So glad to be back! 🥳

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Back from a refreshing, exciting, and recalibrating trip to my home country, the Philippines.

It was back-to-back meetings with all of our family – both mine and Mark’s – including extended relatives. To say we got tired is an understatement! I thought we’d still squeeze in time to meet friends, but this trip turned out to be just catching up with our families.

So, here are a few highlights from this trip that I’d love to share with you in this week’s newsletter.

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Out of the Newborn Bubble 🫧

I booked a professional photoshoot for myself and Mark during the trip.

It was long overdue – I needed to update my brand photos because so much has shifted since becoming a mother: physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. My hair is black now, I wear glasses, my body has changed, and honestly, I’ve just evolved into a completely different version of me.

What I thought would be just a photoshoot turned out to be something much deeper – it felt like stepping through a portal that rewired my brain. Almost instantly, my “newborn bubble” shifted.

In that bubble, my mind was fully consumed by my child’s needs – 24/7. Not my needs, not even others’. Even when I had “free time,” I couldn’t enjoy the things I used to – like playing Genshin Impact or watching movies.

I had promised myself that once my son turned one, I’d do a photoshoot to celebrate and mark a new beginning. What I didn’t expect was how this experience would help me slowly reclaim parts of myself: the ability to multitask again, to enjoy hobbies, and to feel like me while also being a mom.

I’ve read about this transition, but living it feels like witnessing a portal open before your eyes. And honestly, it made me understand why so many marriages fall apart after having a baby – even among couples with strong faith. If you don’t have a deep anchor as individuals, the shift can easily pull you apart.

So, if you’re a new or soon-to-be mother, I want to encourage you:
🌸 Nothing is wrong with you. It’s just biology, hormones, and the necessary rewiring of your brain.​
🌸 Anchor yourself in your values, in faith, and most importantly – ask for help.

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Forgiveness & Family 🍃

This one’s a juicy one. 😅

For years, my mom’s side of the family and I weren’t speaking – tensions from her funeral created a painful rift.

When we decided to have Mycroft’s baptism in my mom’s hometown, I knew it was a defining moment whether I keep this relationship or I let this go completely.

After the intimate ceremony, something unexpected happened – one by one, my mom’s family came to the restaurant. There were tears, apologies, and conversations that I thought might never happen. It was one of the most heartwarming reunions of my life.

I was reminded that while Mom has already passed, she’s still very much alive in the memories I share with this extended family –
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…my aunties and uncles who became our second parents,
…our grandmother whose presence makes all the difference,
…our cousins who were our very first partners-in-crime.
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Right in front of us was our entire childhood, and now I get to pass that on and share it with the next generation – my son and his cousins.

I opened the door of reconciliation, and they walked in it bearing love and gifts. Truly, time heals.

My cousin Jane reminded me that we were the ones who used to organize reunions back in high school, and maybe it’s our role to bring the family back together again.

​I’m grateful for second chances. This trip reminded me of the beautiful truth about family: no matter what happens, you can begin again with a clean slate.

I know there’s a lot we read online these days about how family isn’t just about blood, about setting boundaries, and about walking away. And yes, sometimes that’s necessary. But I also believe this: carrying unforgiveness is too heavy a burden to live with. I don’t like that feeling.

As one of my favorite quotes says, “To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and discover that the prisoner was you.”

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Mending Instead of Throwing Away 🧵

A small but powerful lesson came from one of my brothers, Dex. I caught him sewing a small tear in his clothes.

Honestly, my first thought was: “He has other clothes but takes the time to mend this one.” But he said, “This is still usable so I’m fixing this.”

Living in the Middle East for so long, I realized I had forgotten this family value – mending instead of discarding.

When I came back to the UAE, life gave me an opportunity to apply what I just learned. I picked up a sewing kit and fixed one of my clothes myself.

In that moment, I realized how grounding it feels to simply be present with the things that need mending. Sure, it’s easier to send it to a tailor – but doing it with my own hands gave me the quiet satisfaction of presence, patience, and care.

That’s one of the many qualities I love about my siblings. They are the most thoughtful, loyal, and organized people I know.

Whenever my youngest brother and sister visit our place, they start tidying and organizing without even being asked. They don’t put things off – what can be done now, they’ll do now.

Whenever they’re around, I feel a deep peace knowing things will be taken care of. And to think – I’m the eldest, yet these are my youngest brothers and sisters.

Ahhh, I just love you guys! ❤️

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Final Thoughts

This trip was more than just a “vacation.” It was a reminder of how much we evolve in seasons: stepping out of bubbles, choosing forgiveness, and learning to mend instead of throw away.

Maybe the lesson is this: whether it’s motherhood, relationships, or even a ripped shirt – what we choose to nurture, heal, and forgive becomes the foundation of our future selves.

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Question for You This Week

What’s something in your life that needs mending rather than discarding?

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If this story resonated with you, I’d love to hear from you – just hit reply to share your thoughts.

📨Or forward this email to a friend who might need encouragement in their own season of change.
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Have a great week ahead!!!

Dane (..◜ᴗ◝..)