Keeping a balance between home & work

MANILA, Philippines - In this day and age, most moms are no longer confined to homes where they run the household, take care of the kids and attend to their husbands’ needs. They, too, are making a living for their families. Some even prioritize work over family. If that’s the case, what could possibly come next is painful to see: The family falls apart.

Certainly, that won’t happen with proper time management. Take it from Q-11’s Full Time Moms hosts Suzi Entrata-Abrera and Christine Jacob-Sandejas who balance time between career and family. Both value their jobs but never compromise precious moments with their husbands and kids.

Suzi has three girls with husband Paolo — Leona, six; Jade, five; and Antonella, four.

“Honestly, I can’t claim to be an expert in anything,” Suzi says. “As a mom, I think I have fun side and strict side like when I get home (from work) I try to do everything I need to do like what to wear or what to bring for the next day so there will be much time to enjoy with the kids.”

The girls help mom choose what clothes to wear and what accessories and shoes best complement a dress. “Feeling stylists sila and that’s our bonding time na din,” Suzi adds.

But there are house rules her kids must follow and cannot break. Rule No. 1 is about playing computer. Since kids can sit in front of the computer the whole day, Suzi has to put her foot down and insist they can only play after they take a bath or have dinner. The clever kids, in turn, will take a bath early and finish their dinner ahead of mom and dad.

“There were times the kids complain about too many rules and I always tell them what my mom’s spiel to me was, ‘Once you have your own house, you can set your own rules,’” Suzi shares.

How about dad Paolo? Is he strict with their girls? Not much, Suzi says. Paolo is a fun dad who takes charge during breakfast and tags himself as a short order cook because their daughters have different food requests. He makes pan cake for one daughter. The other asks for a cereal while the youngest prefers oatmeal.

“I miss breakfast as I’m out of the house early for Unang Hirit and I’m glad Paolo takes care of the morning duties. After that, he can attend to his commitments. He’s doing production work now.”

Christine and Paco, on the other hand, are blessed with five children — Paulo, nine; Gabrielle, eight; Nina, six; Luis, three; and Jaime, 15 months old.

Christine brings Jaime with her on taping days — Thursdays and Fridays — because she breastfeeds him until this day. Her other kids enjoy her company at home while they watch TV. She also plays with them and joins them in swimming lessons.

“Paco and I go out on our date night which is Friday but now that tapings have been moved to Thursday and Friday sa house na lang. We watch movies or TV at night and sometimes he makes comments on how I look on our show,” Christine states.

And now that Full Time Moms has moved to morning timeslot, Christine and Suzi feel they have a wider market. Morning viewers have more options on what to watch — cartoons, talent show, game show and talk show catering to moms.

“Segments in Unang Hirit are short, quick and have plenty of news while here (Full Time Moms) topics are being fully discussed with (celebrity) guests at nahihimay mo pa,” Suzi says.

“Moms can learn a thing or two from the tips and suggestions we share,” Christine adds.

Full Time Moms airs Mondays to Fridays at 10:30 a.m.