AT 30, Tuesday Vargas is too young to be a cougar. And she doesn’t need to prey on hot young boys—because she is perfectly happy with musician Coy Placido, who she married last year in a beautiful ceremony in Boracay.
But she and Jules Cobb have more in common than you think.
Jules is a cool mom who believes in the importance of being a friend to her son—and Tuesday feels exactly the same way. “If you’re friends with your kids, they can tell you everything. Walang fear, walang apprehension. Gusto kong maging involved sa lahat ng ginagawa niya. Basta full support.”
And she wants things to stay the same even when he becomes a teenager. “Feeling ko pag-alis ni Kaya ng bahay, “O eto pambili mo ng yosi, eto ang condom mo, eto ang pambayad ng gas.” Ganun ako. Kesa itago pa. Mas mabuting sa akin na lang sabihin. Pero syempre lahat yan regulated. Kailangan lahat yan alam ko.”
That doesn’t mean she isn’t strict. “At certain moments you have to put your foot down. Ikaw pa rin yung parental unit, ikaw pa rin yung mas matanda.”
At nine years old, Tuesday’s son Kaya already has his share of responsibilities. “We let him do simple chores like setting the table para matuto siya. He is responsible for his own things, he folds his clothes, he knows how to pack his overnight kit.”
Tuesday says her parents inspire her as a mother. “Sa pagiging provider, it’s my mom talaga who’s our peg. Sobrang sipag niya. Nagtatrabaho siya pero at the same time nakakagawa pa siya ng stuff sa bahay. Idol. Magaling siya, the best siya. With my dad, ang napickup ko naman sa kanya yung pagiging very strict sa academics. ’Pag exam siya mismo nagrereview.”
Tuesday does the same with Kaya. “I make mock tests for Kaya. On set, gumagawa ako ng practice exams. Iee-mail ko kay Coy tapos ipi-print niya, sasagutan ni Kaya tapos ichecheck ko pag uwi ko. Team work talaga. Dapat kahit busy ka you always spend time for those things.”
Tuesday has five shows on TV5—Locomoc U, Talentadong Pinoy, Swerte Swerte Lang, Katok Sa Kusina and Happier Together—along with other hosting and acting gigs. Her band Top Junk is also busy working on their new album. But she always has time for Kaya. She enjoys watching movies and playing video games with her son. “It prompts yung mga tanong niya kasi minsan nakakatawa. “Mommy what is lust?” Magtataka ka, saan mo napanood yan? Tapos naglalaro rin kami ng PS3. Pag nagja-jam kami ni Coy nakatambay yun, nanonood. Sanay siya sa adults, pero okay rin siya with other children. Nakakatawa siyang bata, parang matanda magsalita. Pero baby ko pa rin kasi pagnasasaktan yun, “Mommy!” Sa akin pa rin tumatakbo.”
One of the things Tuesday loves the most about being a mom is seeing her son’s take on things. “You get to share another person’s perspective. Iba talaga mag-isip ang bata. It keeps you vibrant, it inspires me to do my work especially sa comedy. Nakakatawa talaga ang mga bata lalo na si Kaya, kasi sa school siya talaga yung class clown, siya yung life of the party.”
Kaya understands his mom’s job. “Sobrang sanay na siya. Lumaki siya talaga sa studio. Natutuwa siya pag napapanood niya ako. Tatanungin ko, “Kaya am I funny?” “Sometimes.” Chinachallenge niya ako.”
Tuesday has a lot of dreams for Kaya but the biggest is for him to grow up to be open-minded. “Like every other mom, yung makatapos talaga ng school, not necessarily with flying colors, pero it would help kung with honors sya ga-graduate. I want him to grow up happy whatever he decides to do. Andun lang ako, kahit ano pang gusto nyang mangyari sa buhay niya. And I want him to be an understanding person, to accept lahat ng tao, kahit anong gender preference, kahit anong religion. We’re training Kaya to be open to everyone. I want him to be equipped to face anything.”
Tuesday says she can also relate to Jules Cobb’s family setup. “Yung conventional na concept ng family matagal nang dapat basag yun kasi iba-iba na ang shape ng families. May dalawang mommy, dalawang daddy. Parang si Kaya, dalawa ang daddy. Yung isang PTA nila pinahiya ako ni Kaya. “I’m so lucky because I have two daddies.” Tapos next frame lahat ng nanay nakatingin sa akin.”
Like Jules, Tuesday has no issues with her ex hanging out with her son and her husband. “Ganun yung family namin. Yung girlfriend ni Robert (Kaya’s dad) nakikita ko, tapos yung nanay ng anak niya barkada ko, si Allan nagse-stay sa bahay minsan, minsan si Kaya natutulog sa bahay ng girlfriend ni Robert tapos nandun si Robert. Cool lang lahat. Minsan gusto mag-inuman ni Robert at ni Coy tapos nasa gitna ako. Nakakatawa. Kasi dapat ganun na yung pag-iisip. Extended family.”