“Being a parent is never easy,” ang karaniwang dialogue ng first time parents. Lalo na ngayong may pandemya pa rin at hindi pa alam kung kailan ba talaga matatapos.
Madalas din nating naririnig na adjusting to married life is indeed one big milestone, pero welcoming another human being to the world is a totally different story.
Para sa mag-asawang sina former PBB housemate Slater Young and social media personality Kryz Uy-Young, ang kanilang bagong role sa kalagitnaan ng pandemic ang nagdala sa kanila sa another level bilang mga magulang.
Nang malaman nilang magkakaroon sila ng baby habang may banta ng COVID-19 late last year, tulad ng karamihang mga magulang, natakot sila para sa kaligtasan ng kanilang magiging anak. “There was a lot of anxiety and uncertainty,” pag-amin ni Slater na naalala pa kung paano naging limited ng pagpapa-check up ng misis niya na kadalasan ay nasa teleconsultations sila ‘pag may kailangang tanungin sa OB Gyne ng misis. “We only went to see our OB when we had scheduled ultrasound checkups. Two weeks before giving birth, we both took PCR tests and rapid tests to make sure we were COVID-19 free when Scott came,” dagdag naman ni Kryz.
Hanggang sa manganak na nga si Kryz noong June. Wala rin silang ibang inasahan sa pag-aalaga sa baby kahit gustong-gusto nilang magpatulong sa kanilang parents. “We would have wanted our parents to be here to help us with Scott, but with all the COVID-19 cases surprising us here in Cebu, we all decided it would be better and safer to stay apart for now,” says Slater and Kryz though nakakahingi naman sila ng advices virtually. “There’s a lot of trial and error because of that, and we keep adjusting and learning daily.”
Six months na si Scott sa kasalukuyan at adjusted na sila bilang mga bagong magulang kahit na nga andito pa rin ang virus.
Nakabalik na rin sila sa normal nilang routine – cleaning the house, cooking and attending to work online, and making sure they have a little bit of me time, na importante para sa kanila. Hindi rin nila kinakalimutang mag-work out.
At kahit medyo paranoid pa sila, ini-enjoy nila ang pag-aalaga sa kanilang anak.
“Because we can’t predict the outcome of this pandemic, or when it will end, it’s best to play it on the safe side. I always say, the enemy is one step ahead of us because it is invisible. We need to be extra safe and get protected in all areas we can control,” pahayag ni Kryz sa isang interview.
And with a future full of uncertainties, naniniguro sila na covered ang lahat ng aspeto ng kanilang magiging future lalo na ng anak nila. “When you work in an environment like online content creation, income comes on a per project basis. It’s never steady and you never know how much you will be earning next month, next year, or five years down the line. It’s super important to be on top of your finances, especially when you have a family to support,” Kryz quips.
At dito sakto ang AIA Philam Life - AIA Med-Assist, na ang benefits ay specifically for children. Ito ay life insurance plan with medical benefit rider designed to address medical expenses due to hospitalization of 0 to 17-year-olds.
Yup, ang AMA Med-Assist o ay makakatulong sa mga magulang ng mga bata na protektahan ang kanilang mga anak at pananalapi laban sa mga panganib na nauugnay sa kalusugan at bibigyan sila ng kapayapaan ng isip habang nakatuon sila sa kanilang mga pinagkakaabalahang trabaho. Covered nito ang 90% ng in-patient hospitalization at iba pang gastos sa medisina ng mga bata.
“We have definitely been thinking more long term when it comes to our savings and investments. It’s not just about us anymore,” sabi ng mag-asawa na nakikita sa kanilang mga social media account kung paano nila nae-enjoy ang pagiging mga magulang.