Two well-known Croatian women shared their deepest struggles with the public on the same day: one refuses to apologize for being a mother, the other admits she falls apart daily but doesn't give up
On Tuesday, July 29, 2026, the Croatian public witnessed two remarkably candid confessions about parenting challenges. Motivational speaker and coach Anđa Marić made it clear she will not apologize for her existence or for being a mother, while actress Marijana Mikulić spoke openly about the daily reality of raising a son with autism.
A day after first reacting to media coverage of a non-final verdict involving her 22-year-old son, Anđa Marić posted a video message in Croatian. Alongside the video, she wrote an extensive message in English about self-acceptance, motherhood, and hope, as reported by Index.hr Magazin.
I exist and I won't apologize for it. I am a mother and I won't apologize for that. And I won't apologize because I believe that, even in the toughest periods of life, we can still be a light for one another.
Marić emphasized that she never aimed to portray a perfect life but rather to inspire people to get back up after falling. "If I've helped even one person to love themselves again, get up after a fall, find peace, or gather the courage to take another step, then my work has meaning," she wrote.
A day earlier, on July 28, Marić spoke out after the non-final verdict for her son was made public. The young man attacked foreign workers in December 2025, and the case drew significant media attention. Marić then clearly stated that her son should not be subjected to such public interest simply because she is a public figure.
My son is not a public figure. He is 22 years old. Neither is his life a reality show, nor should his biggest mistake end up in portal headlines.
Index.hr reports that she added she hopes for a society where the value of empathy outweighs the value of clicks.
On the same day Anđa Marić posted her motivational message, actress Marijana Mikulić answered followers' questions on Instagram, revealing what life with a child on the autism spectrum looks like. Her youngest son, Jakov, has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, and she and her husband Josip-married for 20 years and parents to two other sons, Ivan and Andrija-invest tremendous effort in his progress.
When a follower asked how she copes with daily challenges, admitting she "falls apart ten times a day," the actress responded with brutal honesty:
By crying, falling apart, wanting to give up on everything, then picking myself up with a shovel from the bottom of the puddle, wiping my nose, and starting over. Every single day, I make the decision not to give up. Anyone who claims they never break either has abundant help and support or is lying.
Mikulić, whose words were shared by Zagreb.info, Hype TV, and Story.hr, explained that Jakov regularly attends numerous therapies and that they also work hard at home. "The result is progress, which I always emphasize is the 'best of'-for motivating others, but also ourselves. There's a lot where he lags behind his peers, according to charts and assessments, but we constantly look for his strengths and work hard on them, and the weaker areas gradually develop alongside," she said.
She also highlighted her key parenting principle:
The most important thing is not to compare your child to others, but only to themselves: where they were yesterday and where they are today. And tomorrow, where will they be?
Both public statements on the same day reminded the public of the intensity of challenges parents face and the importance of support, not judgment. As Anđa Marić summed it up: "In a world full of judgment, I want to be someone who reminds people of compassion."
