Musician and podcaster Saab Magalona recently took to social media to share a deeply personal aspect of her parenting journey, revealing the reason behind the scratches on her body.
In a heartfelt post on Instagram, Saab shared that the scratches were the result of caring for her son, Pancho, who has cerebral palsy, a condition that affects movement and balance.
“These scratches tell a story I don’t always share, but they’re very much a part of my parenting journey,” Saab wrote.
She candidly described the emotional and physical challenges she has faced over the years, particularly as a mother to a child still learning to communicate.
“As a mom of a child who’s still learning how to communicate, it’s taken years of literal blood, sweat, and tears to get to this point,” she expressed. “It used to be the norm. Now, it’s thankfully rare. But when it happens, it still hurts. It’s hard not to take it personally but trust me: that never helps.”
Despite years of experience, Saab admitted that incidents still affect her. However, she’s learned ways to navigate those tough moments with compassion and understanding.
“The fastest way to calm him down is to acknowledge: 'I know you didn’t want to hurt me.' I tell him I’m right here and I’m listening,” she said.
Saab went on: “Yes, I still get hurt. Yes, I still get mad, especially when he hurts himself. This is the truth. But here’s another truth: he’s come so far. WE have come so far.”
Saab also offered words of encouragement to fellow parents who may be facing similar challenges.
“If you’re a parent going through something similar, please know you’re not alone. It will get better.”
“Keep assuming competence even if they are nonverbal. Talk to your child. Tell them you’re not scared of them or their feelings. HUG THEM! Let them know they are safe with you. Let’s keep going 🥰,” she expressed.
Fans and followers flooded the comments with messages of admiration and support for Saab’s parenting style.
“I always admire how you and your husband handles parenting. Honestly- I wish I do have that same strength and mindset of seeing things. Thank You for sharing cause it really inspire me / us that we as parents can be mad/sad/upset and parenting is always a journey of learning,” a netizen commented.’
Another one expressed, “You’re a strong momma and you are doing a great job for your children. Keep going, Ma’am. Your son is happy that you’re his mom. ❤️ Blessings!”
Saab and her husband, fellow musician and podcaster Jim Bacarro, are known for their openness about family life. Their eldest son Pancho, who lives with cerebral palsy, has made significant progress over the years. The couple shared updates with followers with glimpses into his development.
Earlier in April, Saab shared a touching video of her guiding Pancho as he walked on a treadmill, an inspiring moment that resonated with many online.
READ: Saab Magalona receives ‘special’ message from late father Francis M
Saab, the daughter of the late Filipino rap icon Francis Magalona and sister to actress Maxene Magalona, has been married to Jim since 2015.
READ: Saab Magalona’s eldest child set to attend regular school
The couple has two sons, Pancho and Vito. Pancho had a twin sister, Luna, who sadly passed away on the same day they were born in 2018.