Perfect two

Paula Giron and her little personal assistant Melo

By Deneb Batucan

BEING a mom is both challenging and rewarding. From birthing to raising, all sorts of ups and downs happen. Paula Giron became a mom at the young age of 20. Her whole world drastically changed when she had her son Melo.

Having Melo, now eight years old, has constantly challenged her since day one, but the amount of joy that this little man has given her is simply priceless.

“My little boy has been my inspiration ever since I had him. He turned me into this whole new person who is full of goals and ambitions. At the same time, he keeps me grounded and reminds me to pray and be grateful,” Paula said.

This mom and son tandem is more than adorable. With Paula running her own business called Pixie Dust Creations PR and Events, she has so much on her plate. And who helps her out in all her endeavors? No one but Melo. “He always reminds me about things. He’ll say, ‘Mommy, did you bring this, did you do that?’ He’s like my little personal assistant,” Paula shared.

A mother’s goal

To say that the first five years of being a mom was a challenge for Paula is an understatement. As a single mom, she had to raise Melo all on her own. “Since both of my parents are no longer working, I had to look for ways to support Melo. I applied for various jobs and was hired as a barista, wait staff, customer support representative, among others. After a year, I went back to finish my degree in nursing. I refrained from going out with friends and spending for myself because my priority was set on my little boy,” she said.

One of Paula’s goals is to give Melo the comfortable life that he deserves, even if that means that she has to juggle two to three jobs at the same time. There was even a time when she barely had a day with Melo.

“I was working 15 hours a day to cope up with the needs of a growing boy. In the end, I had to make a choice between the corporate world or handling my own business and be on top of Melo’s activities. I chose the latter,” she said.

Paula describes herself as a strict mom. “I don’t want to skimp on discipline and morale because from what I’ve learned, it’s easier to build strong children than to repair a broken adult,” she said.

Now that she has more control of her time, she can have more fun and bond with Melo more often. Playing and being silly with her son is a way of building a relationship with him, and that’s what Paula does. “The best feeling in the world is knowing that at the end of the day, you get a good night kiss and an ‘I love you, Mom’ from your most favorite person,” Paula shared.

Maturity

But like what many mothers go through when raising a child, Paula has had her share of distress. Recently, she had harrowing experience when their dog bit Melo in the face. While a distraught Paula was trying to reassure Melo at the emergency room, he said something astounding: “It’s okay, Mom. I’m still alive.” Paula, who couldn’t fathom how a child could be so brave, burst into tears. “He’s such a mature kid,” she said.

Paula may be a single mom, but she has never been alone in raising Melo. For instance, when Paula is out for work, Melo stays with his grandparents. “I wouldn’t be able to surpass all these without my strong support system. I have my family, friends, loved ones and mentors to thanks for that. They have challenged, encouraged and pushed me to be the woman that I am today,” she said.

Motherhood, by definition, is raising a child. But for Paula, it’s more that that. “It’s going through lengths for your child even if it’s out of the way. It means being there in every soccer or basketball game, finding an impromptu costume for a class presentation the next day, holding his hand through a medical operation, or simply making him feel that everything will be all right,” Paula said.

Photos: Alfred Gregory E. Bartolome
Make-up Artist: Carlo Damolo
Hair Stylist: Jerwin Bastatas
Locale: Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa