One piece of parenting advice actress La La Anthony says she wishes she had heeded sooner is how quickly the years seem to pass.
“When you hear people say things are going to go by really quickly, you think, ‘No, it won’t.’ And then you wake up and your child is 17 and getting ready to go to college. ” says the BMF star. “It’s very difficult for me to even gather my thoughts about it.”
But she says she loves this season of parenting her son, Kiyan Anthony, a high school senior. She considers herself a “cool mom” who knows all the teenage slang. Her favorite is “Liz”, also known as Charisma. She and Kiyan can talk about the fun parts of his life (even listening to the same music!) and have adult conversations. It’s happening,” she says.
In addition to that, she is proud to see Kiyan embracing the morals and values that she has passed on to him.
“I love watching him grow as a young man,” she says. “Also, at the age of 17, you begin to see some of the things you’ve taught your child start to be reflected in the way they interact with the world, the way they interact with people, and the way they answer certain questions. And you’ll feel like, “All these years of drilling this into his head really paid off.”
teach the power of charity
Two great values Anthony has taught his son are empathy and kindness. She did that by taking Kiyan to see her philanthropic work firsthand. That includes ThreeSixty, the La La Land Foundation’s prison reform initiative on New York’s Rikers Island. We provide mentoring, life coaching, legal services, and re-entry tools to men between the ages of 18 and 21 who are incarcerated.
In addition to getting to know the men in the program, Kiyan also worked with his mother on a holiday program to help 400 inner-city children have a Christmas.
“As a parent, no matter what you are trying to teach your child, you need to lead by example,” Anthony says. That (myself). (Kyan) always sees that spirit of giving back and he’s learning it because he sees it. ”
Inheritance of Latin culture
Another thing Anthony has inherited is his Latin culture. Anthony, a Puerto Rican from New York, said he grew up in a large family tradition, especially during the holidays, and he wants Kiyan to understand the rich culture.
“I always do that by keeping him close to his family,” she says. “Everyone comes together, plays Spanish music, eats Spanish food, and embraces all the things that are important to us and our culture.”
At the same time, you will also start to cherish your loved ones. She warned her son to contact his relatives and check on his grandmother and cousins. “It’s important to maintain this close-knit family,” she says. “So I try to do the best job I can in that field because that’s how I was raised.”
engage in self-care
One thing Anthony is still learning is making time for self-care.
“I don’t think I’ve yet figured out the balance between self-care and work. I’m a worker,” Anthony says. In addition to acting, Anthony is also the producer and founder of the hair care brand Inala. “But (I) know that taking time off and taking time for myself is a form of self-care that will help me do better at work and be a better mom.”
But through her experience with plaque psoriasis, she learned the importance of advocating for yourself. About 10 years ago, she started noticing rough, itchy patches appearing on her body, mainly on her ears, scalp, and behind her eyebrows. Her career in front of the camera has left her especially insecure.
After seeing her doctor, she discovered she had an autoimmune disease that affects the skin and affects more than 7 million adults in the United States. Children can also suffer from psoriasis, and genetics play a role.
“Once I found out what it was, I just had to figure out the best way to manage it,” says Anthony, who partnered with Amgen, the biopharmaceutical company that owns Otezla, to raise awareness. “Once I became more knowledgeable and understood what worked for me, I was able to continue doing all the things I love without worrying too much.”
Determining the best treatment for her required trial and error. She was initially told to use shampoo and wash her hair more often than was realistic. “Through communication, you can understand what fits your lifestyle and what is best for you,” Anthony explains.
She also learned to love her skin no matter what.
“I’m the one here showing people that you can still be confident,” she says. “I’m still getting attention, I’m still in front of the camera, I’m happy and I feel good about myself.”
