Love Is A Mommy: Laureen Jamero-Lejarde on Breastfeeding, Balance and Being Brave

Boholana mom and breastfeeding advocate Laureen “Love” Jamero-Lejarde shows that it’s possible to nurture family, advocacy and self—without spreading too thin.

What is life without love? For Laureen “Love” Jamero-Lejarde, the answer is a life half-lived. 

A Boholana mom and community builder, Love doesn’t just talk empowerment—she practices it. To reach moms across Bohol, she created the Facebook page Love Is a Mommy, a space born from her involvement with Breastfeeding Bohol and Boholana Mommy Tribe. Her goal is simple: help moms with real-life hacks, honest conversations and a reminder that no one has to do motherhood (or breastfeeding) alone.

“There’s no manual to motherhood,” she says. “We learn in moments—resting when we’re tired, dressing up not just for special occasions but for everyday life and giving yourself room to breathe when everything else feels like a mess.” 

For Love, lazy or overwhelming days don’t mean failure. It just means choosing not to pressure herself into being the ‘perfect mom.’ Even if it means leaving piles of dishes undone, she chooses family time instead. “I celebrate small wins as much as big ones. I always look for the silver lining, so I’m generous with rewards—for myself and for my family.”

The Day Everything Changed

When Love gave birth to her firstborn in Manila, she expected uncertainty especially after a C-section. Instead, she found strength in the hands of a hospital team who supported her. Doctors made latching non-negotiable and nurses religiously checked on her every two hours—guiding, teaching and reassuring until she got it right. These professionals stayed long enough to guide her through latching, swaddling and burping.

“It changed everything,” Love remembers. “Their care helped me in my recovery and showed me what every mother deserves: real guidance and a community to lean on.” And because of that valuable experience, Love decided to pay it forward and reshape her advocacy. “If I didn’t get that help, I might not have continued,” Love admits. “That early tribe mattered.”

When she moved back to Bohol, fellow mommies and breastfeeding mentors like Dr. Suzette Redillas and Janice Bustamante-Aton drew her into a growing circle of advocates. “I kept going because I had a tribe,” she says, crediting this circle of mothers who answered questions even at 2 a.m. and cheered every latch. “Breastfeeding is physical, emotional, mental, spiritual work. No one should have to do it alone.”

Choosing One River at a Time

Love has always had big dreams—her childhood answer to “What do you want to be?” was always Miss Universe with a beaming, confident smile. However, she clarifies, “it’s not for the glamor, but for the platform.” She admired the power of women who stood on that stage, using their voice for causes bigger than themselves.

Over the years, her ambitions shifted—doctor, lawyer, even diplomat—but two dreams never wavered: becoming Miss Universe and becoming a mom. But for Love, dreams don’t have to be abandoned—they just need to be chosen, one river at a time. “You can’t excel on the road you chose if you’re still looking back,” she says. Motherhood, she realized, gave her the platform she had long imagined. “All my advocacies found their home in motherhood,” she says. “This is the one role that I know I can do well.” 

Today she balances many roles—registered nurse and lactation educator at Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital, Director at Fire Recruitment Australia, JCI Boholana Kisses member, freediver and home cook—but she carries them with clarity, not guilt. “If you have to choose between two rivers, carefully make that choice and then don’t regret letting go of the other,” she says. That same clarity shapes her marriage: no score-keeping, no reopening old arguments. “If it’s done, it’s done. We protect the relationship over being right.”

The Home Culture: Honest, Happy, Human

At home, Love and her husband focus on living the values they hope their children will grow up with.

• Rest without guilt. For Love, taking breaks is not weakness but wisdom. “You can’t give from an empty vessel,” she says. When she feels close to feeling overwhelmed, she steps back to recharge. That way, she can come back calmer and more present.
  
• Talk to kids with respect. Instead of baby talk, she spoke to her children in full words and real conversations. The result? Their vocabulary grew quickly, but more importantly, they learned trust. Talking to them like people made them feel heard and valued.
  
• Screens with balance. In their home, gadgets don’t belong behind closed doors. Devices stay in shared spaces and screen time is usually spent together. By keeping it visible and co-viewed, the family makes technology a tool, not a crutch.
  
• Money with meaning. Love and her husband also teach financial awareness in simple, practical ways. When they go out, they set budgets, explain trade-offs and encourage their kids to make choices. Wants aren’t just given; they’re earned. And when their son makes a smart choice or saves, he’s praised. “He feels part of the team—and he always is.”

And when energy runs low, the family calls for what they lovingly label a “lazy day.” On those days, the rules are simple: no visitors, no chores, no dishes—just rest. Sometimes it means sleeping in, sometimes it’s lounging together in pajamas and sometimes it’s simply doing nothing at all. 

For Love, these pauses are not signs of weakness but of rest and wisdom. “Reset is part of the routine, not a failure of it,” she says. By slowing down, the family recharges, reconnects and returns to “business as usual” with lighter hearts and more energy to give.

Motherhood Is Not the End of Fun

Many believe that motherhood means sacrificing and putting everything else aside–career, passion, even identity. But it shouldn’t be that way. Real motherhood is about finding balance and making space for your family while also keeping a spark of your own.

“It’s about showing your kids that joy, purpose and self-love can exist alongside care and responsibility,” she explains. When children see their parents doing things they love—whether it’s a hobby, an adventure, or simply dressing up for the weekend—they learn that happiness isn’t selfish. It’s part of being whole.

“Don’t let motherhood be the end of your fun,” Love emphasizes. “Fun doesn’t disappear—it simply takes a new shape.”

Just as important as fun is finding the right support system. Love spends late-night feeds replying to messages in mom forums. Her first line is always the same: “Mom, you’re doing a good job.” Only then does she offer advice. “We hear suggestions better after we feel seen,” she explains. Her gentle rule: if you don’t have anything kind to say to a new mom, don’t say it.

When home support is limited, she encourages moms to look elsewhere without guilt. “There’s no shame in seeking guidance outside your circle. If your current tribe can’t help, find one that can.”

From these moments—choosing joy, seeking support and giving herself permission to rest—Love has shaped a philosophy that grounds her every day. It isn’t complicated, but it’s powerful: a set of rules that remind her how to show up as a mother, a wife and a woman. They’re not rigid commandments, but guideposts—practical, compassionate truths she returns to when life feels overwhelming.

Eight Gentle Rules She Lives By

1. Love yourself first and best.

You can’t pour from an empty cup. Taking care of yourself—physically, mentally and emotionally—means you’ll have more to give to your family.

2. Motherhood isn’t the end of fun.

Keep a spark that’s yours and share it with your children. When they see you enjoying life, they learn that joy is worth pursuing too.

3. Even great decisions aren’t worth a war.

Not every choice is worth fighting over. Sometimes the healthiest decision is protecting the relationship instead of proving a point.

4. Don’t give kids everything.

Let them work, wait and even compromise. Effort builds gratitude and gratitude shapes character.

5. Rest without guilt.

A tired, honest mama is better than one pretending everything’s fine. Breaks aren’t weakness—they’re what make you stronger.

6. Choose your tribe wisely.

Surround yourself with people who lift you up. The energy you keep is the energy your children will grow into.

7. Talk to kids like respected humans.

Skip the baby talk. Speak with honesty and respect. It teaches them language, trust and that their voice matters.

8. Appreciate generously.

Celebrate the small things out loud. Every “good job” or “thank you” fills your child’s love bucket—and yours, too.

What “Love Is a Mommy” Means

The page name isn’t a pun; it’s a conviction. Mother is love and love is mother; the two belong together. Love’s advocacy is to turn that idea into practice—one latch, one message, one “good job, mom” at a time.

“I hope this story reaches even one mother who needs to hear it,” she says. “Because support multiplies. If you help one mom, you help a family. And when families thrive, communities do, too.”

Because at the heart of it all, Love is a Mommy—and Mommy is Love.

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