Today we’d like to introduce you to Allen Lavarias, Asher Hong-lavarias
Hi Allen Lavarias, Asher Hong-Lavarias, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
At six months old, the pandemic hit and we were restricted to staying at home. Due to the lockdown, my wife and I agreed that she continued to work while I stay at home to take care of Asher.
Living in Los Angeles and with my side of the family in Washington State, it was a hard realization that Asher would not get the exposure of visiting and getting to know my parents, siblings, and his cousins like we did normally did, pre-Covid.
I came up with the idea to create a social media account to share with our friends and family. I started to created videos of us being silly, documenting his milestones, and a look into our everyday life. This was an opportunity for everyone in our family to see Asher grow up, in hopes of feeling like being a part of his life due to the lockdown.
It hurt that my family did not get the opportunity to hold him, see him take his first steps, learn to eat, cook for him, and all the other things that friends and family get to experience in person.
As time progressed, our bond, as father and son, strengthened. It actually became a healing opportunity for me to help process the trauma I had growing up.
I was the youngest of three, raised by a single mom and no significant father figure in the first 10 years of my life. I came to realize that this was an opportunity to heal so that I could the father that Asher needs, but also equally important, that Asher deserves.
Navigating parenthood has been tough. Learning what it takes to be a father, from trying to be present, trying to be patient, and ensuring appropriate developmental growth, both mentally and physically, is a responsibility that I am continuing to learn every single day.
We continue to create videos of new adventures, milestones and achievements, and fun and silly trends to help encourage other parents to be present. We want to showing simple activities and adventures to help create core memories with their child.
Now that I have completed nursing school, we will have an opportunity to go on more adventures, create more videos, and hopefully continue to inspire and put smiles on those who watch our videos.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Life. All of it seemed to be a struggle. I was in an accelerated nursing school program that if I missed a day, I would fail. Asher had started going to daycare. When Asher would get sick, it was a struggle with no immediate family to help take care of him in emergencies. My wife also travels once or twice a month for work, which would make sick days even more stressful. Trying to help my family by working was a struggle also because full-time employment would not give me the flexibility my family needed due to school, clinicals, and Asher. Trying to feed three mouths basically, on one income, living in Los Angeles. If you live in LA, then you should know and understand. Through it all, we are very thankful for what we have in our lives. We have our health, we have a roof over our head, and we have each other. All our struggles in our life has built our bonds stronger as a family. Continuing to support each other through it all, we have been able to conquer every obstacle.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I have recently graduated nursing school and I expect to take the NCLEX in the coming weeks to obtain my license to be a Registered Nurse.
During nursing school, I actually created another social media account that focused on educational videos to help teach and learn nursing skills and knowledge. It gained a pretty. big following which has led me to an opportunity to become a full time content creator for a large nursing resource known as Archer Review.
For Asher, we implemented on his 5th birthday that he has responsibilities. His “work” is completing his daily chores and routine each day.. He is given 10 tasks a day to complete, and if he completes all those tasks, he receives a $1 each day. We are teaching him to learn responsibilities, the value of money and saving, teaching consistency.
How do you think about luck?
I don’t think luck has played a role in our life. Teaching Asher to work hard, live within your means, and to earn it because nothing is just given are some life lessons we practice.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/AsherAndAppa
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asherandappa/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@asherandappa
Image Credits
Allen Lavarias
Asher Hong-Lavarias
