Let me start off by saying that I admit to being sort of a “helicopter parent” and I know that not all people have the privilege of staying home with their kids, but I chose to, even during times when I couldn’t actually afford it. Some may call me ‘privileged’ in a sense that I have the time and access to my children at the drop of a hat, and my husband and I have molded a life to suit it too. BUT that doesn’t mean I don’t understand when a parent has no choice but to work, or can’t be with their children for whatever reason.
Life, it isn’t easy and the truth is, we all struggle to make our situation work for the best of our families.
Reality is, life happens and we are all keeping a float to keep our babies happy.
Bottom line.
That’s why I love the interview by Angelina Jolie in the Daily News – she admits that her lifestyle is not exactly hard, or harder than any other person on this planet, in fact, she admits that it is a lot easier then most.
“I actually feel that women in my position, when we have all at our disposal to help us, shouldn’t complain,” she told the Daily News. “Consider all the people who really struggle and don’t have the financial means, don’t have the support, and many people are single raising children. That’s hard.”
“When I feel I’m doing too much, I do less, if I can. And that’s why I’m in a rare position where I don’t have to do job
after job. I can take time when my family needs it,” she told The News.
Makes me think that this actress is one heck of a privileged mom – the type of mom who recognizes that she has it good, and appreciates every second of it. Recently, actress Gwyneth Paltrow was quoted with the exact opposition to Jolie’s statements:
“It’s much harder for me,” mother-to-two Paltrow, 41, said. “I think it’s different when you have an office job, because it’s routine and, you know, you can do all the stuff in the morning and then you come home in the evening.”
“When you’re shooting a movie, they’re like, ‘We need you to go to Wisconsin for two weeks,’ and then you work 14 hours a day and that part of it is very difficult,” she continued. “I think to have a regular job and be a mom is not as… of course there are challenges, but it’s not like being on set.”
As I do understand Gwyneth’s position, because I can’t stand to be away from my children for more then a few hours at a time, I think that in a celebrity hierarchy such as theirs, the work/travel situation can be avoided if they would just inculde their families in their work. Just like Jolie has successfully done.
What do you think? Do celebs have it ‘harder’ than the average parent?
I don’t think they have it harder. But they do have it hard in the sense that they are probably away from their families a lot. But they choose that. The fact that they can afford any help and have it at their disposal is what makes thinks easier for them than the average parent.
I dunno…it’s hard to say. I find it hard (honestly) to sympathize with celebrities….look at their bank accounts, that’s gotta make life a lot easier and it’s their choice to do the line of work. Many actresses have retired to raise their families.