Continuing from last week, children notice kindness, and they mirror how we value those who serve. My husband is a great example of showing that acts of gratitude, whether big of small, is important. He would gather all of his old running shoes and shirts regularly and share it to either our drivers, guards or even employees in the office. Whenever there is a typhoon is his home province, he would be the first to ask what we things in the house can we send, on top of the monetary support he gives.
I saw that same spirit reflected in our daughter Meagan. In her valedictory address, she offered gratitude not only to her teachers but also to those who made her daily life at school feel like home. Below is an excerpt of her speech:
‘I’d like to start by saying that I did not come out of the womb this way. I was not born an academic weapon. It has been a really difficult road to get to this point. But when my beloved Chi Chi, my auntie, is asked by her friends, ‘Oh, how does Meagan do this?’ she always says that it takes a village-because it truly did take a village.
‘And how lucky I was that my village included Kuya Marlon, welcoming me with a smile and a good morning every day of school since the third grade. Another big part of the village that raised me, apart from the people who welcomed me every day, are the people who raised me in my second home-my teachers.’
Hearing those words as a mother, I couldn’t help but feel a lump in my throat. Gratitude, when taught early, finds its own voice. It reminded me that no achievement stands alone; it is always rooted in a web of kindness, humility and support.
When I see both my children joke around with our drivers or the guards in school, or think about how to help them, I am proud that they know respect and gratitude belong to everyone-especially to those who quietly help us in our everyday lives. It warms my heart that the granddaughter of Marcus’ yaya and our driver’s daughter were both named after Meagan. These small, meaningful connections-acts of naming, of remembering-show that gratitude, when lived, ripples outward.
In today’s fast-paced world, it is easy to think that parenting is a competition-who’s more hands-on, who bakes from scratch, who manages to juggle everything with a smile. But the truth is, parenting has never been a solo act. It has always been communal. From our parents and siblings, to teachers, yayas and even neighbors, every family’s rhythm depends on teamwork. Every act of care, no matter how ordinary, becomes a small miracle that keeps the family whole.
Our helpers often carry the emotional weight of our absence. They are the ones who comfort our children when we are in meetings, who ensure the pets are fed when we are away, who quietly remember which day is P.E. day or who likes extra rice for lunch. I am not always there for all of my son’s games but our driver, whether I am present or not, always finds a corner in the court to cheer him on. Afterward, he would tell me how my son played, what moves he made, and how the game went. Hearing his account, filled with pride and excitement, makes my son feel seen and supported.
Gratitude, I’ve learned, is not a reaction to something extraordinary-it is a rhythm we choose daily. It does not need to wait for big occasions or milestones. It lives in how we call our helpers by name, how we make small talk in between tasks, or how we make sure our staff have their own moments of rest. Even saying, ‘Thank you for waiting’ or ‘Ingat sa pag-uwi’ are quiet affirmations that what they do matters. In many ways, these caregivers are our extensions of safety and love. They are the bridge between the spaces we cannot always fill. They help us nurture our families not because it’s part of their job description, but because they choose to care.
As this Gratitude Series comes to a close, I am reminded once again that parenting is never a solo act. It is a shared mission woven through countless unseen acts of love. The yayas who calm our children, the drivers who bring them home safely, the guards who greet them with a smile-they are all part of the our support system that allows us to focus, to grow, and to be present for what matters most.
So today, I invite you to look around your home and think about your own story. Say ‘thank you’ not just in words but with genuine attention. Listen when they speak. Ask about their families, their dreams. Let your children see you practicing gratitude not as a ritual but as a way of life.
Because one day, when our children become adults, they will carry not only our love but our example. They will remember how their parents valued the people who made life smoother, kinder, and more possible. And when they too lead families or teams of their own, they will pass forward that same humanity.
Parenting with gratitude means recognizing that every helping hand is a blessing-and that sometimes, the quietest hearts make the loudest difference.