Aicelle Santos on raising Baby Zandrine without a yaya: Be ready for the mess, but also for moments of joy

Aicelle Santos shared how motherhood is like, especially as she and husband Mark Zambrano are raising their daughter Zandrine without a yaya. 

"Motherhood is mahirap na masarap. ‘Yung mahirap na part would be it’s because it’s my first time and you know — breastfeeding, ‘yung tutok na pag-aalaga because we have no yaya, but the best part is seeing your child grow," Aicelle told GMA News Online in a virtual interview.

"It's seeing her milestones, my daughter walking, and trying to talk and being so sociable at a young age. I look forward to more milestones," Aicelle added.

While her child's grandparents and uncle help out on days she's working, Aicelle said "for the most part, it’s really me, my husband kapag wala siyang trabaho."

Which Aicelle said is difficult. "Bihira 'tong days na naka-makeup ako, nakabihis, kasi most of the time basa lang tayo, pinagpawisan or ni hindi makasuklay. Totoo ‘yun ha, totoo ‘yun," she said.

In fact, Aicelle's nearly forgotten what it's like going on a salon day. "Sino si Aicelle? 'Yung Aicelle na dalaga who takes care of herself, who goes to what mani pedi and the derma, all these things I don’t know them anymore, kasi ‘yun nga nakatutok ako kay baby. And you want the best for her so 100 percent," she said.

"Kaya saludo talaga sa lahat ng nanay especially mommies who have children ‘yung maraming sunod-sunod di ba? Amazing," she added.

Her advice to those who also want to make do without a yaya is to be ready.

"Be ready for all the mess, but also, be ready for — I call it 'umaapaw sa puso.' Those sparks of joys, those moments when you see your child do something new or laugh, y'ung mga bagong 'yun. Maa-amaze ka talaga and then you’ll forget about everything, about all the problems in the world," she said.

Aicelle and Mark welcomed their first baby in December 2020. The couple tied the knot in a beautiful garden ceremony last November 2019.