Rachael Ray says the timing is not right for a baby

She’s said it before, and she’s saying it again!  Celebrity chef and talk show host Rachael Ray simply doesn’t have the time or the energy to have a baby.  Rachael, 39, tells Extra that she’s "too tired" to even contemplate motherhood at this point.  She adds,

I feel like I’m a bad mom to my dog… I have five jobs, and I just don’t think I could take on the biggest job of being a parent.

Rachael and her husband John Cusimano were married in 2005.

Source:  US via Extra

Comments

Love how she is honest. She would be a great Mom someday!

- MommyD on February 15th, 2008

Good for her for remaining honest. I remember a while back she had said something like this and alot of people called her selfish for not wanting children right now. But at least she understands and knows she is not ready, and I think that is completely unselfish.

- Ashley on February 15th, 2008

Good for Rachel for being so honest! I find it rude and very invasive of people to ask or assume that just because you are married that you WILL have children. That is so offensive. I myself may never have kids and that is ok. I enjoy my friends’ kids. Now, a life time without my cats and dogs, absolutely not! Unimaginable. Different strokes for different folks. It’s great to be a woman with choices these days, just some need to get with the times and take their noses out of others’ private lives.

- Cindy on February 15th, 2008

The reason why she’s too tired to have a baby is because she has FIVE jobs!! Hello!! If she really wanted a baby (I suspect she really doesn’t) is she’d give up all jobs, except maybe, one. Heck, look at Giada…she’s having a baby in April and she’s probably taking a lot of time off. These are 2 very successful women in the culinary world. It’s a matter if you make time for a baby or not. And it’s ok if Rachael doesn’t want kids. Not everyone should have to just because it’s expected. You really need to want one to have one.

- Sarah on February 15th, 2008

I honestly can’t believe that people continue to ask her about having children. She has made her feelings very clear time and again. I don’t think anyone needs to bring this up to her again unless she announces a pregnancy.

- jenni on February 15th, 2008

Whether she has a child or not is her own prerogative, but if she does, I HOPE the poor chid doesn’t live on a diet of 30-minute meals.

- Stef on February 15th, 2008

I have quite a few girlfriends that don’t have kids and probably never will. Having children isn’t for everybody. It’s a life changing experience and lifetime commitment. For me personally I couldn’t imagine NOT having had kids. But that’s me — it’s not for everybody. And if you don’t want kids then you shouldn’t have them, it’s as simple as that. She’s already said she doesn’t want them and if that’s the case, then good for her. I don’t get why people keep asking her over and over again.

- Michelle on February 15th, 2008

Gosh, I wish everyone would just leave her alone with the baby stuff! I really admire her honesty – I think too many busy women feel like they should have kids and then aren’t around to take care of them.

- Ang on February 15th, 2008

I really wish the press would have a little more sensitivity and realize that it’s not okay to ask (or in this case, hound) someone about having children because:
a) there’s nothing wrong with not wanting children
and
b) some people might say they don’t want children when in reality they are struggling with fertility problems that they just don’t want to discuss – and it must be painful for those people to have others constantly nagging them about having children
and
c) it’s really none of their business if and/or when anyone has kids

It’s ridiculous that people without children are constantly being put in a position where they’re expected to have to justify being child-free.

- Emily on February 15th, 2008

I’m glad that she has given this some deep thought and recognizes the devotion that motherhood takes. It’s probably not so much about how many jobs she has, but that she realizes she couldn’t be completely there emotionally either when her focuses are on other things. She’s at the height of her fame now. In a few years we’ll all be like, “Oh I remember Rachel Ray!”

- Victoria on February 15th, 2008

She has indeed said that she does not plan to have children… that she feels she is not the mom “type”… aka… her life revolves around herself and career and she likes it that way.

As a mom who is happy to have my life revolve around my kids, but also still have my identity, I know it can be tough for women and admire women who know themselves well enough to know that having children is not for them.

I always knew I wanted kids and am so happy and blessed to have my three.

But I would never presume that having children is right for everyone. My own sister does not want kids and my uncle was the same way… and I’m fine with it. You know, I think it takes a strong person to just stand up and say… “the right life for you isn’t necessarily the right one for me”

If she ever changes her mind, any children Rachel Ray does have will be better off because she waited till she was ready.

If she never has children, her life is still fulfilling and wonderful and we should admire her for doing what fits best into her goals and her life.

- Kat on February 15th, 2008

Good for Rachael…she knows herself and makes no apologies…and she shouldn’t!

I myself have children and that’s all I’ve ever wanted in life. But that’s me. It’s not for everyone!

I have a friend who has two children she never sees because motherhood really doesn’t agree with her. Even on her days off she has her mother care for them…grandma is the one with the museum and zoo memberships! It’s sad for her kids to slip quite often and call their grandmother mama.

It’s better to be honest with yourself and do what’s best for you, than to realize it too late and then feel guilty about your kids!

I wish everyone would leave Rachael Ray alone on the kid front and focus on her talents…she has so many, there’s no need to fill interviews with other topics such as children!

- UggaMugga.com on February 15th, 2008

Sometimes people who want kids say it’s not the right time etc because they want them but they are just not getting pregnant and don’t want people to keep asking.

- Neke on February 15th, 2008

I doubt she wants kids in the first place,m regardless of timing. I also doubt she’ll stay in this marriage.

- minx on February 15th, 2008

I agree with everybody here. And I would like to preface my statement by saying that I think it’s ridiculous that the media every poses this question at all, who cares about her family plans? (although I read this blog, so clearly I’m interested in celebrities’ families on some level…)

But I don’t understand the statement that she’s “too busy” for children. Does she think that everyone who has children is just looking for a way to fill gads of free time? of course she doesn’t. Does she think that if she were to have a child, those five jobs would be non-negotiable? Of course not, again; she’d shift at least part of the focus of her time. The point is that we still live in a society that makes a woman feel uncomfortable to stand up and say “I don’t want kids” or “I don’t want kids right now” or “My career is the most important important thing to me right now.” This woman has never in any way given me the impression that she wants kids, but the press continues to hound her about it because for some reason they assume that this is something every woman wants to talk about.

It’s so stupid to me. Children are a choice, and not a choice everyone wants to make, and we’re SUPPOSED to believe that as a society, but our actions don’t reflect that. No man or woman should have to give excuses for not having children. “I have no desire to have children right now” should suffice.

- Chiara on February 15th, 2008

Rachael Ray is not a person I’m really a fan of, but whenever she says things like this I really respect and admire her. The world needs more people who have a strong sense of self; for all paths of what they do.

- lis on February 15th, 2008

I’m a fan of Rachael’s show and I’d love her to have a baby of her own one day, but if she never has kids, it totally understanding. Rachael knows that she is not ready to have kids, so I don’t know why people do not respect her feelings about it. Having a baby is a big commitment with tons of responsibilities, and Rachael doesn’t have the time to commit to it since she is already too busy with her career. It’s never a good idea to become pregnant and have a baby if you cannot make time for it, otherwise it’s going to be very difficult and frustrating in the long run. I’m happy that Rachael expressed her opinion about it and I sure respect it, even though I would like her to have a baby one day. She’s making a smart choice and is doing what is best for her.

- J.J. on February 15th, 2008

I think she can’t have children, I remember hearing about that a few years ago. People shouldn’t ask her about it constantly, it’s rude and if she is having problems, it has to be annoying to keep saying no kids for now. And if she just doesn’t want kids, than that’s fine, not everybody wants to be a mother, although for me I always knew I wanted kids, but some people don’t and that’s fine.

- gabriella on February 16th, 2008

If you don’t want kids, don’t have them! I love my children, but they do take up 110% of my time. Even when I am at work or away from them they are always in the back of my mind – “are they okay?” “Did I remember to do x,y & z for them?” …

I have a lot of respect for people who decide to not have children in our society which almost demands children for married people. Some people just don’t want kids – and I can’t think of anything worse than having kids and not wanting them … a bad situation all around.

Good for Rachel for standing firm in her beliefs … I personally wish she would tell all the media people to go to hell the next time they ask about when she is having kids … enough with being polite about the topic!

- charsmom on February 16th, 2008

A friend of mine who worked on her company strategy told me that she openly does not want kids. She just wants to be with her husband & have dogs. I say good for her, she is not bringing a person in this world for the wrong reasons.

- nb on February 16th, 2008

Why is there such PRESSURE to have kids? Please somebody tell me? Firstly, there is an overpopulation in this world. Secondly, contrary to popular belief, not everyone is mesmerized by the idea of motherhood. It’s not fulfilling for everyone (sorry). Some mothers tell “non-mothers” (the Others, the monsters)..that …ohhh motherhood changed their lives and they would have never known about how gratifying it is… blah blah blah. The fact is that many things can change your lives and be gratifying. Yes-it’s nature..procreation is at the root of life and our existence…but so is death (that’s also natural and not many of us embrace that). We have evolved into thinking and complex human beings. Motherhood is NOT all it is cracked up to be. I have friends who are mothers and uh…have fun! haha They’re one step away from lunacy. Anything can be made into a “meaningful” experience. I think mothers should BACK OFF to people who don’t want the same experience and are independent. Non-mothers don’t ask mothers–WHY DO YOU WANT THAT? Why do you like changing smelly diapers and risking your life when your child grows up to be a leach and a menace to society? BRAVO to people who don’t need to swim along the current. Again-not all it’s cracked up to be and…you don’t get to pick who will be your child. Let Rachel Ray be the opposite of the crazy baby obsessed Brangelina and the baby-obsessed world. Now-animals are another story (pure innocence and they stay cute forever). Not so with human babies who grow up to be ugly mean adults haha. There are so many things in life. If you want to be a mother (which is most of the hoi polloi) than go the “normal” route and be common. If you don’t…leave those people alone gosh darnet. I think having a child can be selfish (i.e. motivated by “passing along the genes”. (rolling eyes)..”having someone to boss around or call your own”. NOT having children can be unselfish !! Those people may be the real unselfish people…not needing genes to be passed along or someone to boss around. Some people become mothers just to feel important or have someone worship them…

- Alex on July 28th, 2008

While I do respect motherhood, it’s very clear that a lot of people fool themselves into thinking that having kids (only) will replace finding true meaning in their lives on their own. Those who deny it are just kidding themselves. I’m happy that Rachel Ray is contributing her talents to the rest of the world; she is a great role model for other women.

- - on February 3rd, 2009