AP Photo Archive Kelly Ripa is one celebrity mother who worked through her pregnancy and takes her children to work.

Celebrity mothers take more active role in children’s lives

by Tammy Walquist WAL01018@BYUI.EDU Special Sections Editor

Hollywood mothers are starting to take a more active role in their children’s lives.

Instead of just hiring nannies to raise their children, many stars are realizing the importance of their role in their children’s lives, according to www.etonline.com.

“They are not trying to rely on nannies the way Hollywood mothers used to,” Miriam Arond, editor-in-chief of Child magazine, said. “Women are trying to have nannies, but only use them in auxiliary ways, as a backup. You can have all the money in the world, but you can’t pay for someone to raise your children. You have to be there.”

In addition, many celebrity mothers are into showing off their pregnant bodies, instead of hiding them.

“Women are absolutely flaunting and showing off their pregnant bodies. They’re comfortable with them,” Arond said.

Celebrity moms are also making decisions to work through their pregnancy rather than take time off.

“Women today are working through their pregnancies. They’re not taking to their beds unless they have a problem with their pregnancy,” Arond said.

This decision, to work through pregnancy, especially to someone who is in the limelight, does influence other mothers-to-be.

“When you have someone like Kelly Ripa out there who’s working through her pregnancy and looking fantastic and looking fit, it’s inspiration,” Arond said.

Many celebrity moms even take their children to work with them after they are born. Kelly Ripa, star of All My Children and co-host of Live with Regis, is one such parent.

Ripa reported that after the birth of her daughter, she would take both children with her to work.

She has one nanny who takes care of her daughter Lola, and another nanny who helps take her son to play group, camp and back to meet her later in the day, according to www.etonline.com.

Instead of feeling distracted by having her children so close, Ripa feels it is a comfort.
“It’s comforting [having my children close by on the set]. ... It is comforting to know they are really nearby,” Ripa said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight.

Celebrity parents are also working to teach their children about values, which is a struggle with some current societal trends.

Arond said that the struggles are something all parents face.

“Celebrity parents certainly have money, and they are challenged in terms of how to raise a child with values, but it’s something that parents today are feeling. We’re living in a very materialistic society, and it’s hard. How do you raise a child who will still understand the value of a dollar, who will still respect that you need to work hard in order to achieve something? This is something that all parents are struggling with,” Arond said.