Nancy O'Dell Says First Lady Suffers From Mom Guilt, Too

Richie Buxo/Splash News Online

Calling working motherhood “one big guilt trip,” Nancy O’Dell says she — like so many — often finds herself trying “to fit more hours into the day than there actually is.” Speaking from The Noble Awards at the Beverly Hills Hilton on October 18th, the 43-year-old Access Hollywood host tells Celebrity Baby Blog she recently was comforted to learn that even First Lady Michelle Obama struggles with mom guilt, however.

“She was on the campaign trail and away from her kids,” Nancy recalls, “and she said it’s one big guilt trip, because when she was out on the campaign trail she was feeling bad about not being with the kids and when she was with the kids she felt bad because she felt she needed to be helping her husband.”

Nancy — mom to 2-year-old Ashby Grace — credits her own husband Keith Zubchevich with helping her to commit completely to whatever she’s chosen to do. “I always put my family as priority,” she explains, “but if you hold down a job there are certain things you have to do.” Nancy adds,

“If I’ve made a decision I have to go to this work function or if I’m not going to do this work function because I’m going to be with my family [I] try to be in the moment. If you are at one thing and you’re feeling guilty about not being at the other thing you’re not in the moment.”

Bedtime is an important time for staying in the moment, and Ashby definitely has her preferences in bedtime stories.

“Oh my God, I read most all the ones that are fuzzy and feely and touchy and stuff like that,” Nancy says, “but we’re both really into the big Mother Goose book of nursery rhymes right now. She loves all the rhyming stuff and so I’ve been reading that to her. I just got through doing Dr. Seuss books. I read the Fancy Nancy series!”

Nancy is also step-mom to Keith’s sons Tyler and Carson from a previous marriage.

– Missy with reporting by Michelle Ward

Comments

Here it comes…

- Stella Bella on October 24th, 2009

They both have nannies.

- Jackie on October 24th, 2009

LOL @ Stella… Yep.

- giftbox on October 24th, 2009

ok
Benigna Marko

- Benigna Marko on October 24th, 2009

I can’t imagine how hard it would be to be away from my children for work. I am so glad I don’t have to work full-time because it would kill me to only see them for an hour or two a day!

- urbanadventurertales on October 25th, 2009

I think regardless if they have nannies, being away from their kids (via work) is difficult. At least they have extra help to know their kids are safe while they are not around. And Michelle Obama had her mom watch the kids during the campaign. Maybe now they have nannies and extra security because they are the first-family.

- Mia on October 25th, 2009

I think it would be hard because the whole world is watching Mrs Obama and her children. Any mistakes Mrs Obama makes with her children and she will be subject to endless negativity, as seen here on this website with other celebrities. I would hate to have my parenting put under the microscope!

- Louise on October 25th, 2009

I’m confused. Where does it say anything about nannies? Or is this something from a different interview?

And..here what comes?

- kris on October 25th, 2009

We aren’t that crazy to think they don’t have nannies. They are multi-millionaires. Come on now!

- Jackie on October 25th, 2009

Jackie- I don’t think the Obama kids have a full time nanny. I thought the whole reason Michelle’s mom moved in was to help out with childcare? I know that they have said they’ve used babysitters on occasion.

And, as I had a nanny throughout my childhood, I don’t know why people knock them. I was always in good hands and my mother was able to have a career. Everyone benefited.

- Tiger Lily on October 26th, 2009

Tiger Lily- I agree on both counts! I, too, have never read anything about the Obama girls having a nanny, and that Michelle’s mother lives with them to help out.

Also, not all celebs have nannies. I hate that people always assume that celebs have nannines just because they’re rich. For example, Brad Paisley has said that he and Kimberely don’t use nannies, and relie on their family for childcare instead. Nicole Richie and Joel Madden also said after Harlow that they didn’t use nannies at the time (with Sparrow’s arrival, it’s possible that may have changed). Instead, Uncle Benji and both sets of grandparents took care of Harlow when Nicole and Joel needed to do things.

Anyway, I also don’t see why people think it’s such a bad thing to have a nanny. If the nanny is basically raising the kid(s), then I can see the issue. However, as long as the parents are still doing most of the parenting themselves, I don’t see the issue.

- CelebBabyLover on October 26th, 2009

My parents were both cops and there were times when they both ended up working the graveyard shifts. We had ‘helpers’ thats what we called them growing up. They helped us get ready for school, combed our hair, made our meals and tidied the house.

When my parents’ got the schedules back on track either my mom or dad was home but we always knew where to reach them and my mom would never keep a helper full time, just as needed. When she got promoted and could control her own schedule, she was home always cooking, washing, cleaning and when she had to be at work my dad took over…even tried braiding my hair for school

We weren’t rich but with both parents working and family members living far away we had to rely on helpers and there is nothing wrong with that.

- Dee on October 27th, 2009

I should say too, that had it not been for our ‘helpers’ my parents wouldn’t have been able to work as hard as they did and had their house paid off in no time and money set aside for a rainy day.

And we never missed a Sunday for church, my mom would leave work if she had to and be there.

- Dee on October 27th, 2009

Celeb or not, we are all moms at the end of the day just trying to do it all well. Having a nanny or a support system does not negate the fact the working moms don’t suffer from guilt. I’ve been told that guilt is a useless emotion however, after surveying 700+ moms I’ve learned that it’s the number one factor preventing moms from returning to work.

I’ve also interviewed many-a celebrity like Chris Rock’s wife, Malaak, who gave great advice. She told me that she was put on this earth to be more than a mother and a wife and that she pushes through the guilt.

Well said.

- bradinathan on October 27th, 2009