Holidays like Mother’s Day, while meaningful and celebratory, can also invite an influx of posts on social media that prompt us to compare ourselves to others — often making us more stressed. Instead, it’s refreshing to hear from moms who are candid about the parts of parenting that are challenging (if rewarding) and unfiltered.

When notable people open up about the stressful aspects of raising kids, their authenticity stands out within the highlight reels we’re fed on our screens. Here are some moms who have been refreshingly honest about motherhood:

Chrissy Teigen

From her witty Tweets about motherhood to her light-hearted Instagram posts about raising her two kids with husband John Legend, Teigen has gained a beloved following for her unapologetic authenticity. In a recent interview, she explained why she’s so honest about her life after giving birth — both emotionally and physically. “It’s all about trying to be happy with myself,” she told Good Housekeeping. “I see my body, I see the difference in shape, I see that I gained weight. But I also see with those same eyes that I have a beautiful baby boy, and this little girl that’s relentless and amazing, and I am very happy… I get to be a mommy, [and] I’m happy to be going through this transition.”

Tina Fey

Tina Fey once said that when you become a parent you become a “human napkin for kids.” But most importantly, she’s made it a point to remind other moms that they can succeed as parents, even on the most challenging days. You go through big chunks of time where you’re just thinking, ‘This is impossible,’” she wrote in her bestseller Bossypants. “And then you just keep going and keep going, and you sort of do the impossible.”

Reshma Saujani

Girls Who Code founder and CEO Reshma Saujani has admitted that she finds it difficult to make herself a priority. “We have been taught from the time that we’re young to put everybody else first,” Saujani told Arianna Huffington on the Thrive Global Podcast. “It’s definitely something that I still struggle with… Every single woman I know feels this way.”

Mila Kunis

Kunis was vocal about the shaming she faced after breastfeeding in public — and opened up to Vanity Fair about the toll it took on her. “It’s unfortunate that people are so hard on women who choose to do it and do it in public,” she said. “If it’s not for you, don’t look.” She’s also been candid about her struggle to find stability between her work, her marriage, and motherhood. “There’s no such thing as balance,” she admitted in an interview with E! News. “It doesn’t exist.”

Michelle Obama

Former First Lady Michelle Obama likes to emphasize that parents are never alone in their work. “We have to remember that we’re all in this together,” she has said. “The next time we battle with our kids over those vegetables, or they refuse to join us for a walk to the park… we need to remind ourselves that parents everywhere are going through exactly the same thing.”

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Author(s)

  • Rebecca Muller Feintuch

    Senior Editor and Community Manager

    Thrive

    Rebecca Muller Feintuch is the Senior Editor and Community Manager at Thrive. Her previous work experience includes roles in editorial and digital journalism. Rebecca is passionate about storytelling, creating meaningful connections, and prioritizing mental health and self-care. She is a graduate of New York University, where she studied Media, Culture and Communications with a minor in Creative Writing. For her undergraduate thesis, she researched the relationship between women and fitness media consumerism.