HALLE BERRY: “I never thought that at my stage in life another baby — and a baby boy — was coming to me, so yeah, I’m blessed.” The 47-year-old actress recently gave birth to her second child, Maceo. After having her daughter Nahla in 2008, Halle did not see more children in her future. Her second pregnancy, with third husband Olivier Martinez, was especially surprising since she believed herself to be in the beginning stage of menopause.
JILL SCOTT: “I’ve learned that motherhood is the most demanding job created… Life doesn’t stop because you’ve given birth. A new life begins and you own it and make it yours.” Jill Scott had her son Jett in the spring of 2009. She has spoken openly about the difficulties she faced with becoming a new mother, and the split between her and Jett’s father shortly after his birth. After pressing “reset”, Jill has found the beauty in being a mother and is all the stronger for it.
GARCELLE BEAUVAIS: “…like most mommy’s my first priority is my kids… I have to work to support my household but the boys know I would rather be with them before anything else. So when I say I have to work they get it.” The actress is the mother of three boys, Oliver (23), and twins Jax and Jaid (6). Being a working mom is tough, but Garcelle has lots of support and isn’t afraid to admit that it takes a village.
BEYONCE KNOWLES: “Motherhood has changed everything. You see things a bit differently after you give birth and my biggest job now is to protect my child.” The singer and her husband, Jay-Z, had their first child in 2012. Since then, Beyonce has continued to balance career and motherhood and says she’d like to have more children in the future.
MICHELLE OBAMA: “Like any mother, I am just hoping that I don’t mess them up.” Mrs. Obama may be the First Lady, and while that does offer her in an optimum position of privilege, at the end of the day she is a mother first. And as a mother, she is unafraid to admit that she is familiar with the challenges that arise from raising other human beings. The mother of 2, Malia (16) and Sasha (13), is admirable in her ability to speak candidly about the ups and downs of parenting.
Most mothers, when being honest, will say that there is nothing more precious, nor more difficult, than raising children. While all parents have to deal with the challenges of family-life, mothers have long been faced with a higher level of social expectation. Struggles for women’s rights all throughout time and across borders have been almost invariably connected to the balance between public life and private (family) life. When women fought to be able to attend school and have access to the job market, they quickly realized that it would require a change in how we as a society viewed the role of the mother, and the father who suddenly had to be more involved.
For these celeb moms, it remains important that in discussing motherhood, we acknowledge the special circumstances working women face in these excitingly modern times. It may not be all sunshine and lollipops, but in the end, these women are proud to say that they work hard to maintain successful careers and homes. Here are some of our favourite mommy quotes to date.
