8 Celebrity Moms Who Got Honest and Showed Us the Raw Reality of Motherhood

Maternal guilt can present itself in a range of emotions, from feeling guilty about not doing enough as a parent to not doing things right. An unattainable image of the “good mother,” the all-loving and all-giving self, has inspired feelings of guilt in countless women. But these moms are the down-to-earth role models we truly need. They keep it real and honest when it comes to motherhood, confirming that we aren’t alone.

1. Ali Wong opens up about leaving her child.

“I didn’t expect to be so comfortable handing my child off to a nanny without getting any of her information,” Ali Wong said.

“As soon as she arrived at my house, I threw my baby in her arms and went to Target. She gave me her driver’s license a week after — she was like, ’Uh, you should probably have my address since you gave me the keys to your house and your child.’ And we were like, ’Oh, yeah, that’s probably a good idea.’”

2. Katy Perry opens up about not being prepared for her daughter’s birth.

“What I will tell you is nobody talks about the first 6 weeks after you have the baby,” the singer said during a visit to Jimmy Kimmel Live. “What a roller coaster!” she said. “This time, I was giving birth to the greatest gift of all, for me. Then my album came out the next day, and I was in the hospital and I could not wipe my own butt.”

3. Naomi Davis talks about sleepless nights.

“The laugh attack turned into full-blown tears earlier tonight because while I am finding absolutely no joy in the sleepless nights of parenthood right now, maybe someday I’ll look back and miss this... hahaha just kidding I won’t miss this part at all,” wrote the blogger.

4. Viola Davis opens up about an accident with her baby.

In an interview with Variety, Viola Davis said that after becoming a mother, she noticed that none of the mothers she came in contact with were willing to speak honestly about their children and, instead, chose to paint them as perfect.

She also recounted an incident that happened a while ago with her daughter, Genesis, saying, “I locked my kid in the car, and it was sweltering hot outside. I was overwhelmed. I had 50 million things on my plate. My daughter was in the back. She’s happy, all that. I’m just so stressed out going to Target. I walk out of the car, shut the door, and realize I don’t have my keys.”

“I threw myself on the concrete. I screamed. You would think I was in a Greek tragedy. ’My baby! Jesus!’” she recalled.

“I called 911, and I proceeded to scream at the operator. Every expletive you can imagine came out of my mouth,” she revealed. “They took her out of the car. And the reason why I’m telling you this story is it literally was seconds.”

Soon after the scary incident, Davis met with her friend, Michelle, who is also a mother, and asked her, “Is this what being a mom is?” And the friend replied, ’’Viola, I’m sorry, but yeah. It is.’’ Davis also explained how she loves her daughter more than anything and Genesis is her life.

5. Chrissy Teigen talks about the postpartum period.

Chrissy Teigen is not afraid to speak the truth when it comes to parenthood. She wrote on Twitter after she delivered her son, “No one told me I would be coming home in diapers too,” and “To everyone asking, John is healing perfectly.”

6. Cardi B speaks about postpartum recovery.

“I didn’t think it would take my body so long to heal,” Cardi B said.

“I thought 6 weeks was gonna be good enough. No, bro, my ass is broken, this baby broke my ass. Doing a tour with Bruno Mars in, like, the biggest arenas and I didn’t want to go on tour and not be able to dance or perform properly, not be able to get choreography right because my body is extremely weak right now. Like, so weak. That postpartum is really real.”

7. Aja Naomi King opens up about body changes after giving birth.

“No, this is not a pregnancy ’before’ picture. This is the ’after.’ After days of labor. After experiencing what felt like my insides being ripped apart, no lie. After experiencing the unimaginable beauty of childbirth, this is what is left behind. This gorgeous body!” Aja Naomi King wrote on Instagram.

She added, “So in celebration of myself and my body for ’doing the damn thing,’ I wanted to share this photo. No makeup, no editing, no filters. Just Me... A woman in awe of her body and her baby!”

8. Serena Williams speaks about feeling guilty.

“Last week was not easy for me. Not only was I accepting some tough personal stuff, but I just was in a funk. Mostly, I felt like I was not a good mom. I read several articles that said postpartum emotions can last up to 3 years if not dealt with. I like communication best. Talking things through with my mom, my sisters, my friends let me know that my feelings are totally normal,” Serena Williams wrote on Instagram.

She continued, “It’s totally normal to feel like I’m not doing enough for my baby. We have all been there. I work a lot, I train, and I’m trying to be the best athlete I can be. However, that means although I have been with her every day of her life, I’m not around as much as I would like to be. Most of you moms deal with the same thing. Whether stay-at-home or working, finding that balance with kids is a true art. You are the true heroes.”

She added, “I’m here to say: if you are having a rough day or week, it’s okay, I am, too!!! There’s always tomorrow!”

Bonus: A psychologist reveals simple tips to overcome mom guilt.

• Identify the source. Start a journal and take note of the things that cause you to feel guilt or shame. Becoming aware of the areas where you feel the most mom guilt can help you take practical action to address it.
• Prioritize self-care. Helping yourself before helping others isn’t selfish — it’s common sense. Establishing a regular self-care routine can make you more present and patient with your kids, leading to fewer feelings of mom guilt.
• Listen to your intuition. A mom’s intuition is fine-tuned to the needs of her child. Most of the time, she knows what they need.
• Surround yourself with supportive people. All moms sometimes feel judged, leading to anxiety, guilt, and shame. If the people around you are overly critical, try to minimize your contact with them. Instead, connect with others who support and validate your choices.
• Take some time off. Yes, you are allowed to take a break from parenting. If you have a partner, ask them to take over for a few hours, so you can spend some time alone.
  If you’re a single mom, find a support group for single parents and take turns looking after each other’s little ones.
• Seek professional help. If you’re struggling to cope alone or feelings of guilt are becoming overwhelming, you might want to consider working with a coach or therapist.

What’s the hardest thing about being a parent? How did you deal with your maternal guilt? Feel free to tell us your stories in the comments below!