“He scares away everything that makes me scared.”
This was the statement of a Gen Z wife after she changed her mind about not having a child after getting married.
Gen Z wife Mariah Rivera-Lapuz came from a broken family. She said that she was scared that it might also happen to her.
“Lumaki kasi ako na ang kasama ko is lola and lolo ko kasi wala akong father. So, ‘yung mommy ko, ‘yung father figure ko so, very scary for my part kasi babae din ako. Tapos, what if the same thing happens?” she recalled.
Mariah and her husband, Jonathan, met after they worked in the same company. Their story started with colleagues-turned-lovers.
During their early days as a couple, Mariah became honest with Jonathan on her stand in building a family.
“Tinatanong ko siya kung ang definition ba ng family sa kanya, ng building a family is may anak. And malinaw naman sa aming dalawa na ang family is kahit dalawa lang kayo is still family. ‘Yung usapan na kung kailan magkaanak, gusto na ba magkaanak, ‘yun ‘yung sabi ko na parang hindi, kasi I’m not mentally prepared, physically hindi rin. Parang hindi ko pa kaya. Hindi ko maisip ‘yung sarili ko na magbe-bear ako ng child, na magbubuntis ako, dadaan ako sa mga ganitong proseso,” she recalled.
Adding, “Sinabi niya lang sa akin na, kasi katawan ko naman ‘to so I get to really decide what I want for my body. Alam ko na i-aaccept niya ‘yun pero hindi ko na in-expect na sasabihin niya na okay lang kahit dalawa lang tayo. Binigay ko sa kanya ‘yung time kasi bata pa naman siya so hindi ko siya ni-rush.”
Jonathan proposed marriage to Mariah in September 2022. After a year, they got married in May 2023.
“Wala naman akong in-expect na after marriage or mag-aanak na agad. Ang gusto niya lang after wedding, kaming dalawa, ta’s enjoyin muna sarili namin bago pag-usapan ‘yung next stage,” Jonathan said.
Mariah added, “Hindi niya talaga binanggit ‘yun na parang, “How about the baby? Kailan to? Or kailan tayo gagawa ng baby?” Wala siya ever na, wala ko narinig na ganun. So sa akin, wala rin siya sa back of my mind.”
Mariah appreciated how her husband respected her wishes. Until one day, she told him that she was ready to bear a child.
“Actually, hindi ko tanda kailan ko siya in-open, pero before ata ‘yun mag-wedding anniversary kami, parang nagsa-start na ako magsabi sa kanya na gusto, na parang, ano, pwede na tayo mag-anak. Tapos nagulat na lang ata na, sabi niya, ‘Gusto mo? Sure ka?’ ‘Yun ‘yung una niya, sabi niya nga sa akin,” she said.
The couple then started living a healthy lifestyle preparing their mind and body for their first baby.
“Ako, happy kasi biglang, parang, kumbaga sa game na unlock mo ‘yung next level. So na-excite,” said Jonathan.
“Pinag-usapan naman namin. Very nervous and excited,” Mariah echoed.
According to Mariah, her husband played a vital role in her decision to build a family.
“Super easy [pregnancy]. Noong una scary. Everything was easy, kasi andyan lang siya. Vitamins, siya lahat. Breakfast. Parang wala akong pinoproblema kundi ‘yung pag-carry ng child namin,” she noted.
The two welcomed Baby Alonzo on April 15, 2025.
“Sa amin, addition to the family, not complete the family ‘yung sinasabi namin. Kasi, nung dalawa kami, we feel like, we’re a family already. And then, nung nandyan na siya, parang wow! May mas isasaya pa ‘yung family namin. Talagang sobrang happy talaga namin dalawa,” she stressed.
“He does all the things. One-month siyang nagleave para dun sa newborn stage so siya lang nagche-change lahat ng diapers. Tapos, dalawa kami ‘pag nagpapaligo. He’s so hands-on sa lahat. Mas mabigat na responsibility kasi dalawa niya kaming inaalagaan. Hindi siya nagbabago kung paano siya,” she added.
