Janella Salvador is one proud mom to her son Jude, who is now about to enter first grade next year.
In an interview with Bianca Gonzalez for The B Side on Cinema One, Janella opened up about being in a co-parenting setup with her former partner, actor Markus Paterson.
“Honestly, it's a struggle pa rin talaga everyday to be able to like, especially as young parents, adjustments talaga eh, parang compromise. You would have to really work through it. Now kasi, Jude most of the time is with me because his dad is in the UK. So he's, he's working there and he's, every now and then he would call up Jude. Dati kasi he was here eh, then he would borrow Jude for the weekend, ganyan-ganyan,” Janella revealed.
She admitted that being in a modern co-parenting setup is never completely smooth sailing.
“Iba-iba siya eh, parang hindi siya yung smooth sailing lang. Co-parenting is a different experience din talaga. And at the same time, you're always thinking, I don't want to allow na magkaroon ng opportunity na ma-feel niya na ma-affect siya because of our setup. I always want him to still be able to grow up with a healthy mindset,” she said.
Janella was also honest in saying that having Jude in her life has greatly changed her mindset when it comes to entering relationships.
“It's a no-brainer. Yung mindset ko talaga is, kung sino yung papasok sa buhay ko, I'm gonna be very, very clear about how it's gonna be like because I have a kid. If it scares them away, then so be it. Ito yung dealbreaker ko, ito yung rules ko, ito yung plus one ko na siya for life. So like, you have to be able to handle that. And not just handle that, you have to be a good example. And really be able to take care of, like, be with me through this,] throughout this journey of raising a kid,” she explained.
She also revealed that Jude is starting to realize that his mom is a public figure.
“He sees me sometimes on TV when I would do ASAP. And sometimes he asks na now, Is mama an actor? Is mama an actress? Gano'n. Like, yes. And he was like, I want to be an actor,” she recalled.
Although open to the possibility of Jude entering showbiz one day, she admitted she hopes not just yet: “Anak, huwag muna. Kung gugustuhin niya, pero huwag na muna. He's now four, turning five. Ang bilis ng panahon. Grade one na siya next year.”
She added that Jude has taught her lessons she never expected.
“I learned that in order to be able to take care of another human being, you have to take care of yourself first. I want him to see me. Kasi imagine if your kid sees you and you're not okay growing up. You're just stressed all the time. Hindi ka masaya. What kind of environment would he grow up with? So yun yung natutunan ko. I have to pour into myself din. From time to time. So I can take care of him,” she admitted.