In Mama, I Love You, author Mona Liza Santos captures the quiet, powerful moments that define motherhood—love expressed not only through words, but through presence, sacrifice and everyday care. Drawing from her own experiences as a mother and a child raised by strong, devoted women, Santos writes with tenderness and emotional honesty that resonates across generations. In this conversation, she reflects on the inspirations behind her book, the many forms motherhood can take and why the simplest acts of love often leave the deepest mark on a child’s heart.
- What inspired you to write Mama, I Love You, and how did your personal experiences influence the narrative?
I never imagined that I would become a mother. It wasn’t something I planned or expected, but when it happened, I gave it my whole heart. My son became the greatest inspiration behind Mama, I Love You. Through him, I experienced love in its purest, most instinctive form, and that experience changed the way I understood motherhood entirely. At the same time, the story grew from the love I received as a child. I was raised with deep care by my grandparents, especially my grandmother, who surrounded me with warmth, patience, and unconditional love. She showed me that motherhood isn’t only about biology—it’s about showing up, nurturing, protecting, and loving without limits. That foundation shaped how I understand love and how I see the role of a mother in a child’s life. When I became a mother myself, those lessons came full circle. The story reflects the everyday moments I share with my son that carry the most meaning—bedtime hugs, gentle reassurance, shared routines, and simply being present. A child may not always have the words to express love, but they feel it through actions. In the same way, a mother’s love lives in what she does, not just what she says. I wrote Mama, I Love You to honor that exchange—the bond between a child and a mama that goes beyond words and lives in everyday actions. This book holds a special place in my heart because it represents where my story began, who raised me, and how love continues to move through generations. It is a reminder that motherhood lives in presence, not perfection—and that kind of love shapes a child for life.
2. Can you share a particularly memorable moment from your childhood that shaped your understanding of motherhood?
I was born in Chicago, Illinois, but much of my early childhood was shaped by distance and sacrifice. My biological mother was already in the United States, working tirelessly to support me, while I remained in the Philippines with my grandparents. I stayed there until I was around six or seven years old, before returning to America, where I continued my education from elementary school through college.
One of the moments that shaped my understanding of motherhood wasn’t tied to a single event, but to an awareness I carried even as a child: my mother may not have been physically present, but she never stopped being a mother. She worked on the other side of the world so I would never go hungry, never be unsupported, and always have a future. That taught me early on that motherhood is not only about proximity—it is about responsibility, sacrifice, and commitment, even when it is painful.
At the same time, my grandmother was my everyday example of motherhood. She was the one who showed up daily, who nurtured me, guided me, and loved me through routine and care. Through her, I learned that motherhood is also about consistency, patience, and presence.
Seeing both forms of love side by side shaped how I define motherhood today. It taught me that motherhood is not one-size-fits-all. It is about choosing responsibility over comfort and love over ease, even when the path is difficult. That understanding deeply influences how I write, because the stories I tell honor all the ways a mother’s love can exist—even when it looks different from what the world expects.
3. What themes do you hope young readers take away from your book, and how do you believe it can impact their relationships with their own mothers?
At its heart, Mama, I Love You is about love that is felt before it is fully understood. I hope young readers take away the idea that love doesn’t have to be explained perfectly to be real. A child doesn’t need big words to know when they are safe, cared for, and deeply loved. That kind of love lives in actions—being held, being comforted, and being shown up for again and again.
I also hope the book helps children recognize the many ways love shows up in their lives. Not every family looks the same, and not every mothering role looks the same. Some children are raised by mothers, some by grandmothers, caregivers, or guardians—but what matters most is the presence of love, consistency, and care. I want children to feel seen in whatever version of family they have.
For mothers, I hope the book offers reassurance. Parenting often comes with doubt and quiet guilt, especially when life is complicated. This story is a reminder that love doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful. Small moments matter. Being there matters. Choosing your child, even on hard days, matters.
If Mama, I Love You helps even one child feel more connected, more secure, or more comfortable expressing love—or helps a mother feel seen in her effort—then it has done what I hoped it would do. It’s a gentle bridge between hearts, reminding both children and parents that love is already there, steady and real, even when life isn’t simple.
Love is learned long before it is named.
4. As a writer, what do you consider the most challenging aspects of creating children’s literature, especially when addressing complex emotions like love and sacrifice?
One of the most challenging parts of writing for children is remembering that they feel things deeply, even if they do not yet have the words to explain them. Children understand love through actions, not explanations. They feel it when someone stays, listens, comforts, and shows up for them day after day.
When writing about love and sacrifice, I try to keep the language simple and honest. Children do not need long explanations or big emotions spelled out for them. They recognize love in small moments, like being held when they are tired or reassured when they feel unsure. My goal is to reflect those moments in a way that feels familiar and real.
Another challenge is staying true to the child’s point of view. I often think about everyday moments from my own life and childhood to guide my writing, because those are the experiences children connect with most.
Writing children’s books means trusting the child. Trusting that they understand more than we give them credit for. Trusting that gentle words and simple moments can leave a lasting impression. When love is written with honesty and care, children feel it right away, even without it being explained.
5. How do you balance your writing career with your responsibilities as a mother, and what advice would you give to aspiring authors who are also parents?
Balancing writing and motherhood is not something I have ever mastered perfectly. Some days writing happens, and some days it does not. Motherhood comes first, especially during challenging moments when my child needs my full attention. I have learned to accept that balance looks different in every season, and that is okay.
Writing often finds me in between responsibilities rather than during carefully planned time. It shows up in unexpected moments, late nights, early mornings, or brief pauses in the day. I have learned to work with life as it is, not as I wish it would be. Being a mother has shaped the way I write, the stories I tell, and the emotions I understand more deeply.
For parents who want to write, my advice is simple: there is never a perfect time. Writing often happens in unexpected places and moments you did not plan for. Do not wait for everything to slow down, because it rarely does. Your life experiences, especially parenthood, add meaning and depth to your work. What you have lived shapes your voice, and that is exactly what makes it worth sharing.
6. Can you tell us about the collaboration process with your illustrator and how the artwork complements your writing?
Working with an illustrator is one of my favorite parts of creating a children’s book. Once the words are written, the illustrations are what give the story its heartbeat. They help children feel the story before they can fully explain it.
For Mama, I Love You, Anuradha Godagama felt like the right choice almost instantly. I had looked at other illustrators, but her work stayed with me. Her watercolor style is soft, warm, and full of emotion. There was something about her art that felt gentle and honest, and as someone who feels things deeply, I connected to that right away. Her illustrations didn’t just match the story, they understood it.
I believe the best collaborations happen when there is trust. I don’t like to control every detail. I want the illustrator to feel the story and bring their own heart into it. Anuradha did exactly that. She captured the love, comfort, and closeness between a child and a mama in a way that felt real and familiar.
Through World Love Press, my goal has always been to create books that feel safe and comforting for children. The illustrations matter just as much as the words in making that happen. Anuradha’s art adds warmth and emotion that children can see and feel, even before they can read.
When the words and the artwork come together naturally, the story becomes more than a book. It becomes a feeling. That’s what makes this collaboration so special to me.
7. What upcoming projects or themes are you excited to explore in your future books, and how do you envision your writing evolving over time?
Right now, my work is deeply rooted in children’s books, where I feel most connected and where I believe my stories can have the strongest impact. Many of my books already explore self-love, emotional awareness, and embracing who you are, and I want to continue expanding those themes in ways that help children understand their inner world and their worth.
Over time, I see my writing naturally expanding to include stories that speak directly to women and empowerment, but for now, children’s literature is where my heart and purpose feel most aligned. I also enjoy exploring different genres because creativity does not fit into one box. If an idea speaks to me, I find a way to write it. My mind is always full of stories, lessons, and moments waiting to be shaped into something meaningful.
As my writing evolves, I want it to grow beyond teaching kindness alone. I want to explore emotional awareness, self-acceptance, and how our inner world shapes how we show up for others. My hope is that these stories help children understand themselves more deeply, build confidence, and inspire kindness that lasts for generations, because change truly begins within ourselves.
8. As a children’s book author, what advice would you give to parents about fostering a love of reading in their children?
Make reading feel like connection, not a task. Let it be cozy, playful, and shared. Sit close, read out loud, use funny voices, laugh at the silly parts, and don’t be afraid to be goofy. When reading feels fun, children naturally want more of it.
It also helps to follow your child’s interests. If they love animals, adventure, magic, or humor, choose books that spark that excitement. Reading does not have to be structured or serious to matter. It can happen before bed, on the couch, or during a quiet moment in the day.
Most importantly, let children associate books with warmth and attention. It is not about how many pages you finish or how quickly they learn to read. It is about creating moments they look forward to. When children feel joy, curiosity, and connection through books, a love of reading grows naturally and stays with them.
9. How do you believe your book can help nurture kindness and self-esteem in children?
Mama, I Love You helps children feel secure in who they are. When a child feels loved and accepted, kindness and confidence grow naturally. This book gently shows children what love looks like through the everyday roles a mama or motherly guardian plays—comforting, protecting, listening, and showing up again and again.
By seeing these acts of care, children begin to understand that kindness often starts close to home. It begins in the relationship between a child and the person who cares for them. That early experience of being nurtured helps children feel safe, valued, and worthy, which builds self-esteem from the inside out.
When children recognize love through actions, they learn how to give it back. The book helps them see that kindness does not have to be big or complicated. It can start in simple moments, learned first through the bond with a mama or caregiver, and then carried into how they treat others and the world around them.
10. What do you consider the most rewarding aspect of writing children’s literature, specifically a tribute to mothers?
The most rewarding part for me is realizing that my thoughts, feelings, and lived experiences can live inside a book and reach others in a meaningful way. Mama, I Love You began as something deeply personal, rooted in my own relationship with my son. It still amazes me that something so close to my heart could resonate with so many families.
This book holds a special place for me because it reflects the love I share with my child through everyday moments of comfort, closeness, and reassurance. I wrote it without knowing how many others would see themselves in its pages. Mothers, caregivers, and children from all walks of life have embraced the story, whether they are in similar situations or simply looking for a warm, comforting book to share at bedtime or during quiet moments together.
What makes it even more meaningful is knowing that the story does not end after one reading. It becomes part of routines, shared experiences, and moments of connection. It may be pulled from a shelf when a child needs reassurance or read again simply because it feels familiar and safe.
If this book helps a child feel secure, helps a caregiver feel understood in their effort, or brings families closer together through shared moments of love, then it has fulfilled its purpose. Experiences like this inspire me to continue writing stories that celebrate the bond between mothers and children—stories rooted in love, kindness, and everyday connection. Knowing that my work has become part of these intimate moments between parents and children is deeply rewarding, and it reminds me why I keep writing.
