Felicity Huffman on the challenges of motherhood
Desperate Housewives and Emmy-winning actress Felicity Huffman, 44, sat down with Redbook to talk about her new book, A Practical Handbook for the Boyfriend, her ten-year marriage to William "Bill" H. Macy, and her two daughters, Sofia Grace, 6, and Georgia Grace, 4.
In this interview, Felicity talks about some of her worries for her daughters, the tough stuff that comes with being a parent, and also the joys of being a mom. Towards the end of the interview, Bill shares with Redbook on how Felicity felt about becoming a mom.
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As a mom to two daughters, what’s the toughest question you have had to field lately?
First of all, let me say that everything is difficult. I don’t find any of it to be easy. The difficult things are not so much the questions, but more the statements. The other day, my 6-year-old said, "Ugh! My legs look fat." And I just thought, "Oh my God. We need to move to Canada!"
How did you respond?
First I breathed, Then I breathed again. I told her, "That’s not true. You’re legs are beautiful and you have a strong body. It’s athletic and healthy and that’s what you want." Then, I told her, "I love my body," and what was great was that I really meant it.
In your new film, Georgia Rule, you play Mom to a very rebellious Lindsay Lohan. Did that role make you worry about your own daughters’ future rebellion?
I have been wondering about how my daughters are going to rebel since day two. I think about where they’re going to get tattooed. I remember a mother who was nursing once said to me, "I think she resents me already and I haven’t done anything." Children push away and you have to swallow your ire. You want to say to your 4-year-old, "Are you kidding? I was up with you all night and now you’re giving me crap?"
Have you learned anything from playing Lynette on Desperate Housewives that you can apply to your own life as a mother?
No. Except that she helped me learn about this difficulty of motherhood. I am glad we have writer on the show that understand that it isn’t easy for women. I guess Lynette keeps me company in the struggle more than she teaches me anything.
What is an idyllic day off for you?
I love to lie in bed and read with a cup of tea nearby. It’s such a sanctuary and a resource for me. I was on bed rest with both of my kids, and people asked, "Wasn’t that hard?" I was like, "Are you kidding me? It was the best thing that ever happened to me! Can’t get up! Sorry!" I also love to go running with my husband. I love to build forts with my kids.
What do you get excited about?
I get excited when my husband walks in the door or my kids climb into bed with me.
Here’s what Bill had to say about Felicity:
Has she changed much in the many years you’ve known her?
She was scared to be a mom. She was scared she wouldn’t do it right, and so she read all the books and talked to everyone. She said, "My primary job as a mother is to see our children. To see and to support them for who they are, no who we want them to be."
What part of your daughters comes from Felicity?
Georgia is like her mom: fierce. Sofia has my irony. But they’re both so smart. Like Felicity.
Source: Redbook, March 2007 issue
