Taylor Hill
- Blake Lively opens up about her struggles with balancing work and family.
- The “Gossip Girl” actress shares four kids with actor Ryan Reynolds.
- A 2015 study from Pew Research indicated that fathers can experience similar feelings of guilt regarding parenting duties.
Even public figures like Blake Lively grapple with feelings of parental guilt.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, alongside her “It Ends With Us” co-star Jenny Slate, the actress discussed her journey in managing both career and family life.
Lively expressed appreciation for her connection with Slate, noting how they could relate to each other’s experiences as working mothers. She remarked, “We have a passion for our roles and dedicate ourselves fully to our work. However, our personal lives shape who we are far more significantly than our careers. It’s possible to embody both facets simultaneously.”
The star is the mother of four children — James (9), Inez (7), Betty (4), and Olin (1) — born to her husband Ryan Reynolds. In contrast, Slate became a mother for the first time in 2021 when she welcomed a daughter.
Lively candidly shared that navigating guilt during moments when she must focus on either personal responsibilities or professional obligations can be challenging. “When engaged in work, there’s often an underlying feeling of regret for not being part of my family’s day-to-day activities during those hours,” she said. “Conversely, while I’m at home attending to family matters, my mind sometimes drifts back to work.”
Despite an undeniably busy schedule, Lively has developed methods to ensure quality time spent with loved ones remains intact. Earlier this year, she disclosed that early on in their relationship, both she and Reynolds made it clear they would “not take on overlapping jobs” so they could prioritize their familial commitments whenever possible.
This intentionality requires conscious effort; according to Lively: “Maintaining non-concurrent working schedules demands substantial dedication while we’re not filming or working on projects together – it’s all about balance and careful planning.”
Navigating Parental Guilt
A survey conducted by GoodtoKnow, targeting 900 individuals across the UK revealed staggering insights: 78% of mothers report experiencing feelings of guilt regarding their roles as parents regularly; notably 68% admit these sentiments arise multiple times daily—61% indicating tendencies toward comparing themselves against other moms’ perceived capabilities.
A previous study from 2015 suggested children’s emotional health doesn’t merely hinge on how much time they’re spending directly involved with their mothers; still many working parents struggle against these inner narratives filled with doubt surrounding their parenting choices.
Interestingly enough, fathers also tend toward experiencing similar struggles linked not solely just towards traditional mom guilt but also regarding balancing workforce demands alongside household responsibilities per findings detailed by Pew Research Center’s study from 2015.
Sustaining ongoing feelings framed around erroneous parental fault can elevate stress levels dramatically impacting overall mental wellness—potentially leading down paths often entwined intimately between anxiety disorders or depression along hypertension risks according functional medicine specialist Melissa Young who elaborates via insights published by Cleveland Clinic Newsroom . She suggests reframing self-care routines strictly designed solely around individual wellbeing may bolster someone further enabling them better support loved ones placed at center stage throughout households everywhere worldwide today!
An emerging landscape shifted towards compassion stands apparent through effective practices characterized within everyone’s unique journey such as indulging oneself into leisurely pursuits like serene nature walks—or perhaps soaking up tranquility within relaxing baths thoughtfully planned each week ahead! Other vital mechanisms include aiming towards avoiding comparisons overall amidst differing experiences essentially connecting roots deeper embraced strengths inherently found usually through sharing intimate dialogues freely transpiring between trusted circles comprising partners/friends/thoughtful therapists supporting before undergoing difficult emotions tangled inside.”
