Mawin Taweepol, the Thai actor and celebrity. He opened up on the program MY DADDY James about his four-year journey struggling to have a child, enduring eight failed attempts that nearly made him give up, but he decided to fight on after his wife, Tu Piyawadee, reminded him of the importance of having a representative of their love to care for each other when one of them is gone. They eventually succeeded in having a daughter as they wished. He also shared about his painful childhood, growing up with hardships and physical abuse, and vowed not to pass on violence to their daughter Mewmi. He is determined to be a gentle father who raises his child with respect and a spirit of sharing.
The full four-year journey with nine attempts at conception?
Mawin Taweepol: The entire four-year journey involved nine attempts. When we started, Tu was about 43-44 years old. She hadn’t yet fully prepared herself in terms of career or financial stability. At first, the sperm count was excellent. The doctor said, “Wow, perfect, great, a full supply.” I was confident. Tu went for an egg check and still had plenty. But as we prepared for pregnancy over two to three years, the physical reserves were used up. Everything diminished. Initially, Tu had many eggs, ovulating around eight to ten per cycle, which is a lot.
But when it came to actual use, due to age, chromosomal issues, and other factors, my sperm count dropped by more than half. At first, I was confident, but later I became discouraged because of a heavy workload and little rest. We tried every cycle. I remember the first time they combined the eggs and sperm; out of eight eggs, seven fertilized the first day, making us hopeful for success. But over the next days, the numbers declined until nothing survived.
Did you feel discouraged after two or three consecutive failures?
Mawin Taweepol: Yes, I felt discouraged but I couldn’t stop. The fifth attempt was the hardest. The first two attempts caused arguments; Tu told me I wasn’t living well, didn’t adjust enough, and wasn’t resting enough, which led to accumulated stress. By the third and fourth attempts, after I made adjustments, we wondered if the issue was chromosomal. We grew to understand each other better. By the eighth attempt, we talked about the cost and pain—each attempt was expensive and painful. We wondered if we should stop to avoid more hurt. I didn’t want her to suffer anymore.
But Tu said just one thing: “If I die, how will you live?” That stopped me. I told her, “I’ll die with you.” I said I couldn’t live without her. Our worlds are deeply connected. We both left our families and only have each other, and we love each other deeply. I asked her, “What about you?” She said, “I can’t live without you either, but we have to have someone to represent our love, so that when one of us is gone, the other remains.”
The moment you first saw your child at birth?
Mawin Taweepol: Oh, that moment I thought, “Is this really our child? She was 3.6 kilograms at birth.” Her nose was broad and her face round and swollen. She cried loudly. I thought, this is funny—the ultrasound showed long eyes and a sharp nose, but the real baby looked very different and cried loudly. But I knew she was my daughter and loved her with all my heart from that first second. Tu also wondered, “Why does our baby look like this?” The nurse reassured us, “Calm down, her face hasn’t settled yet; she just came out of the amniotic fluid.” Her appearance gradually improved over the first day, but it was a funny moment—her eyes looked like slits.
Your approach to raising your child in the future?
Mawin Taweepol: I won’t force her but want her to learn to give before receiving. I feel that receiving is easy throughout life—we never lack—but if you don’t know how to share, especially in Thai society, sharing is important. I want her to feel that living with others requires equality and sharing, not expecting special privileges or just to receive. She needs to work for it.
I believe one lucky thing for my child is that every profession has its merits, but we are in a field many people dream of being in. She was born into this environment with parents working in it. I want her to be proud and know that sharing and giving is the start. We help others every day without expecting anything. Whether she grows up to be like me or not, it’s fine. But I want her to know sharing, giving, and respect—that’s enough.
Will you introduce your child to the foodie lifestyle?
Mawin Taweepol: Definitely. My daughter eats a lot. As a Food Creator, I can’t feed her fast enough. Sometimes she even appears on camera, sitting beside me while I review food. I wonder if her life experiences will be richer than others her age. I believe she’ll gain many good things from me—good things meaning I teach her to give. We enjoy making videos of us eating and chatting together. Soon, Mewmi will join in; it should be fun.
Your childhood trauma and determination not to pass on violence?
Mawin Taweepol: Growing up without warmth, experiencing abuse and family violence, must end with my generation. My child must not suffer those things. Being slapped, beaten, or abused must stop with me. Those scars are still on my arms and body and cannot be erased. But I’ve moved past the physical scars, which didn’t damage my body’s function.
I never forget that I endured severe and terrible violence, sometimes thinking, “Is this really my father? Is this the man who should protect me? Why am I being hit like this?” I strongly oppose family violence and hate any violence toward women. That’s why I grew up gentle, determined not to impose or pass on what I endured. The cycle must end with me.
Your perspective on family and giving your child freedom of thought?
Mawin Taweepol: I want her to be anything she wants, just keep a sense of humor. I love cuteness and fun. Our home is full of laughter. Tu and I are alike—if we weren’t, we wouldn’t live together. Piyawadee Maleenont is very funny, cracking jokes all day between husband and wife.
Your health and exercise routine?
Mawin Taweepol: I’ve been trying to get fit and exercise since late last year after Mewmi was born. I work every day with many shows, no rest, often traveling out of town, getting home at 1 or 2 a.m., then waking at 6 to care for the baby. Some days, I’m on set by 9 a.m. with no breaks. I have to support my wife because she’s stressed and tired. One day in September, I didn’t dare tell her—I woke up feeling like I couldn’t breathe, heart racing. I took asthma medicine, felt a little better, but was tense and scared.
I got checked by a doctor. My lungs had no opacity but the tips were damaged, causing chronic asthma. I was born weighing only 1.7 kilograms, with uneven leg length and shoulder issues causing dislocations. I had many health problems and childhood asthma that had long disappeared but returned. The doctor said my immunity was very low and if it continued, I could die. I had to rest more and use strong medicine daily for a year. After treatment, I improved and started exercising again.
Did you think of your child during that time?
Mawin Taweepol: I thought of my daughter a lot, wondering if I’d survive to see her grow. When Mewmi was born, I had a health check fearing diabetes or other illnesses. Earlier this year, I was better, but during heavy work and childcare for three to four months, I experienced vision issues like dark spots and dimming. After seeing a TikTok video warning these symptoms could lead to blindness, I panicked and called my wife, saying, “Cancel all work, I’m going to see a doctor.” I had a full eye exam and was told to get more rest.
Have you returned to exercising recently?
Mawin Taweepol: I resumed exercising out of fear of death. I realized no matter how much money I earn, poor health means I can’t enjoy it. Even being unable to walk is a loss. So I got back into exercise and built a gym at home, doing intense workouts to lean out and burn fat.
Why has having a child become a turning point that drastically improved your patience, emotional control, and time management?
Mawin Taweepol: Tu and I have become much calmer and changed a lot. When we’re upset, we hold hands first, calm down, and avoid arguing. Fortunately, we share the same approach to parenting. Mainly, I let her lead and I follow, asking what she needs. Someone like me needs a partner who can handle things, or it would be chaotic. Tu is the strong leader, and I follow her. It feels real, safe, and life is easier.
Your heartfelt thoughts and definition of home and family?
Mawin Taweepol: For me, home and family mean "love". I never thought I’d have my own home until I started working here and lived with Tu. She also never imagined owning a home until I came along. We separated from our families to start our own. Every night before bed, I hug and kiss my wife, hold her hand, and say, “I’m so happy, we have our home.” It’s not just a house; with our little one, it’s family. Every step inside our home and every breath we take here brings more happiness than outside. Home is part of the body, love, and feelings in every room. It’s like a clear part of us. I can navigate it blindfolded. Everything here is us.
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