Back in 2019, Kiyan Anthony was the ultimate preteen on privacy patrol—dodging photos, banning his mom, La La Anthony, from stepping foot inside his school, and even prompting her to spy on him just to sneak a glimpse. “Don’t post that,” he’d plead every time she reached for her phone, determined to draw the line between son and spotlight. Even being the “cool mom” didn’t grant her hallway access. But this Mother’s Day week? Let’s just say things took a turn.

The once camera-shy kid teamed up with DoorDash—a brand with an $80.5 billion market cap—to surprise La La with a reel-worthy moment that melted hearts. “DoorDash hooked us up,” Kiyan said, grinning, as he unveiled a massive red rose bag with “LA LA” spelled out in white blooms. Inside? Sephora goodies, her favorite chocolates—Snickers, Kit Kats, the works. La La lit up: “I love it! … You did good, you did so good!” But when she asked, “What made you want to do this?”—Kiyan deadpanned, “DoorDash.” Cue the playful smack and a mom-level correction: “You’re supposed to say you love your mom!”

La La took to Instagram for a sweet Mother’s Day Q&A, giving fans a glimpse into her relationship with Kiyan. The banter kicked off when Kiyan asked, “How much do you order from DoorDash?” La La fired back, “Not as much as you do, clearly, after you talk about a $50,000 bill!” Kiyan then got serious, asking, “You’re always doing everything for everyone else. When do you feel most seen or appreciated?” La La’s response? “When you say little things to me, when you tell me how much you appreciate me, when you write me a card, or do something nice for me. That’s when I feel seen and most appreciated.”

The love continued as Kiyan asked, “You’ve always been my rock, what’s something you wish people knew about how hard being a mom can be?” La La nodded, “I just think being a mom doesn’t come with instructions, or like a road map. Some things might work, some things might not work, you figure it out as you go.”

Kiyan then put his mom on the spot with a heartfelt question spoken in a slightly interview-style: “When you look at me now growing up and chasing my dreams, what goes through your head and heart?“ La La Anthony didn’t miss a beat—because moms like her have this way of always saying the right things. Beaming with pride, she said she’s always proud of him, especially knowing how much discipline it takes to juggle school and sports. “It’s not easy,” she admitted, “and it just makes me very proud of you.”

Finally, when Kiyan asked, “What’s something I’ve done, big or small, that made you stop and think, ‘I’m proud to be your mom’?” Without hesitation, La La zeroed in on Kiyan’s generosity. What moves her most, she shared, is the way he gives back, especially to those in need. “You have a really big heart, and that’s what I’m most proud of,” she said, probably holding back the urge to wrap him in one of those long, mom-style hugs.

And no, that wasn’t just classic mom-speak, Kiyan really walks the walk. Remember when La La turned the gym in Manhattan into a Winter Wonderland for Bronx kids? Her son was there with her in the initiative, too, as they made sure that the local organizations and the kids had some fun too during vacations. The event provided 400 children with an evening of games, gift giveaways, and a holiday dinner. In the end, Kiyan gave away a PlayStation 5 to one lucky person, taking the holiday spirit and cheer to another level. Her mother even shared a video of him announcing the winner, but he didn’t seem to mind that. 

So, from being camera-shy to publicly expressing their love, this just shows how close La La and Kiyan have been over the years. Let’s explore her thoughts on the highs and lows of parenthood and how she has managed them.

La La Anthony: Embracing parenting a teen

There have been many surprises along the way as La La is adjusting to the hectic world of raising a teenager. “You do hear people say it’s gonna go by really fast, and you’re like, ‘No, it’s not.’ And then you look up and your kid is 17, getting ready to go to college,” she said last year when talking to the Parents, still amazed by how time has flown. But she’s loving this stage, proudly claiming the title of “cool mom.” She’s in tune with his life, from their shared music tastes to having mature conversations. “I’m very in tune with what he has going on,” she added with a smile.

Another delicate balancing role that La La has handled gracefully is co-parenting with Carmelo Anthony. She praises Melo despite their split, referring to him as “the greatest dad ever.” They are still committed to providing Kiyan with a safe and nurturing environment. Regarding adjusting to their new dynamic, she said, “You got to learn it,” adding that they continue to travel to Kiyan’s games together and maintain open lines of communication. Showing Kiyan that he was “made from love,” and that family may take many forms is something La La takes great satisfaction in.

But it’s not just about co-parenting—La La also stresses the importance of teaching Kiyan empathy and kindness through her own actions. She takes him along to her charitable endeavors, such as sponsoring jail reform programs or providing holiday assistance to underprivileged children. She explained, “Whatever you’re trying to teach your kid, [you need to] lead by example,” making sure that Kiyan knows the real impact giving back can have. Even when girls give La La their phone numbers to give to Kiyan at his basketball games, she finds humor and manages to keep things lighthearted. “Stop having girls give me your number at games,” she once joked.

La La’s experience as a mother strikes the ideal balance between managing the highs and lows of raising a teenager and maintaining a loving, fun environment. La La will surely be there for Kiyan every step of the way as he gets ready to pursue his aspirations at Syracuse, demonstrating that despite the difficulties, a mother’s and son’s love endures.