Since the beginning of social media, moms have shared their lives online, often posting a “highlight reel” filled with the best moments while hiding the harder ones. At the same time, many online conversations about motherhood have focused almost entirely on the struggles, sometimes making motherhood feel more like a burden than a gift.
But what if we told the truth about motherhood by talking about all of it: the beautiful, the difficult, the messy, and the joyful?
Celebrity moms have started opening up about their experiences, sharing the challenges, growth, humor, and joy that come with being a mom.
Here are seven celebrity moms who tell the truth about motherhood:
Candace Cameron Bure: On Leaning on God in Motherhood
Candace Cameron Bure has spoken openly about how motherhood deepened her faith and changed the way she saw her value as a woman and a mother.
According to Candace Cameron Bure, becoming a mom led her to spend more time in God’s Word, where she realized something life-changing:
“I am valued by Him, whether I’m a stay-at-home mom, whether I have a successful career or whether I do absolutely nothing all day long, He loves me no matter what. I don’t have to prove anything to Him.”
Candace’s reminder is that a mother’s worth is not found in performance, perfection, or getting everything right. Leaning on God during motherhood is the best thing you can do.
Anne Hathaway: On Being a Boy Mom
Anne Hathaway shares the reality of being a “boy mom,” all the ways she’s had to adapt, and how motherhood has helped her embrace her more playful “tomboy” side, even in the way she dresses.
“Being a mom is just this beautiful ongoing poem that I get to live inside of.”
“I have to always be able to go from a serious business meeting to, like, a basketball court. You have to be able to play pickup basketball at any point, in any outfit. So [I tell myself]: When you get dressed in the morning, dress wisely because you 100 percent are going to have a projectile thrown at you probably by the end of breakfast.”
She also reflects on her gratitude for being a mom and experiencing the miracle of life.
“I just feel very lucky,” she says. “I know that not everybody who wants to be a parent gets to be. I’m just blown away by how fortunate I am. It went really well for me twice, and that’s really lucky.”
We love how Hathaway summarizes motherhood. It’s a beautiful poem and a fun balance. It’s challenging and silly, and it pushes you out of your comfort zone in some of the most unexpected ways.
Hillary Duff: On Being an Imperfect Mom
Millennials grew up watching Hilary Duff guide girls through adolescence on Lizzie McGuire. Now, she continues to be her authentic self, openly sharing how she’s embracing motherhood and the many ways it changes you.
“Having kids changes everything. Life’s not really about you anymore,” said Duff, “Having kids has taught me unbelievable patience and brought immense joy to my life.”
Duff has also been honest about the hard work that can come with motherhood.
“I’m juggling a million things a day: working from home, changing diapers, and trying to navigate virtual learning. Sometimes my head is spinning and I truly have NO idea what’s going on. And you know what? That’s totally OK! We need to normalize not having it all together!!!”
Hilary Duff keeps motherhood honest. It can feel overwhelming, messy, and exhausting at times, but women do not have to be perfect to be incredible moms. The more we normalize imperfect motherhood, the more women can choose it with confidence.
Millie Bobby Brown: On the Beauty of Adoption
Millie Bobby Brown has spoken openly about adopting her baby girl. Since becoming a mom with her husband Jake Bongiovi, Brown has shared her new experiences in motherhood and the beauty of adoption.
She explained how motherhood has matured her, “Being a mother expedited this version of me. Nothing could get in the way of me being who I need to be for my daughter.”
“I really want a big family,” she said. “I don’t see having your own child, you know, as really any different as in adopting…My home is full of love for anyone and anything.”
Millie Bobby Brown makes a great point. Whether you’ve adopted, fostered, placed a child for adoption, or stepped into motherhood as a stepmom, the love a mother carries is priceless.
Read her adoption story here: Millie Bobby Brown’s Adoption Story: Embracing Motherhood at a Young Age
Sadie Robertson Huff: On Being More Settled as a Mom
Sadie Robertson Huff has been on our screens since her days on the hit show Duck Dynasty. Now, she’s a speaker, author, and mom of three daughters. Sadie often posts online about motherhood, faith, and the beauty of raising children.
In an Instagram post, Sadie reflected on how becoming a mother changed her perspective on life and what truly matters.
In the caption, she wrote:
“I met someone today who has seen my messages and she said ever since you became a mom you just seem ‘settled.’ She would be correct.
Since becoming a mom I don’t feel that I need to prove anything to the world … or maybe just my idea of ‘the world’ changed. the world used to be everyone outside of my home … now it’s the ones in it.”
We love Sadie’s honesty about how motherhood reshaped her priorities.
Rihanna: On Feeling like She Can Take on the World
Rihanna famously revealed her second pregnancy during her Super Bowl halftime performance in 2023. This was a powerful moment where she showed you can be a mom while continuing her career on one of the world’s biggest stages. She later shared her reaction when she first got the call to perform:
“When I first got the call to do it again this year, I was like, ‘You sure?’ Like, I’m three months postpartum, like, should I be making major decisions like this right now?”
But motherhood gave her a new sense of confidence and strength.
“When you become a mom, there’s something that just happens where you feel like you could take on the world, you can do anything.”
Since then, Rihanna welcomed her third baby in 2025 and continues balancing motherhood alongside her career.
Reese Witherspoon: Balancing Motherhood and Her Career
Reese Witherspoon has been gracing our TVs in movies like Legally Blonde while being a mom for over two decades now. She talks about what it’s like to be a working mom.
“Being a mom is really great, it’s a big part of my life. I would say it’s the biggest part of my life.”
On The Drew Barrymore Show, she explained that although balancing motherhood with her career hasn’t been easy, it was “truly worth it.”
In an interview, she talked about being terrified of being a mom at 22, but she explained how she persevered.
“There’s a lot of compromise … You feel like that’s what makes me wake up on a Sunday, it’s not movies or my job, it’s my kids,” she said.
In the end, Witherspoon has no regrets about having children at a young age.
Celebrating the Joy of Motherhood Online
While many online continue to discourage women from embracing motherhood, we appreciate the celebrities who openly celebrate the joy of being a mom and all that comes with it.
Motherhood can be messy, challenging, and unexpected, but it is also a beautiful gift.
At Save the Storks, we want every woman to have the resources, compassionate care, and support she needs to choose the joy of motherhood confidently. You can help make that possible.
*The views and opinions expressed by celebrities in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of Save the Storks. This article aims to highlight positive conversations about motherhood and family.
