Eva Longoria on Raising Santiago: All Her Insights on Motherhood
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- UPDATED MAY 16, 2024
by Tasha Mayberry
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The Desperate Housewives alum, Eva Longoria, embraced motherhood with the birth of her son, Santiago Enrique Bastón, on June 19, 2018. Before Santiago, Longoria hadn’t prioritized having children, but her role as a stepmom to husband José Antonio “Pepe” Bastón’s three children from a previous marriage warmed her to the idea. The couple, married in 2016, joyously announced in December 2017 that they were expecting a boy. Santiago’s arrival transformed Longoria’s life profoundly. “From the moment he was placed in my arms, I knew no love like this before,” she shared on Instagram four months post-birth, cherishing her “little bundle of love” as a “miracle.” Motherhood reshaped her instincts and provided her with “new eyes on the world,” impacting her personally and professionally.
Fortunately, Santiago’s cheerful nature made parenting relatively “easy” from the start, as Longoria noted in an August 2019 interview with Parents magazine, describing him as healthy, funny, sweet, and a good sleeper and eater. Now growing quickly and bearing a striking resemblance to his mother, Santiago is often featured in Longoria’s social media posts, capturing many adorable moments together. Most recently, in April 2023, Longoria celebrated her husband’s birthday, sharing a heartwarming family photo on Instagram, with Santiago happily nestled between his parents. Here’s everything you need to know about Eva Longoria’s son, Santiago Enrique Bastón.
He entered the world on June 19, 2018
Santiago Enrique Bastón made his debut on June 19, 2018, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, tipping the scales at 6 pounds, 13 ounces. Longoria and Bastón announced the arrival of their first child through an exclusive with Hola!, expressing their joy: “We are so grateful for this beautiful blessing.” Alongside the announcement, they shared the first glimpse of their newborn son. In anticipation of Santiago’s birth, Longoria admitted she was “nervous, excited, emotional.” She celebrated the upcoming arrival with a pajama party-themed baby shower, attended by celebrities including Sophia Bush, Elizabeth Banks, Melanie Griffith, and her former Desperate Housewives co-star Marcia Cross. Just six weeks after entering the world, Santiago appeared on his first magazine cover alongside his mom for Hola!. “I feel like I’ve known him my whole life,” Longoria told the magazine, describing motherhood as “magical.
He tags along with his mom wherever she goes
Since his early days, Santiago has been a constant companion to his mom at work, joining her on movie and TV show sets. “He is with me all of the time!” the actress shared with when he was just 10 months old. “If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll see him on set with me, sitting in on meetings. Longoria, as a working mother, believes that integrating him into her daily life is crucial for maintaining a healthy balance between her professional endeavors and personal commitments. “I think women manage work and family simultaneously all the time,” she added. “I’m just among the many women who do it every day.” The only hiccup? He doesn’t always recognize her in full makeup. During his first visit to her workplace, he was puzzled by her appearance. “He was looking at me like, ‘Who are you, where’s my mom?’ and I had to tell him, ‘This is how Mommy really looks, sweetheart,'” she humorously recounted to Extra.
He has his mom's backing if he chooses to pursue acting
Since Santiago has been a familiar face on sets from as early as 2 months old, it wouldn’t be surprising if he chooses a path in acting, and Longoria would wholeheartedly cheer him on. “If he decides to be an actor when he grows up, of course I would support him!” Longoria expressed in December 2018. Yet, his interests might also veer towards directing. “I think I found our next director,” Longoria playfully captioned a November 2018 Instagram post, featuring her and baby Santiago with a director’s clapboard on the set of ABC’s “Black-ish.” Returning to work post-maternity leave, Santiago was a regular on set, seamlessly blending into the environment without causing any disruptions. “He comes on the set, but so far has not given an opinion of my work! When I direct, he’s watching me, paying close attention,” Longoria shared with highlighting his observant nature.
Eva Longoria and José Bastón: A Timeline of Their Relationship
For Eva Longoria and José “Pepe” Bastón, it was love at second sight. The Desperate Housewives star and the media executive met twice before sparks flew and they began dating in 2013. Prior to Bastón, Longoria had been married to actor Tyler Christopher from 2002 to 2004 and NBA star Tony Parker from 2007 to 2011. Reflecting on her time alone post-divorce, Longoria shared with that being single helped prepare her for her future with Bastón. “I learned to be content on my own,” she explained. “I think I needed that to be ready for what I have with Pepe.”
Bastón proposed to Longoria in Dubai in December 2015, and they married in Mexico in May 2016. The couple welcomed their son, Santiago, on June 19, 2018. Longoria also embraces her role as stepmom to Bastón’s three children from a previous marriage, Natalia and twins Mariana and Jose Antonio. Although they keep their relationship relatively private, Longoria occasionally shares heartfelt tributes to her husband on Instagram. In a 2017 post, she affectionately called Bastón her “partner in crime.” “He hates when I post pics of him, but my husband is the best human being I know,” she gushed. “We travel the world together, we laugh together, we love each moment together in pure joy. You are my angel Pepe Baston, put on this earth to fill my heart with love and happiness. Te amo vida mía! From their initial introductions to raising their son together, here is a comprehensive timeline of Eva Longoria and José “Pepe” Bastón’s loving relationship.
