When we think of celebrity moms, we tend to think that their lives and the lives of their children are, for the most part, perfect. These women seem to, without a hitch, “balance it all”—work, career, and family. We see them in the news, on television, and in magazines back in their size 2 skinny jeans, looking sometimes even better postpartum, usually pictured smiling brightly holding their perfectly coiffed new bundles of joy.
So, it should not come as a surprise that in today’s society almost 86 percent of mothers view celebrities as their inspiration and role models for being a mom as opposed to the working mother who has three jobs and still manages to make it home in time to tuck the kids in, check homework, and pack their school lunches for the next day. Are we really more inspired by Beyoncé’s ability to help Blu Ivy with her math worksheets after spending all day in the studio? Well, it would seem so.
Celebrity moms, unquestionably have the means and around the clock help to make motherhood look flawless while the majority of mothers are surviving on Starbucks and a prayer. However, these women do have added amounts of pressure and demands that the average mom doesn’t. Celeb moms are often faced with the challenges of not being present for their children for long periods of time and having to work extra hard to protect their little one’s privacy. Even though there are some celebrity parents that have chosen to value their family life over their careers, many are not able to sit in carpool line and make sure little Johnny gets off to school on time. Some of the simple things that the average mom might take for granted are not a part of the everyday program for the celebrity mom.
However, regardless of any mom’s celeb status or socio-economic profile, all moms are faced with the same challenge: how to meet their own obligations while still being present for their children? If we can admire women like Halle Berry, Ciara, Tia & Tamera, Solange, or Viola Davis for being talented celebrities and for being ever-present in their children’s lives, then so be it.
When it all boils down to it, it is not about how much money you have, or how many new pairs of shoes are in the closet, or how many Grammy’s or Academy Awards are on the shelf. At the end of the day, it is about knowing that being a mom is the hardest job on the planet. We don’t always have to find inspiration from those who are living life in our circles. It is okay to be inspired by those who share similar circumstances, concerns, experiences, and dreams for their children and it doesn’t matter that your vision of the ideal mom just so happens to be a celebrity.
