Suzi's diary

MANILA, Philippines - Suzi Entrata-Abrera with the witty ad-libs and sparkling repartee, may strike you as ultra sophisticated. But deep down, all she wants is something simple: Fun — good clean fun.

She never realized this is all she really needed to enjoy life until her daughters came along and showed her how.

“This is the most important thing Leona (five), Jade (four) and Antonella (three) taught me,” the host of Mommy Diary (airing weekly beginning today at 10:15 a.m. before Sis on GMA 7 and 5:50 p.m. before American Idol on Q-11).

Did we see a tear about to roll down the cheeks of the usually bubbly Suzi? But the tear did not fall and ruin the happy mood of the moment.

Suzi was back to her jovial self in no time at all as she talked about swimming with the girls in her brother’s place in Subic and Cebu. The girls would also join their father, Paolo Abrera in his triathlon events, or jog around the village with Mom and Dad.

Mornings in the Abrera home are busy times for Paolo, says Suzi.

“He’s like a waiter who serves the girls whatever they want for breakfast,” she reveals.

Suzi takes a nap with the girls in the afternoon and makes up for mornings without her around the house on weekends.

“When the girls start talking at the same time, I let each one take her turn,” Suzi relates how she deals with three excited daughters all at the same time.

This way, she teaches patience and consideration.

Suzi drives home the lesson of self-control when she makes an erring. The guilty one will only be allowed to join her sisters again once she says I’m sorry.

The Abrera girls, for one, don’t get toys all the time, even if their parents can afford to shower them with costly Barbie dolls and tea sets. Instead of giving a pasalubong, Paolo and Suzi give what they call “presents” on their children.

“These presents,” explains Suzi, “are non-material. They come in the form of hugs and kisses.”

This way, the girls are trained to value things money can’t buy. They also learn that showing love need not be expensive; that a hug and a kiss are more than enough rewards for good behavior.

An extra treat for academic excellence though, will do no harm. And Suzi says she and Paolo are generous in giving incentives to a daughter who does well in school. The Abreras also make sure one of them is available for the usual parent-teacher conferences.

The partnership also applies in — you better believe it — breast feeding. Paolo, says Suzi, has made things easier for her by literally staying behind her whenever she breastfeeds their daughters.

“He rubs my back, encouraging me to continue breast feeding even if it’s tough,” relates Suzi.

The father’s role being that crucial, Suzi would only be too glad if dads could take time out to watch Mommy Diary themselves.

“They will appreciate their wives more,” Suzi promises.

Today’s pilot episode will feature mom-to-be Joyce Jimenez, who will leave soon for the US to give birth there. Other guests are Giselle Sanchez (due to give birth to her second child by Lamaze next month) and Danica Sotto-Pingris.

Joyce will get tips on what to prepare before she goes to the hospital for her date with the stork. Giselle will talk about sleep deprivation for moms who just gave birth. Both of them, and Suzi as well, will get a lot of help from the show’s sponsor, Johnson’s Baby.

No one said motherhood will be easy. But with a little help from fellow moms like Suzi and her guests every week, mothers out there can let their hair down.