Meet Later Mom: Actress/Author Brooke Shields
YOUR NAME: Brooke Shields
AGE: 49
RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Married
RESIDENCE: New York City
CHILDREN’S NAMES/AGES: Rowan 11, Grier 8
You have had success in many entertainment arenas. Is there one in your career that you are most proud of, and why? Acting on Broadway. The amount of work, talent and endurance you have to have to do 8 shows a week is a true test….
What was your motivation for writing your new memoir THERE WAS A LITTLE GIRL? What message do you hope other moms will take away? The message is that it is not just for moms and daughters; It is for anyone who has ever had a challenging relationship with a parent. My motivation was to finally tell my side of the story of my life.
How do you think your mother would react to the book? She would love it. It’s about us as a team.
You’ve written other books, including DOWN CAME THE RAIN. Why did you feel it was important to share about Post Partum Depression? Because nobody was talking about Post Partum Depression, and women were suffering all the time. I wanted to educate women who were suffering and families of women who were suffering.What is your writing process? Do you have a particular place where you like to write? Do you write daily? I wrote everywhere: the beach, on vacation, on planes, in cars. I wrote the book in 9 months, and I did not read it until it was completed.
How does being a mom influence your work? Being a mom puts the rejection of being an actress in perspective.
Do you ever feel overwhelmed? How do you create connection? I feel overwhelmed every time work takes me away from my kids, which is sometimes more often than I like. I Skype with them when I am away, and we always have one family member with them at all times.
What do you see as the positives and challenges of having a child at age 35 or over? Positive: You are more mature and ready to be a parent. Negative: You are more mature and therefore, have less energy to be a parent.
photo credit: Chris Henchy
Has anything about being a mother surprised you? What do you love the most about it? How different my daughters are than when I was a child. What I love most is being able to wake up in the morning with these innocent and truthful little people.
What do you most want to teach your daughters? What have you learned from them thus far? I want to teach them how to be confident. They have taught me the importance of being in the moment.
Where do you turn for support as a mom? How important is to connect with mom peers? I get support from other moms and my therapist. It is only as important to connect with mom peers as it gives you comfort. If and when it gets competitive, it becomes toxic.
What words of wisdom would you most like to share with others contemplating becoming a parent, particularly if they’re 35 or older? There is never a right time. Just do it and ultimately, you will not be sorry.
Tags: actress, broadway, Brooke Shields, Calvin Kleins, parenting later in life, post partum depression
