Where in the world do you live? And, are you from there?

I was born and raised in a wonderful, always summery island country called the Philippines. I live in a pretty little village in Alabang, in the city of Muntinlupa, which is just south of our capital city, Manila.

I’ve lived in the Philippines all my life and have actually only been out of country once, back when I was just nine years old, on a holiday visit to Hong Kong.

What language(s) do you speak?

I speak English and Filipino.

When did you first become a mother?

I became a mom at 23 years old. In 2006, I gave birth to my first (and so far only) child, a little boy who we named Tristan after Brad Pitt’s character on “Legends of the Fall.” I always said I’d give my first son that name, because I was sure that he would be just as good-looking as Brad’s character was. And of course, I was right!

Are you a stay-at-home mom or do you work outside the home?

I’ve just become a work-at-home-mom, after being a working mom for the last five years. My job was in the stressful industry of marketing and events management, and that took up a lot of my time. I decided to make the switch to freelance work, so I can dedicate more time for family.

My work-from-home job consists of freelance writing, mainly script writing for events, and some article and PR writing. I also plan to organize a few social events on the side. I’ve already got a couple of weddings lined up, and I’m really excited for that. I also hope to eventually put up my own event management company someday.

Why do you blog/write?

I’ve always loved writing, and I used to write letters back and forth with some good friends throughout grade school and high school. When I went to college, I decided to start my first blog as a sort of public letter to no one, and I was surprised that a lot of people actually started reading and sending comments and feedback.

When I discovered I was pregnant, I started a new blog in an attempt to chronicle my experiences as a first time mom. Back then, there wasn’t much of a network of online moms to turn to, and so I wanted to be able to write everything down in case someone needed some advice in the future. The funny thing is, looking back and reading my old posts now, I don’t think I’d recommend my pregnant self to new moms. Oh well, at least I tried.

Fast forward a couple of years, I had the chance to meet a Filipino novelist who successfully published his first book, and made a name for himself internationally. I told him that one of my life’s dreams is to publish a novel, and I asked for tips on how to get started. He told me that he took inspiration from the very successful Nora Roberts, and that she said all you have to do is get your butt in a chair and start writing. Ever since that day, I decided to make it a point to write more, and to keep on writing. And so my blogging self was reborn.

How would you say that you are different from other mothers?

I’d say that I’m different because I’m sort of a late bloomer as far as motherhood is concerned, which is a pretty ironic statement, considering I got pregnant at a young age. I see myself as a late bloomer in the sense that it is only now that I’m starting to really become hands-on as a mom. In the beginning, I didn’t want to be a stay at home mom. I was focused a lot on my career and making a living for our family.

Over the last five years, my own mother, who has been a stay at home mom all her life, took care of my kid while my husband and I worked long hours. Now that my son is getting older, I suddenly feel the need to be around more, to make sure that homework is done early, and that there is no snacking in between meals. My maternal instincts have finally kicked in, I suppose. Better late than never!

What do you view as the challenges of raising a child in today’s world?

For me, one of the biggest challenges is making sure we stay connected on a personal level with our kids. Technology is booming at an epic pace, and I often see children holding iPads and PSPs in their hands.  Even more shocking, I sometimes see kids on laptops, chatting away on Facebook! I feel that as parents, it is our responsibility to teach our kids to live in the real world, with actual face to face playtime with toys and real friends, getting all messy and sweaty like kids should get. It may be tough, but we need to show them that, and also that real life can be more enjoyable than a virtual life.

How did you find World Moms Blog?

I discovered World Moms Blog through a link on Dainty Mom’s blog. I read through the site, absolutely loved it, and saw an invitation on the page for contributors from around the world. I sent an email to say I was interested, and voila, here I am! Thanks to the lovely editors for letting me be part of this wonderful community!

This is an original first post to World Moms Blog by Mrs. P. Cuyugan of the Philippines.  She can be found blogging at Mrs. C’s Sugarcoated Life. 

Photo credit to the author.

Patricia Cuyugan (Philippines)

Patricia Cuyugan is a wife, mom, cat momma, and a hands-on homemaker from Manila, whose greatest achievement is her pork adobo. She has been writing about parenting for about as long as she’s been a parent, which is just a little over a decade. When she’s not writing, you can usually find her reading a book, binge-watching a K-drama series, or folding laundry. She really should be writing, though! Follow her homemaking adventures on Instagram at @patriciacuyugs. 

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