for parents, they are precious. We asked some of them to share the simple things...
It is rare to hear “I love you” in Filipino homes, but it can be felt through everyday reminders, warm meals, and sacrifices. For many families, love is expressed not through big words, but through small, steady acts of care that are passed down from one generation to the next. ‘Mag-jacket...
Filipino parents, like many Asian parents, have a special way of showing love—it’s in what they do more than what they say. Affection is expressed by preparing meals and managing daily chores. A study by Lydia B. Aguilar and colleagues, “Cultural Values, Parenting, and Child Adjustment in...
Whether you’re prepping for a new school year or just want smarter, more practical items for kids, these picks combine functionality, durability, and kid-friendly design—perfect for 2026 routines. Unique personalization Kids’ backpacks shouldn’t weigh them down, and that’s exactly the...
Like many young mothers, Christine “Chrissy” Roa relied on regular checkups to guide her in raising her firstborn, Frederic, fondly called Fedi. At 1.2 years old, during a routine visit, their doctor went through a developmental checklist in detail. “At the end of it, hardly any of the boxes...
