Vogue Voices: Mindful Motherhood Is a Journey Through Grace, Grief, and Growth

This Mother’s Day, Teresa Herrera writes on the true meaning of mindful motherhood, and how it is defined by the smallest moments: a glance, a laugh, a quiet gesture.

This essay is a part of the series Vogue Voices, Vogue Philippines’ series of personal essays on memory, culture, moments, identity, family, and community.

The past two months have cracked me open in ways I never imagined possible.

When I heard the words Stage 2 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma connected to my nine-year-old son, time stopped. I remember the sterile scent of the hospital, the heavy silence that followed the diagnosis, and the way my body instinctively wrapped itself around his—like a shield, like a prayer. In that moment, the noise of the world disappeared. All that mattered was him. His breath. His heartbeat. His spirit.

Motherhood, already the most profound journey of my life, transformed overnight into a practice of radical presence. I used to think mindfulness was something you cultivated in yoga class or on a silent retreat. But now, mindfulness lives in the smallest moments: a shared glance while holding his hand during chemo, the sound of his laughter in between hospital visits, the courage in his eyes when he says, “I’m okay, Mama.”

This experience has not only reshaped how I mother. It has reshaped who I am.

I have always believed that our children choose us, that there’s a soul contract we sign long before we meet them in this life. My son and I, we’re walking a karmic path together. His challenge has become my deepest teacher. His resilience shows me what true strength looks like. His vulnerability reminds me to stay soft. And through his illness, I’ve come to understand something sacred: this is our shared initiation.

Gone are the days when I worry about the “perfect” appearances or screen time limits. Instead, I find myself asking: Was I fully present with him today? Did I see him not just with my eyes, but with my heart? Did I allow joy to sneak in today?

Gratitude has become my compass. I thank the universe for every clear scan, every hearty meal he finishes, every night he sleeps peacefully. But I also thank it for the tears, the doubt, and the sleepless nights. Because they’ve carved deeper compassion into my being and reminded me that love, real love, isn’t about control or perfection. It’s about surrender. It’s about showing up again and again, no matter how uncertain the road ahead.

Motherhood is not something I take lightly. It is, without question, the one thing I want to get right in this lifetime. Not in the Pinterest-perfect sense, but in the soulful, grounded, mindful sense. I want my son to know that he is seen, that he is enough, that he is loved beyond measure—not because of what he overcomes, but because of who he already is.

In the quiet spaces between hospital visits and healing routines, I’ve found a new rhythm. One that honors the present. One that listens closely. One that chooses connection over correction. My son’s illness has stripped away the excess and returned me to the essence: love as presence. Motherhood as meditation.

This is mindful motherhood.

This is our sacred journey.

And every breath we take together is a blessing I no longer take for granted.

Teresa Herrera-Anthony is a TV host, actress, model, art consultant, and yoga teacher. Presently, she acts as the founder and creative director of Collective 88 Art Company, and the organizer of the Global Mala Project in Manila.