Saab Magalona with her eldest son Pancho. Image: Instagram/@saabmagalona
Saab Magalona is getting real about the hard side of parenting as she shared a photo of scratches on her arm — left by her eldest son Pancho, who has special needs.
In a recent Instagram post, Magalona said the scratching used to happen more often than not, but that because of much effort she has taken, it now happens less often.
“These scratches tell a story I don’t always share, but they’re very much a part of my parenting journey. As a mom of a child who’s still learning how to communicate, it’s taken years of literal blood, sweat, and tears to get to this point. It used to be the norm. Now, it’s thankfully rare,” she wrote.
The celebrity mom admitted that it pains her every time her son hurts her, more so when he hurts himself; however, holding a grudge doesn’t help the situation.
“But when it happens, it still hurts. It’s hard not to take it personally but trust me: that never helps. The fastest way to calm him down is to acknowledge: ‘I know you didn’t want to hurt me.’ I tell him I’m right here and I’m listening. Yes, I still get hurt. Yes, I still get mad, especially when he hurts himself. This is the truth,” she continued.
Despite the difficult moments, Magalona acknowledged how far she and her son have come in their journey as she reminded fellow parents to keep pushing through the tough times.
“But here’s another truth: he’s come so far. WE have come so far. If you’re a parent going through something similar, please know: you’re not alone. It will get better. Keep assuming competence even if they are nonverbal. Talk to your child. Tell them you’re not scared of them or their feelings. HUG THEM! Let them know they are safe with you. Let’s keep going,” the celebrity mom concluded her post.
In 2022, Magalona first opened up about how she blamed herself when Pancho was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, which meant he would be experiencing disabilities.
Magalona is married to fellow musician Jim Bacarro. They also have another son, Vito. The couple lost their daughter, Luna, who was Pancho’s twin, at birth. /ra