EXCLUSIVE: Andi Eigenmann On The Blessings, Beauty, And Growing Pains Of Motherhood Amidst COVID-19

The Philippines has tallied more than 12,000 positive cases for COVID-19. As scary as that is, Andi is extremely grateful that Siargao has remained virus free since it first made its way to the country in February. That, however, doesn't mean she can put her guard down, especially for the sake of her daughters.

Speaking of her daughters, there's another layer to this story. Her older daughter Ellie isn't with Andi right now; she's in Manila, and she's been away from mom since Luzon was placed under lockdown in March. The long distance relationship between Andi and her firstborn has been a secondary source of stress for their family, and Andi says that her first line of business is to fly to Manila to see Ellie once inter-island travel opens up again.

"It’s such a scary thing because to me. It’s not just about making sure my children are safe physically. I also want to make sure that I check up on Ellie’s emotional well-being, among other things. And not being together physically make that much harder because I can’t really tell what’s going on in her mind, and how she’s doing mentally and emotionally," Andi says. The otherwise inseparable pair has mostly kept in touch via video calls, but for a mother and daughter team used to spending time together, in each other's arms, seeing each other on screens barely makes up for things.

And then, of course, there's little Lilo. What a time to be a mom to a nine-month-old infant! It's a crazy time to raise a young family, but these were the cards Andi was dealt, and she's taking things in stride. It's one of the few times, too, that a child's obliviousness to their surroundings becomes their most powerful protection.

"I have two more human beings to worry and think about other than myself. But, I’d like to look at the bright side of everything and be grateful that I am able to give [Lilo] all the basic needs in order to raise a healthy nine-month-old," Andi shares. It's plain to see how easy it is for panic to take over in a situation like Andi's, but she's choosing to model and practice calmness and level-headedness instead. Worrying has its benefits—it keeps moms' protective instincts sharp—but too much of it can also distract one from the blessings of a situation, the silver lining of things.

And yes—that definitely means that there have been blessings for Andi and her family amidst the chaos. For one thing, she's discovered new things about herself, things that help her focus on the light and bright side of life. "I actually have enough elbow grease to bake a cake without a stand mixer and just a toaster oven. Or that I am not too old to learn things I’ve always wanted to do like a proper handstand," she reveals with that recognizable playfulness of a genuinely laidback gal.

All in all, this has certainly challenged Andi's notion of parenting. "I realized that the most of our time as a family is spent outdoors, just among nature, and all the activities we do include being outside. So, it kinda feels like I have to come up with different ideas and ways to become a parent again," she reveals. Staying indoors with limited activities has definitely pushed her creative boundaries (and made her long for the beach which definitely feels so far, yet so near at the moment), but if the sacrifice means keeping her family safe from the infection, she'll do what it takes.

There's a third person in Andi's Siargao life that need to be mentioned, too: her partner and Lilo's dad, Philmar! According to Andi, he's been an amazing partner all throughout this experience. She laughs because the otherwise relaxed-surfer-become-responsible-dad has been uber-cautious about his family, consistently making sure that Andi and Lilo are kept far away from any and all dangers. More than Andi, Philmar has endearingly been more careful and eagle-eyed about all things related to their safety.

Already envisioning a life after COVID-19, Andi knows what to say to her kids if and when the time comes they ask their mom about this time in their lives: "That things will most likely not be the same anymore, but things will be ok eventually."

The truth, however, is that that time is still a long way from now—for the Philippines, and for the rest of the world. These days Andi instead finds contentment in her daily routine: yoga first thing in the morning, then breakfast which is really more of a fun, family ritual than a quick meal. "It’s my fave part of everyday because Lilo is old enough now to enjoy all the healthy food we eat as well. We’ve also been watching her learn and develop new skills day by day!" she describes.

And there's another perk to Andi's mandatory stay-at-home setup: she gets to watch Lilo grow, day by day, even more closely than before. This mom sees her daughter get bigger, stronger, become more curious and learn new things each day, which, in the end, makes quarantine a real joy.

Who would have thought such beautiful things could come out of a crisis? Asked what she's most grateful for today, Andi doesn't hesitate. She answers, "The gift of life, and the fact that my family, specially my two girls, are healthy and safe."

And while she waits for life to return to what it was—a life defined by endless afternoons of surfing and homemade breakfast by the beach—Andi is off to sneaking in workouts while her little one sleeps, and testing her hand in the kitchen as she experiments with new island delights for her whole family to enjoy. It's not so bad, after all. Life—and especially being a mom in our lives' "new normal"—can still be beautiful. Andi is happy to prove this to anyone who doubts it.