Serena Williams might be a global icon, but at home, she’s just Mom and stepping away for an evening isn’t always easy. In a recent exclusive interview, the tennis legend admits that it is hard to leave her daughters for an adult night out.
While walking the red carpet at the Baby2Baby Gala on Nov. 8, the legendary mother-of-two told People Magazine that leaving her daughters Alexis Olympia, 8, and Adira River, 2, still tugs at her heart. “Well, tonight was definitely a little more difficult. I don’t like to leave my kids,” she admitted, adding, “I have a nighttime routine with them every day.”
Even so, Williams said supporting Baby2Baby was worth the temporary goodbye. “I love Baby2Baby because they’re really just about kids and helping so many babies and so many mothers as well. They’re so supportive, so I just feel like it wasn’t easy, but it’s also nice. I get to come out and get to get dressed up, put on a little lip and have some fun with some amazing people.”
The former athlete was honored with this year’s Giving Tree Award for her advocacy around women’s health and Black maternal health, often shares glimpses of her real behind-the-scenes mom life on social media.
In recent Instagram posts, fans saw her posing beside Olympia, who crossed her arms and made faces like a true mini-me, while baby sister Adira was captured in full toddler mode, from a TSA bin to the beach. Serena captioned the family moment, “At first they are sweet, then they get sweeter… Or something like that.”
And in July, Serena had parents everywhere laughing when Olympia tugged her skirt up mid-vacation photoshoot. “@OlympiaOhanian always keeping me in check!” she jokingly captioned the post, “Someone please let her know it’s #summer?”
Photo Credit: Serena Williams Instagram
