Halle Berry stopped by Today with Jenna & Friends as guest co-host on Wednesday, June 4, where she opened up about motherhood, her career, and preparing for her daughter’s next big step.
In her conversation with Jenna Bush Hager, Berry talked about the value of letting her children see her work.
“I’ve felt some guilt, but I want to teach my daughter, ‘Don’t have guilt. Have a family, if you want, have a career if you want. You can do it all, just maybe not all at the same time,” Berry shared.
She also spoke about shifting the perception of working moms.
“We can still be seen as good mothers, there for our children, but also, we have to be there for ourselves because these kids will grow up and move on and if we haven’t maintained a life for ourselves, then what happens?” she added.
Berry encouraged mothers to hold on to the things that bring them joy and identity outside of parenting. “So I think it’s really important to keep your love life, keep your career, keep the things that make you you, your hobbies, your passions, whatever it is,” Berry continued. “Keep those alive while you’re also being a mom.”
The Oscar winner shares her 17-year-old daughter Nahla with ex Gabriel Aubry, and 11-year-old son Maceo-Robert with ex-husband Olivier Martinez.
In a year, Nahla will be heading to college. “She’s 17. She’s going to a college summer program, the college she’s hoping to attend next year,” Berry explained. “She’s going away this year to the college summer program.”
Jenna Bush Hager asked if the transition felt surreal.
“It is, but I’m not one of these moms that feels like, ‘Oh, she’s leaving.’ Yes, will I worry? Of course,” Berry said. “But am I excited for her to start her life and figure out who she’s gonna be? Absolutey. I’m dying to see who she’s gonna be and what she’s gonna do and what she’ll discover.”
