A video of a Filipino mom and her half-Korean son recently went viral on social media.
In the now viral TikTok video with more than 2.6 million views, mother Jennifer Rentura can be seen showing off her Filipino parenting style to her three-year-old son, Yejun.
“No’ng kumakain kami ng dalanghita, tinatapon niya, so pinagsabihan ko siya tapos hindi nakinig. Ayan so napalo ko ‘yung kamay. ‘Yung anak ko kasi, ‘pag napalo ko siya o alam niyang napagalitan siya, umiiyak siya sasabihin na, “Omma hajima.” Kumbaga, ‘wag ka magalit. Natatakot siya kapag nagagalit ako,” Jennifer shared with The Philippine STAR.
Jennifer said that she was touched by the cute and polite reaction of her son.
“Talagang humihingi siya ng sorry tapos kinakausap ko na siya tapos hinahayaan ko siyang magsalita din. Ano ‘yung mali mo, bakit mali ‘yon? Ayaw ko ‘yung feeling na mag-secret sa ’kin ‘yung anak ko, so gusto ko ‘yung open siya sa akin,” she added.
Jennifer originally came from Zamboanga Del Norte, Mindanao. She migrated to Korea after she got married to her husband, Changhwan, in 2019.
Since then, they have been living with her in-laws. Usually, she and Yejun are staying at home while Changhwan and his parents are working.
Jennifer added that she’s lucky to have a supporting husband in raising Yejun.
“Malaking factor rin kasi sa pagdi-discipline ko sa anak ko is ‘yung partner ko din. Nakikinig naman sa ’kin at nirerespeto ako. ‘Yung asawa ko, parang hinahayaan niya ‘kong gawin kung pa’no ko idisiplina ‘yung anak ko,” she noted.
In the future, Jennifer wants to teach Yejun three different languages.
“Una kong tinuro sa anak ko is ‘yung Korean para makasabay din siya sa mga kaibigan niya na Korean. Tinuturuan ko siya paunti-unti ng mga English words o kaya Tagalog words tas minsan ‘yung Bisaya kasi Bisaya ako,” she said.
As a first-time mom, Jennifer wishes to document every little thing about Yejun.
“Kasi alam kong balang araw lahat nang ‘yon magbabago eh so may babalik-balikan ako. I’m trying na mag-gentle na parenting. Pero mahirap din naman so parang kumbaga, half gentle parenting, half ‘yung mga may pamalo effect,” Jennifer said.
“Kasi ‘yung world naman natin hindi naman palaging gentle so gusto ko ring maranasan ng anak ko na ‘pag nasaktan siya, ano ‘yung pwede niyang gawin, dapat niyang gawin. ‘Yun ‘yung gusto kong ituro sa kanya,” she added.
Looking back, Jennifer said she has no regrets as she expressed gratitude for the gift of family.
“Thankful ako na pinagpaliban ko lahat ng pangarap ko para sa pamilyang ‘to kasi napaka-lucky, napaka-blessed ko sa anak ko.I think I made the right decision na ipagpalit lahat para sa pamilyang ‘to at sa anak ko ngayon,” she recalled.
“Anak, salamat kasi dumating ka sa buhay ko and ‘yung papa mo. So hangga’t kaya kong palakihin ka, gabayan ka hanggang sa paglaki mo, hangga’t buhay ang mama mo,” she said when asked about her message to Yejun.
