Jeraldine Blackman: Raising Her Kids in the Spotlight
TikTok superstar Jeraldine Blackman, one fourth of The Blackman Family, talks about raising her bi-racial children Jeronimo and Jorjette in the midst of their social media stardom
In an era where anyone can be a star on social media, it’s refreshing to see a family like the Blackmans. This nuclear family composed of dad Josh, mom Jeraldine, son Jeronimo (or Nimo), and daughter Jorjette (or Jette) has become one of the most followed families online with a combined following of 10 million on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Tiktok.
While many of their videos are skits of day-to-day events that happen in a household, the Blackmans ensure the importance of authenticity and incorporating their Australian and Filipino identities in their content.
Modern Parenting got to sit down with Jeraldine for a no-holds barred conversation about their rise to fame, the love she has for her family here in the Philippines and the reality of raising bi-racial kids and running a household in Australia.
How it all started
Just like any content creator, it started with an idea and in this case, it was Josh who convinced Jeraldine to give content creation a try.
“We started with YouTube Kids a few years back and it actually didn’t take off,” she said. “Two years ago, we discovered TikTok and then Josh was like, maybe we can do something there.”
At that time, Jeraldine saw that it was just people dancing and lip synching, and she jokingly told her husband they weren’t dancers. So they kept scrolling through the social app and saw other types of content.
“I was actually watching people do so many funny and entertaining things. There was something for everybody, and it really hooked you. I was like hey, maybe we can do skits. So, to stay true to our identity, first thing we did was a cliche of a Filipino woman being married to a Caucasian, aka me being married to Josh,” she recalled.
That video got so much attention, especially in the Philippines, so it propelled them to make more content that included the whole family to make it more realistic and fun. The goal was to always keep it real and to make it funny – even if it meant making fun of themselves.
Having fun but being cautious too
Many of the videos the family posts, particularly of Jette, are a hit with their viewers. Jette has actually developed a big following on social media. She gets recognized in Australia, especially in the Philippines. So when they do post about Nimo and Jette, Jeraldine and Josh know what they can and cannot share online.
“What we put online is not 100% of our lives,” Jeraldine pointed out. “While we want the content to be realistic, the common mistake people make is thinking that they see everything there is to see about us. That not everything they see is real, because half the time, we are doing skits.”
“It’s important for us to put out relatable content, but sometimes some of our videos are scripted,” she added.
When it comes to Jette, how does her daughter handle the attention? Jeraldine said that it’s all play for her at this point.
“She doesn’t understand the fame that she’s getting right now. Everyone may know her and say hi to her in public, and to her that’s normal. ‘Oh that person just knows me,’ and that’s normal to her. What she knows is that we’re making videos, we are filming and then she’s got ‘followers’ because, you know, she knows of the word follower,” Jeraldine explained.
As for critics and naysayers, Jeraldine and Josh are fully aware they will always be there. “Once we put our lives out there, we knew this would be part of it. Name me one content creator who does not have any bashers, right? They don’t know what is really going on, sometimes they’re not even real people. And kami ni Josh, we just ignore it.”
Raising Nimo and Jette in a multicultural scene
Coming from two different backgrounds – her being Filipino and Josh being Australian, it’s natural that their kids are raised with Josh’s Australian ways and Jeraldine’s Filipino values.
“I don’t think there’s really any challenges in the way we raise them because, you know, we just do what we feel is right for our family, plus we live in Australia,” Jeraldine said of her children’s upbringing. “It’s actually fun because Joshua has taught me traditions and mannerisms that I think I have also adapted myself. It was me who had to really make sure I incorporate Filipino values at home because it can be easily forgotten since we are far away. It happens.”
Recalling some of the stories she has about her kids, particularly with Jette and teaching her about Filipino culture, Jeraldine giggles. “Kasi yan si Jette, she loves to do walis. She knows [what] walis [is] and she does not call it [a] broom. So she would do walis at home. That’s how she says it to everyone in Australia.”
“And then nobody is allowed to wear shoes inside the house, especially if there are visitors, right? Totoo ‘to ha. No one is allowed to wear shoes, slippers inside. Everyone has to leave their footwear outside. Otherwise, they’re going to get in trouble with Jette-Jette. This includes my mother-in-law,” she laughed.
“Sasabihin niya, ‘Granny, you’re not allowed to wear your shoes inside because mama said so.’ Ganun siya. And of course being true Pinoys, they love rice.”
As for the Western side, Jeraldine shares how her kids address people. “For example, in Australia, they would never address someone as ate or kuya. I didn’t mandate Jette to call Nimo kuya, but sometimes she will call him kuya on her own kasi she has an awareness already.
“In Australia, everyone is called by their first name. Here in the Philippines, we call our elders ate or kuya, tito or tita, lolo or lola, even if we are not related. So my friends back in Australia, Jette and Nimo never call them tita. But yung mga kapatid ni Josh, I ask the kids to call them auntie and uncle.”
Addressing people is just a small part of cultural differences and it doesn’t mean that just because people do things differently, it’s wrong. Jeraldine understands the importance of respect in the Filipino culture so she is always on her toes about this. “They know how to bless, especially if they see my mom and dad, they bless them. It just really depends who they are with, they are learning that.”
Raised by lolo and lola
For those who are unaware of Jeraldine’s story, she was raised by her grandparents as her mom was working abroad. And she happily admitted that she was quite spoiled by them.
“My lolo and lola were very nice to me,” she said. “For me, I saw life [was] so easy kasi my grandparents used to give me everything. They made life easy for me in their own way. But despite all the lambing, they knew where to draw the line. They were disciplinarians, and that’s now my role sa family namin. Josh will agree.”
Jeraldine was around 18 or 19 when she got to live with her mom in Australia. It was then that she saw the different parenting styles of her grandparents and her mom. Her mom was strict, she had firmer rules. Looking back, Jeraldine is thankful because back then, being in a new country, adjusting to a new environment, she needed the structure her mom provided from the time she arrived. Today, she enjoys having her mom around in Australia as she raises her young family.
Always looking back and paying it forward
Social media has opened a lot of doors for the Blackman family. They have partnerships and endorsements in multiple countries, requiring them to travel more frequently than ever before. With the blessings they’ve been given, both Josh and Jeraldine have quit their full time jobs to focus on content creation.
What is so wonderful is that they have not forgotten to pay their blessings forward. They give back to their local community, including partnering with a popular book store chain. This cause is close to Jeraldine’s heart, having gone through challenges in her early life.
“I grew up in a poor family, but we were happy. Ngayon na successful ako, I think, like, I share and I give back to my family. Kasi alam ko yung pinanggalingan ko.”
Although she is now based in Australia, Jeraldine has never forgotten her roots. She is still very Filipino, and it is something that will always be a part of her as a person and as a mother. “I think my parenting style, I’m still very Filipino. The way my lolo and lola have raised me and the way my mom is, I see them in me,” she chuckled.
“This is a very different generation. What worked before, may not always work now. I am strict, but I also show them my soft side. I am always honest with the kids. Gusto ko pa rin kasi na kapag lumaki si Nimo and Jette, like, they will never get scared to share their secrets with me,” she said.
And as for this whole social media stardom, Jeraldine concludes, “We won’t be doing this forever. Josh and I know that. So for now, we are working hard at it, we are having fun with our kids and just enjoying the ride.”
Words ALEXA VILLANO
Photography KIERAN PUNAY OF KLIQ, INC.
Makeup TWINKLE BERNARDO assisted by ANGELI ALFONSO
Hair PATTY INOJALES
Stylist ROSHNI MIRPURI and SIYA DARYANI of THE CLOSET CULTURE
Shoot Coordination ANTHONY MENDOZA
Art Director DENIELLE CARAG
Sittings Editor MARGA MEDRANO TUPAZ
Shot at Location SHERATON MANILA
Special thanks to LUXE KIDS
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