Tag: Motherhood

Posted in Life, Meetings, Miles, Parenting

The School Run Sprint: Guarding My Peace Between the Drops and Pickups

Posted on by sherwinelaine

As a remote professional, I’ve realized my most valuable currency isn’t actually money. It’s focused time.

When the kids are home, my brain is permanently split in two. One half is trying to solve a project bottleneck while the other is subconsciously listening for a “Mommy!” from the next room. It’s exhausting. That’s why the moment I drop them off at school at 7:00 AM, the clock starts. I have a precious window to be 100% Sherwin the Professional, and I’ve learned the hard way not to waste it just reacting to emails.

I’ve started using a method called the 30-30-30 rule to keep me on track, but the real magic is in how I protect the different phases of my day, especially with a split schedule.

The Fortress of Deep Work

The hours between 7:30 AM and my first pickup at noon are sacred. My brain is sharpest right after that morning school run, so I treat those hours like a fortress. This is when I tackle the “frogs,” those big, intimidating strategy projects or writing tasks that need my full heart.

During this block, I am essentially a ghost. My notifications are muted, my phone is in the other room, and my inbox stays closed. I finally realized that if I start my day answering everyone else’s “urgent” requests, I’ll never actually get to my own “important” goals before that 12:00 PM alarm goes off.

Syncing the Meetings and the Midday Shift

With one child finished at noon and another at early in the afternoon, the rest of my day is all about the “sweet spot.” As much as I can, I batch my meetings into the block after that first pickup. Since I’m usually coordinating with teams across Southeast Asia, I’m always hunting for the time zone gap where we can all be online at once.

Grouping these calls together saves me from the context switching that used to drain my energy. It’s so much easier to stay in meeting mode for a solid block than to have 15 minute calls scattered throughout the day, constantly breaking my focus just as I’m getting into a groove.

The Clean Break

The final sprint from the time we are back home from school is when I shift into what I call my Admin Hour. This is when I clear the inbox, schedule my posts, and finalize the logistics for the next project.

This block of hours is my closing ceremony. It allows me to shut my laptop with a genuine sense of completion for the day.

At this stage of my life, I’ve realized I just don’t have the patience for busywork. I want my work to be impactful so that my time with my family can be intentional.

Time blocking isn’t about being a robot or living by a rigid timer. It’s about building a fence around the things that matter. It’s what allows me to work hard for a project and still be the person who is 100% present when I’m sitting at the dinner table that night.

Posted in #featured, Meetings, Miles

The 24-Hour Jakarta Hustle: Meetings, Miles, and Motherhood in Motion

Posted on by sherwinelaine

There is a very specific kind of adrenaline that comes with being a remote professional in Southeast Asia. One minute I’m tucking my kids into bed in Bulacan, and the next I’m boarding a red-eye flight to Jakarta. My office for the day isn’t a cubicle or a home desk. Instead, it’s a fast-paced sequence of airport lounges, event stages, and hotel lobbies.

People often ask me, “Sherwin, how do you manage it all without losing your mind?” The truth is that I don’t try to balance it anymore. I just integrate it. Here is what a typical 24-hour project trip looks like for me at 40.

The Art of the Red-Eye Sync

Because the Manila to Jakarta route relies so heavily on red-eye flights, my day starts while the rest of the world is still dark. I usually arrive in Jakarta in the early morning of the event day and I have to hit the ground running immediately.

I’ve learned to treat my transit time as my most productive time. You will often find me in the airport lounge with a coffee in hand, attending a final sync meeting with my team just minutes before my boarding group is called. I am also endlessly thankful for the airlines that now provide reliable Wi-Fi. Being able to stay in touch with my team at 30,000 feet means that by the time I land, my inbox is clear and I can be 100% present for the event itself.

Efficiency is My Love Language

When you only have 24 hours on the ground, you don’t have time for baggage carousels or heavy suitcases. I travel incredibly light, packing only the exact number of clothes I need because, honestly, I don’t have the time to overthink a wardrobe. I need a uniform that works as hard as I do.

While Jakarta is my destination, my heart always beats a little faster for Changi Airport in Singapore. Its efficiency is really the benchmark for my life. Everything there is seamless and fast, which is exactly what a working mother on a deadline needs.

The Village Behind the Miles

I could never manage these miles without the incredible support system I have back home. Success is never a solo sport. Weeks before I leave, the preparation begins. I tell my kids that Mommy is going away for work so they can visualize the journey with me.

I am so lucky to have a husband who truly steps up and supports my role. He manages the fort and handles the daily rhythm of the house so I can focus on my professional goals without worry. Alongside him, my mother-in-law is always there to look after the kids, and knowing they are safe and loved allows me to give my all to my project.

The FaceTime Ritual

No matter how exhausted I am after an event or how early my return flight is the next morning, my FaceTime call is non-negotiable. Connecting with my husband and hearing my kids talk about their day at school is the reset button I need.

Hearing about a math test or a playtime story is the best way to decompress after a high-stakes day. It reminds me that while my work takes me across oceans, my heart never actually leaves home.

Turning 40 has taught me that you don’t have to choose between a global career and being a present mother. You just need a great village, a light suitcase, and a very strong Wi-Fi signal.

Posted in #featured, Parenting

Teaching the Power of “No”

Posted on by sherwinelaine

As parents, my husband and I are deeply grateful that we can provide well for our kids. There’s a special kind of joy in seeing their faces light up when we give them something they’ve been wishing for.

But over the years, I’ve realized that saying no is just as important as saying yes.

Because I don’t want to raise children who believe that everything they want should automatically be theirs—just because we can afford it. I want them to learn the value of waiting, choosing wisely, and appreciating what they already have.

It’s not about depriving them.
It’s about teaching them that not everything you can buy, you should.

That happiness doesn’t always come from having more—
but from knowing when you already have enough. 🌸

Posted in #featured

From Mom Mode to Maker Mode: How Digital Crafting Products Changed My Creative Life

Posted on by sherwinelaine

If you’ve been following my journey, you probably know I’ve been deep into the world of designing and crafting for years through Reilly’s Closet PH. What started as a creative outlet turned into a small business built on passion, glue guns, and countless rolls of washi tape.

As a full-time working mom, crafting was my way of bringing a little magic into birthdays, school events, and everyday life with my daughters. But let’s be honest—between work calls, errands, and motherhood, there were times I just couldn’t keep up with it all.

I needed a way to keep things beautiful, meaningful, and manageable. So I started creating digital versions of the essentials I usually handcrafted—printable invites, chip bags, planners, coloring books and more. Things I could design once and reuse, or tweak quickly for a different theme. That simple shift didn’t just save me time—it opened up a whole new way of sharing what I love with other moms.

Why Digital Crafting?

I realized that not every mom has time to DIY everything from scratch—but that doesn’t mean we don’t want thoughtful, Pinterest-worthy celebrations. We just need the process to be simpler.

That’s why I created a collection of digital craft templates and printables that are easy to use, quick to customize, and designed with real mom-life in mind.

Inside my shop, you’ll find:

  • Printable party kits with matching decor elements
  • Editable invitations you can customize on Canva
  • invitation templates, gift tags, and milestone cards
  • and more

Everything is downloadable and ready for you to print at home or at your go-to shop—no design skills needed.

Want to Start Selling Your Own Digital Products?

I get asked a lot: “How did you start selling your designs?”
The truth is, it began with making things for my kids. Over time, I saw how helpful these ready-to-use templates were for other moms, too.

If you’re someone who enjoys crafting, designing, or even just organizing cute birthday details in Canva, you already have what it takes to get started. And if you ever want to pick my brain about how to turn your designs into products, I’d be more than happy to share what I’ve learned—just send me a message!

For the Creative Mom in You

Whether you’re planning a celebration or thinking about starting a creative side hustle, I hope what I’ve built can help you. Crafting should bring joy, not stress—and if a download can save you two hours of cutting, designing, and stressing? That’s a win in my book.

Take a peek at my shop here: Sherwin Hilario Digitals
And if you ever want to talk about turning your creativity into something more, I’m just a message away.

Let’s keep making magic—one printable at a time. 💛

Posted in #featured, Life

An Open Letter to the Women Who Feel Tired, Reliable, and Invisible

Posted on by sherwinelaine

I’m just a girl who once dreamed of becoming successful. Not in the glossy, magazine-cover kind of way, but in a way that felt honest and true. I dreamed of a life where I could do meaningful work, love and be loved, and be present for the people who mattered most.

I never aimed to be the perfect wife or mom. I never felt the pressure to live up to that title. But I did, and still do, want to be there for every milestone. I want to be the one cheering loudly during school performances, preparing their favorite comfort meals on tough days, and having the kind of home that always feels safe and warm. I want to make sure my family has everything they need, not just in material things, but in love, support, and time.

In my mind, my ideal day is simple. I’d start it by driving my daughters to school, music playing softly in the background as we chat about their day ahead. I’d come home, fit in a quick workout, then savor a quiet breakfast while mapping out the day’s priorities. Work would be purposeful, with enough breathing space to think, create, and contribute without constant chaos. And in the afternoon, I’d fetch the kids again, winding down the day with unhurried conversations over dinner and quiet, present time spent with my husband and kids.

I don’t take for granted the trust others place in me. Being seen as “the reliable one” is something I appreciate. It means people believe I can be counted on. But I need to admit this, out loud and without guilt: I don’t want to be the default person everyone turns to for help, to vent, to unload frustrations. I don’t want to carry other people’s emotional weights just because I’m capable. It drains me. It’s heavy. And some days, I’m already carrying more than I let on.

And there’s something else I’ve had to learn the hard way. No matter how honestly I speak, no matter how vulnerable I try to be, there will always be people who choose not to believe me. That hurts more than I often let on. But I’ve come to understand that I cannot rely on anyone else to validate my truth. Because I know the whole story. I know the intentions behind my actions, the silent battles I’ve fought, the weight of what I carry behind closed doors. And that has to be enough.

This isn’t me turning away from people. I’ll always be here for those I love. But I’m learning to protect my peace. To draw boundaries not out of selfishness, but out of self-preservation. Because I deserve to feel light too. I deserve to feel whole.

If you’ve ever felt the same, I see you. Let’s remind each other that it’s okay to choose rest over responsibility sometimes, to say “not today” without shame, and to be both reliable and soft with ourselves.

After all, I’m just a girl who had a dream, and that dream includes not losing myself along the way.

💬 I’d Love to Hear from You

Have you ever felt like the default strong one? Do you find yourself constantly holding space for others, even when you need support too?

Leave a comment below or share this post with someone who needs to hear they’re not alone.