Model Valentina Ferrer says seeing partner J Balvin with their son makes her 'more in love'

Welcome to So Mini Ways, Yahoo Life's parenting series on the joys and challenges of child-rearing.

Valentina Ferrer knows just how lucky she is that giving birth to her son was quick and painless.

The model and former Miss Argentina, 29, who welcomed son Rio with boyfriend J Balvin in 2021, told Yahoo Life's So Mini Ways that the entire delivery process was so fast, it felt like it lasted "like 20 minutes, really!"

"So for me, it was really easy. We didn't have any problem," says Ferrer, who attributes the easy delivery to her Pilates regimen. But despite her physical preparation for giving birth to Rio, who is now 15 months old, Ferrer maintains that nobody's ever fully ready for what's about to hit them when parenthood begins.

"I always say ... you're never ready," says Ferrer, who recalls feeling particularly overwhelmed one day when she was stuck in an airport with Rio for eight hours after her plane was delayed. To make matters worse, Rio was crying uncontrollably because he was teething and had a fever.

"I can say, days like that you don't forget," she says.

Of course, travel is a big part of the family's life, thanks to Balvin's touring schedule and Ferrer's own jet-setting career as a model and businesswoman. Ferrer, who has been dating Balvin since they first met on the set of his 2017 music video for "Sigo Extrañándote," says seeing the musician bond with their son has strengthened their own relationship.

"I feel like we see a guy with a baby, and you're more in love," she explains. "I always say to him, the more they interact, the more in love I am."

Ferrer says her greatest parenting challenge at the moment is balancing her home life with her busy work schedule, which includes modeling, acting and running a wellness brand, Kapowder.

"Sometimes 24 hours is not enough. I can't stop my life," says Ferrer. "And I love what I do; it's my passion too. I cannot be without work. ... Sometimes I feel like I don't have air."

Some of the best parenting guidance she has ever received came from her own mother, who raised five children in Argentina. While Ferrer has always been close to her mom, becoming a mother herself has made them even tighter.

"I love how I grew up. My mom never had help," says Ferrer. "She always taught me to be more free, but to know the line. She always told me 'you know the line. If you cross it, it is your problem.'"

When they're not traveling, Ferrer loves to take Rio to the parks in New York City, where he can interact with other children. And these days, Rio is chattier than ever. While he normally sleeps through the night successfully, he does tend to wake up and start talking to himself.

"He has too much energy. He says hi to everyone," says Ferrer. "And if you don't answer him, he will tell you 'hi' 10 times."

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