AMINADO si Andi Eigenmann na hindi niya na-imagine noong kabataan niya ang magkaroon ng asawa at mga anak.
Ngunit bigla na lang daw nagbago ang pananaw niya sa buhay nang dumating sa buhay niya si Ellie at ang fiancé niyang si Philmar Alipayo at ang mga anak nilang sina Lilo at Koa.
Sa panayam ng GMA, nag-share si Andi ng ilang detalye tungkol sa pagiging nanay at kung paano niya hinaharap ang mga challenges bilang ilaw ng tahanan.
“Ako ‘yung friend na hindi mo ma-i-imagine na magkakaroon ng anak or na magiging mom. It was really not in my mind to become a mother or get married or anything like that like just have a family,” simulang pahayag ni Andi.
Esplika niya, “I was still just thinking of who I wanted to become or what I wanted to make of myself. Confused pa ako kung sino ako as a person.”
Nang isilang na niya si Ellie noong kasagsagan ng kanyang showbiz career, hindi niya alam kung anong klaseng nanay ba siya.
“It was not so compatible with the type of mother I wanted to become. I wanted to be this hands-on mom. Raising another human being is a serious job and I just felt like there’s no room for failure,” sey ng aktres.
Hindi naging madali sa kanya ang mga unang taon ng pagiging ina kay Ellie, idagdag pa ang pangdya-judge at pangnenega sa kanya ng bashers.
“I was 21 years old, I’m not married and I’m in the public’s eye. Especially we live in a Catholic country and we’re traditional in some ways so it was hard for me because I was still figuring out how to be a good mom. Kakalabas pa lang ng anak ko, I was already facing judgment and criticism.
“I would hear these things that people have to say about me that were not really so nice, and that would be damaging to my mental health.
“Like imagine, when I gave birth via cesarean section, right, so it was a major operation, I had not gotten a good look at Ellie and I woke up and she was already on the news, her face! Everybody already saw her!” lahad ng anak ni Jaclyn Jose.
Naisipan na rin noon ni Andi na mag-quit sa showbiz para makapag-concentrate sa anak nila ni Jake Ejercito.
“We were both so young and immature. I don’t wanna speak on his behalf but I felt, mas inuna ko ‘yung problem namin, than seeing eye-to-eye for our daughter. I was young and I was a different person back then.”
Tungkol naman sa co-parenting agreement nila ni Jake kay Ellie, “Hindi ako ‘yung type of parent na parang ‘Bakit ang saya niya sa dad?’ No. Hindi ako nagseselos. Walang ganun. Hindi competition for me. For me, it’s better to know that she’s also as happy, that she loves her dad as much as she loves me.”
Dagdag pa niya, “I always acted on impulse and I feel that’s what led to my relationship with Jake being so hard and being quite toxic. I wanted to make sure that I learn how to handle my emotions better.
“So kapag naiinis ako sa mga anak ko, hindi ko sila sisigawan. Gusto ko nang sumigaw pero hinding-hindi ko idi-direct sa kanila.
“I can show them and I can let them know that, ‘Hey, I’m struggling, you guys. I’m having a tough time. Please understand. You have to behave.’
Parang ganyan,” paliwanag ng celebrity mom.
Ang isa pang natutunan ni Andi sa pagiging parent at pakikipagrelayon ay, “If you just accept life as is and be grateful for what you already have, it’s easier to be kuntento and be happy.”