LJ Reyes is grateful to son Aki for making her a strong woman
The role of being a single parent is a challenging one especially when the family is headed by a woman.
That's why for her Instagram post, LJ Reyes shared the things that she's learned and what she's grateful for when it comes to raising her son Aki.
In the post, the Kapuso actress shared a throwback picture of her and Aki while recalling all the memories she's had when looking after him.
She wrote, “I'm grateful for my experience as a single mom!
“We are all well aware of the struggles of single parents, but there is not much talk about how empowering this experience is! Ikaw ang tatayong nanay at tatay ng anak mo sa araw araw.
“Aki is the reason that I am a strong woman today. Dahil sa kanya, alam ko na kahit ano kaya kong pagdaanan.”
LJ said that while she's already enjoying family life with her partner Paolo Contis and their daughter Summer Ayana, she couldn't help but look back at the moment she was raising Aki on her own ---- a moment she's cherished forever.
“Today, we are enjoying family life, but I will never forget the times na kami lang ni Aki. Alam kong meron kaming special bond ni Aki that nobody can take away from us.
“Kahit na hindi ko s'ya kasama bawat minuto nung mga panahong 'yun kasi kailangan kong mag-juggle ng time sa kanya at sa trabaho, alam ko that we were always together in spirit and our hearts.
“I had to make tough decisions, sometimes alone, pero isang tingin ko lang sa kanya, isang yakap, isang ngiti (with those chinky eyes), para na ako agad si Wonder Woman sa lakas! Habang pinapalaki ko s'ya, I, myself, was growing into the strong woman that I am today.
“Grabe ang pagpapasalamat ko kay God dahil kay Aki!”
LJ also prompted her many followers to share their stories of raising their kids and how grateful they are for their children.
One netizen commented that she can relate to LJ's experience and that while difficulties are very apparent in the beginning, “the beauty is in the end.”
She wrote, “Hi LJ, I can relate myself to you. Since we have the same status as being a single mom. I have been a single mom for the past 13 yrs and it is an emotional, physical and financial struggle every day.
“However, I am grateful for this journey because the plan for my life may not be as good as what you have but I am very grateful because How our Gods molded me and continue molding me to become a positive person. I have a busy career and my son is a loving person. Thank you, LJ, for your inspiration and thoughts. God bless.”
Similarly, single moms like LJ also shared how proud they are of raising their kids and that they wouldn't have it any other way.
Ethan Akio Reyes Avelino, or Aki for short, is the son of LJ and former partner, actor Paulo Avelino. He was born on July 24, 2010. Even though their relationship was unsuccessful, they both agreed to co-parent their son
LJ is now in a relationship with Paolo Contis and they have a daughter together named Summer Ayana.
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