Celebrity Baby Blog / Calista Flockhart

Why Calista Flockhart wanted to get hit with a football

Timing is everything for Calista Flockhart. As Ally McBeal was ending, she adopted her son Liam, now 6, and became a full-time mom once the show was over. When Liam was getting ready to start kindergarten last year, Calista realized she’d have more time on her hands and signed onto her current drama Brothers & Sisters.

Kindergarten, as it turns out, is a huge milestone and I wasn’t quite prepared for it. He’s doing great and having a lot of fun. I know it sounds kind of silly, but it’s the end of an era. It’s the end of that baby being home with you and you have to let go. And it’s a wonderful thing, but it wasn’t easy. It was emotional.

The actress is still easing back into work mode. She only works two or three days a week, as promised by the producers, but is always looking for more downtime with her son. Between a take last month, co-star Rob Lowe and an extra were tossing a football around and Calista unsuccessfully bribed the extra to aim the football at her head so she could go home.

While Calista says she has "great fun" at work, Liam will always remain her top priority, so much so that she gets "cranky" if she misses a bedtime tuck-in two nights in a row, according to B&S producer Ken Olin.

With a child, I just don’t want to give up that much time. I feel really fortunate that I’m able to make my own decisions about how much I’m going to work. It’s an amazing place to be and I’m kind of surprised I’m there. I’m in a place in my life where I’m just really happy.

Source: Los Angeles Times via AM New York