SacredSpace: The Power of Holding Space

Seven mothers bare to Modern Parenting how they’ve unlocked strength and healing for their families, thanks to a program designed for self-reflection.

Motherhood is often viewed as a journey of giving, yet it can also be about receiving—particularly healing, grace, and the space to rediscover one’s self. This is what SacredSpace, a transformative program designed for personal growth and healing, empowers individuals to do. It provides tools for self-reflection, emotional resilience, and connection, allowing participants to hold space for themselves and others.

For mothers, this concept becomes particularly powerful. Parenting requires presence, patience, and love, but it also demands that caregivers show up for themselves. In creating this balance, mothers can cultivate a home environment where healing and growth flourish—not just for their children but for their entire family.

Kimi Lu, founder of the SacredSpace Program, started her life coaching journey with a desire of wanting a coach (not a shrink) for herself, but not being able to find one. She eventually found what she desperately needed and it led her to her life mission of working with others. Today, she has helped hundreds of people reignite their inner light and find their paths.

Below are the stories of seven SacredSpace certified mothers whose own journeys of self-awareness, healing, and holding space have rippled outward to shape stronger, more compassionate families.

Paulie Romano-Dürig – Parenting with courage

Paulie Romano-Dürig’s parenting philosophy is rooted in courage, authenticity, and self-compassion. As a trans woman raising three children—twins Lilou and Manon, 17, and Enzo, 11, —Paulie has faced societal challenges that have taught her to renegotiate the spaces she occupies and find strength in vulnerability.

“For me, parenting is reparenting,” Paulie explains. “Every moment with your child is an opportunity to be grateful for what you have received and to give what you did not receive growing up.” This duality—honoring the past while creating a better present—guides her approach to motherhood.

Paulie’s honesty about her struggles has become a cornerstone of her parenting style. “Parenting is messy; there are times when I don’t know what I’m doing,” she shares. “When those moments arise, my inner self-critic takes over. To counter this, I shower myself with positive language: You are enough. You did what you thought was best for the situation. You are learning from this situation. Stay calm and don’t forget to breathe.”

Equipping her children by holding space for their thoughts and feelings has allowed Paulie to plan ahead. “One day, your child will have a vision of their own—they will ask tough questions and challenge your beliefs. Some of their questions will be easy to defend, others will be hard to answer. But what they will look for is not the right answer, but a glimpse of their parents as human.”

For Paulie, healing is essential for everyone, not just parents. “Because we all aspire to live a full, satisfied, and happy life,” she explains. Through self-compassion and bravery, Paulie has created a home where honesty, gratitude, and love take center stage.

Candy Drilon-Dalman – Honoring presence and consistency

Dr. Candy Drilon-Dalman, a functional and integrative medicine doctor, has built her parenting philosophy on the pillars of presence, consistency, and communication. As a mother to Rafi, 8, and Luis, 6, she draws on her life experiences—including losing her childhood home to a fire and navigating the grueling demands of medical school—to inform how she shows up for her children.

“Your physical presence is most important during the most pivotal moments in their growing years,” Candy says. “Even if you’re a working parent, you must make time for your kids during their formative years.” For Candy, this means taking time off work to attend school activities or simply listening to her children talk about their day.

Discipline is another cornerstone of her parenting approach. “Be consistent when it comes to disciplining kids. Set clear rules, so that when they don’t follow, they know why you get mad or discipline them. Having clear rules and boundaries allows them to grow up with good values and better peer relationships.”

Candy is strong in her belief: that healing begins within. “You cannot give what you do not have,” she reflects. “You need to hold space for yourself, for you to get to know yourself better, develop your skills, and know what you want in life. It is only then that you can help and hold space for others.”

Candy’s story is a powerful reminder that parenting is as much about nurturing your children as it is about nurturing yourself.

Yona Signo – Finding blessings amid life’s challenges

For Yona Signo, parenting is an opportunity to practice gratitude and live purposefully. Founder of Kaya Services, author, and mother of two—Sydney and Santiago—was profoundly shaped by a moment of simultaneous joy and grief: learning she was pregnant with her first child while discovering that her father had been diagnosed with cancer.

“This experience changed me profoundly,” Yona shares. “It taught me the power of gratitude—finding blessings in even the smallest moments, despite life’s challenges. I also realized the importance of caring for myself, both mentally and physically, so I could be strong and whole for my growing family.”

Parenting, for Yona, is a partnership. “Parenting works best when both parents share a clear and aligned vision for raising their children,” she explains. “This alignment allows you to present a consistent, supportive front, providing your children with a stable, reassuring environment and clear guidance as they navigate life’s ups and downs.”

Yona also places great importance on honoring her children’s unique identities. She shares, “Every child is born with their unique personality, strengths, and dreams. Rather than shaping them into a mold, nurture their individuality by understanding their natural tendencies and needs.” This allows her children to thrive authentically, embracing their true selves as they grow.

Yona’s approach reflects her deep commitment to raising resilient, self-assured children while modeling gratitude and self-compassion in her own life.

Krysta Rivera – Breaking cycles of trauma

For Krysta Rivera, motherhood has been an extraordinary journey of healing and transformation. As a survivor of an abusive marriage and a single mother to her daughter, Krysta has faced adversity head-on to break generational cycles of trauma. Her path has not been easy, but through doing inner work, she found tools to rebuild her life and nurture her child in a supportive environment.

“Parenting is a journey without a handbook,” Krysta says. “Growing up, I had an unstable childhood, often living with maids or relatives as my mom worked and my dad was an OFW. I had no role model for parenting, so in raising my child, I’ve had to learn as I go—parenting myself as much as her.”

Her daughter’s ADHD diagnosis brought unique challenges. “Since I separated from my ex husband, my daughter has also dealt with trauma, and I sought help for her through coaching and professional support,” Krysta shares. “At school, I made sure she had the accommodations needed to learn at her own pace and thrive as her true self.”

Over time, she has learned the crucial importance of self-care. “Think of it as filling your cup. When your cup is full, you have something to offer, but it’s only when it overflows that you can give freely without draining yourself.” This allows her to maintain balance, ensuring she can support others without depleting herself.

For Krysta, healing is a continuous process. “I’ve learned that by focusing on self-care and healing, I can hold space for my daughter authentically, offering guidance and support from a place of abundance rather than depletion.”

Nikki Lizares – Finding joy after loss

Nikki Lizares’s life was forever changed by the loss of her youngest sister, Mica, in a tragic car accident. “She was 17 years old and had her entire life ahead of her,” Nikki recalls. “She passed away exactly one month after a different car accident that should have taken my life and from which I walked away unhurt.”

This profound loss reshaped Nikki’s perspective on life. “I started to re-examine my life, my priorities, and what I poured my energy into. Now, I see every day as a gift, a possibility for a new adventure. I’m less afraid of making the ‘wrong choice’ because I know we’re all just really doing this life for the first time.”

Nikki found healing and a sense of community through connecting with others. “Being able to hold space with and for other women helped me dispel so many of my limiting beliefs about my creative capacities. It allowed me to approach my relationships with more trust and a willingness to accept and receive support from my village.” This shift has enriched her connections and deepened her sense of belonging.

As she prepares for motherhood, Nikki looks forward to sharing life’s joys with her child. “I want to explore the world with them, share stories, and foster a deep sense of wonder.” Her journey illustrates how healing from grief can inspire hope, connection, and a commitment to living fully.

Dindee Cabuag – Filling an empty cup

For Dindee, motherhood became even more challenging after the untimely passing of her co-parent. As a solo parent to her daughter, Raven, she found herself shouldering every responsibility. “One of the most challenging things I’ve gone through as a mother was having to rebuild what seemed to be a new life,” she shares. “Suddenly, I felt I needed to be everything at once without realizing I left barely anything for myself.”

Despite the weight of her responsibilities, Dindee prioritized being present for her daughter. “Regardless if it meant going straight to her full day of activities right after working night shifts, or working with her on various mediums of art, she was always the priority,” she says. But her turning point came when Raven told her, “Mom, you’re not living—you’re just surviving.”

This moment led Dindee to discover the importance of self-care. “The realization that you’re unable to fully give from an empty cup and embracing living life by design allowed me to understand the beauty of healing and balance,” she reflects. She slowly began to reconnect with her passions and redefine her individuality, becoming a happier and more fulfilled parent.

Dindee’s approach to parenting now emphasizes presence, individuality, and communication. “Showing up for your child matters not just in moments but in feelings as well,” she says. “We also need to respect the time they start becoming their individuals.”

Michelle Lichauco-Tambunting – Presence and prayer in parenting

Michelle Lichauco-Tambunting’s approach to parenting is grounded in presence, prayer, and the wisdom of surrender. As a preschool owner, early childhood educator, and conscious parenting coach, Michelle’s journey has been shaped by the many seasons of grief, growth, and healing that have come her way. Raising her two sons, Paco, 17, and Luis, 13, has taught her invaluable lessons about connection and faith.

“Parenting my boys has taught me the power of presence,” Michelle shares. “It’s about being truly present for them, even when it’s difficult—putting down distractions and simply listening and connecting in meaningful ways.” For Michelle, this presence is central to creating a home full of love and understanding, where both boys can feel seen and valued.

Prayer has also been a cornerstone of Michelle’s parenting philosophy. “When life gets tough, prayer has been my refuge,” she reflects. It has provided her with moments of quiet strength, allowing her to deepen her connection with God and find peace during challenging times.

Raising her son with autism has taught Michelle a unique kind of patience and trust in God. “My son with autism has a very silent world, and I believe it is through His world that the Lord shows me, day by day, how to befriend and cherish the silence where He always finds me, renews me, strengthens me and just lets me sit and find Him and my peace again,” she shares. 

Through presence, prayer, and surrender, Michelle has cultivated a home where love, faith, and healing are at the center of her family’s journey. 

By allowing themselves to transform, these mothers illuminate the quiet, radical power of healing, self-awareness, and balance. Their stories divulge the power of holding space—for pain and joy, for growth and imperfection, for themselves and their children.Great parenting proves to be not a performance but an evolution, one that begins in the often-messy, tender work of becoming whole. Only then are they able to shape homes, and build legacies of care and connection.

This story about SacredSpace first came out in Modern Parenting’s special Holiday 2024 Print Edition available on https://sarisari.shopping/.

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