The Voice Newsweekly continues to celebrate powerful, inspiring women. Let’s see the answers of Sen. Leila De Lima to the 5 Questions that we asked.

At what age did you become a mother? How were you able to handle it?
I became a mom at the age of 23. It was tough because I was still in law school. But I managed to handle it with the help of family and friends, and, most of all, God’s grace.

What has been the hardest period of motherhood for you and how did you deal with it?
The biggest challenge is to overcome what people call “mom guilt.” Since I was a working mom for the most part when Vincent and Kuya Israel were growing up, I was filled with guilt everytime I had to leave them for work.

Kaya sa tuwing magkakasama kami, sinisiguro ko na masusulit namin ang bawat sandali at pagkakataon. Ang pag-aalaga at pagpapalaki sa kanila ay siya ring inspirasyon ko para tuparin ang aking tungkulin bilang lingkod bayan. Ang pagsiguro na may isang lipunan, may isang pamahalaan at mga batas na mangangalaga sa kanilang mga kapakanan at karapatan, gayundin ng bawat kabataan at pamilyang Pilipino.

What, for you, has been the best part of motherhood?
The best part is seeing them grow from this tiny human being to someone capable of giving so much love to the people around them. They grew up so fast that the next thing I knew, they were no longer babies. I would not trade the love I received from my children for anything in this world.

Is there anything you wish you had done differently?
I just wish I spent more time doing simple things together with them, such as going out for dinner or strolling in the mall when we had more time. Simple as these may seem, I know these memories are worth treasuring.

As a mother, what is your biggest dream for your children?
I hope that both of them will live in a society where people care for and respect each other, free of discrimination and violence.

For Vincent, I’m proud that he has already achieved his dream of becoming a lawyer, and I can only hope that he will have successful career while living a happy life with his family.

For Kuya Israel, who has autism, he has been our family’s source of joy, my dream is for him to continue finding joy even in the simplest of things, and that he will always know in his heart that there are so many people who love him.