Melissa Ricks’ Advice To Moms: ‘You Have To Have Boundaries. Love Yourself, Too’

• Melissa Ricks has always been vocal about self-love and self-care. In a previous interview with SmartParenting.com.ph, the single mom shared that she was on a path to finally accepting herself after a long time of self-doubt.

  As a celebrity vlogger, her motherhood journey has become an open book. When she recently got engaged to her non-showbiz boyfriend, Michael Macatangay, many of her followers who are also moms shared her happiness.

  But Melissa admits her journey hasn’t always been easy, especially because she describes herself as a “people pleaser.” Looking back at her old self, she shares that because she wanted people to be happy with her, she put herself on the line many times. “May nawawala sa’yo,” she says in a Facebook Live interview for Physiogel Philippines.

  

  Melissa shares what it’s like being a single mom to her daughter, Kiera.

  PHOTO BY Courtesy of Physiogel Philippines

  She finally reached a point where she didn’t want to be that person anymore. “I wanted to be brave — I’m not getting any younger — I wanted to step up my game because I have a daughter,” the mom shares.

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  This realization made her a better person. According to Melissa, “It made me step out of situations I’m really not comfortable in, and now I feel more confident, happier that I make my own decisions. I’m not afraid to say no anymore.”

  Melissa wants to remind fellow moms who are going through the same situation as her that it’s okay to put yourself first. “The ability to be kind… loving, and compassionate is good but you have to have your boundaries. You have to love yourself, too. You have to stand up for yourself,” she says.

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  It’s also important to have a good support system. That for her is close friend and fellow celebrity mom Say Alonzo. Both of them are part of the Mommy Squad with Ara Mina.

  

  Melissa shares, “She has no yaya… very hands-on but with two kids. Superhero talaga siya for me. Even though she has all these going on in her life, she takes the time to help me out pa rin. I don’t know how she does it!”

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  She adds, “She’s just someone I really look up to and I wish I can be more like her.”

  

  As a single mom, one of the many realizations Melissa had was that “no one is going to make myself prouder than myself.” Moms are guilty of overthinking and trying to become the perfect parent, but Melissa assures it’s okay to make mistakes.

  She also acknowledges that being a mom is challenging so it’s important to carve out me-time. “I really try to get a little bit of time for myself in a day. It’s almost impossible — I get 5 to 10 minutes — but I try to get a little bit of exercise in, I try to eat healthy, and I take my vitamins.”

  She adds, “One thing that I love to do is to take care of my skin. When you feel beautiful on the outside and in the inside, ang sarap ng feeling. Nawawala ‘yung stress mo.”

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  Watch Melissa’s full interview at the Physiogel Facebook page here. Click here to know Melissa’s reasons for embracing her imperfections.

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