Halle Berry is promoting her current film, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, which honestly, looks right up her alley. During the world premiere for Wick 3, Halle was asked what it’s like to become a mom in her 40s. So Halle is playing one of the members of a highly-skilled assassin guild wrapped up in the pursuit of Wick, and someone thought they best question to ask her on the red carpet was, “hey, how was it dusting off your uterus after 40?” But Halle gave a very nice answer, saying that because she knew herself so much better in her 40s, she was able to be a better mom than she would have been earlier.
Worth the wait! Halle Berry welcomed both daughter Nahla, 11, and son Maceo, 5, after turning 40 and raved about the experience.
“You’re so much more ready to be a parent after 40 than when you’re 20,” the actress, 52, told Us Weekly exclusively at the recent John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum world premiere. “You know yourself better. You’ve done a lot of things for yourself, selfishly. When you wait later in life, you can really put your kids forward I think in a more meaningful way.”
Her advice for moms considering starting a family later in life? “Do it,” she told Us. “Just do it.”
I was in my mid-to-late 30s when I became a mom. I always thought I’d doing my kids a disservice because I just don’t have the flipping energy I did in my 20s. I thought if I’d been a 20-something mom, I would’ve made their world more fun because I was more fun. But what Halle said is very true for me as well. I can be stubborn now, but I was impossible in my 20s. Because I was insecure, I would double down on (mostly the wrong) stuff to make me seem right. I have more confidence now to listen to others, including my kids. Oddly, with age came flexibility.
Of course, none of this is to say that people who become moms early are at a disadvantage. Anyone can be a good parent at any age. But if Halle’s experience was anything like mine, a lot of people told her why is was a bad idea not to have kids past a certain age, and those reasons went far beyond just how hard it would be to conceive. So I like that Halle is out here telling women to go for it. It’s great to hear that motherhood has been so rewarding for her.
Photo credit: WENN Photos
She must be drinking virgin’s blood.
Is that the secret? Where can i get some? 😂🤣
I think Mike Pence sells it on ebay.
@monicack I am DYING from laughing so hard over here
she looks I-N-C-R-E-D-I-B-L-E. that picture in the silver dress? wow. beautiful.
She’s a devout follower of the keto diet and has been for a long time… she even shares recipes on her Instagram… *Cue everyone on here who says how awful and dangerous it is*
She’s diabetic. I’m guessing her doctors have suggested it.
Apparently she weaned herself off insulin in 2007. You could only do that with type 2 diabetes. But yes, keto can and does reverse type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance…
OMG at Mike Pence selling it on eBay 🤣🤣🤣
What an absolutely gorgeous woman. I love that sentiment; I’m 32 and still building my career so it looks like kids will come much later for me.
I agree with you, I like hearing stories like this, I’m 35 and single and would love to start a family if I meet the right person, but sometimes it feels a little discouraging when listening to the wrong people. My best friend is my age and a doctor, no kids but a boyfriend, and she hears soooo much negativity towards “older women” in her profession it’s scary! And most of it isn’t even true when it comes to fertility etc it’s just… stressful nonsense! I would have made a terrible mom in my 20s, I’m way more chill now lol
I don’t know about that. I’m pretty tired. I’m glad I had my four kids done by 32 (I’m 44 now). I couldn’t do little kids today and I wouldn’t want to be chasing teenagers into my 50s and 60s. But maybe if you start later you’re less tired.
Ha! Me, too, down to being done by 32. But the question really is…are we tired because we’re a little older or because we have four kids? 😊
Or if you have enough money. I don’t have kids but I feel like if I was very wealthy, I might have considered.
word. I had my oldest at 25 and my 4th at 34 and the first was soooo much easier, and I actually had MORE patience.
I completely agree. I had my first at 23 and my last at 27. I I’m now in my mid 30’s with friends in their 40’s who are thinking about having children. I could not manage that now but I do think part of that is just because I feel done with having kids. I just don’t want night feeds and toddler tantrums and I’m just at a different stage in my life. Maybe if you’re 40 and haven’t experienced that, you still feel like you have the energy for it.
Girl, speak for yourself. Lol. I’m still relatively young on the motherhood end, but having my first at 22 and my last at 32…give me 22 any day. It’s not only the energy and being more fun. My body is tired, and tired me is cranky. I’m impatient by nature and my first child really, really taught me patience and humility. My newest child just reminds me how mean I am when I’m not sleeping. Haha.
Also, I really tire of the uterus police and pitting mom against mom. You get BS if you’re “too young” and BS if you’re “too old.” Motherhood is difficult, scary, and (if you have the desire and temperament to want to be a mom) infinitely rewarding. Take the opportunity to lift another mother, stepmother, foster mother, “like a mother,” etc. up. We’re all doing our best.
I’m the child of older parents and always knew I wanted to have my own children at a younger age. I hear what she’s saying about patience, but I’m really glad that I’m not going to be actively parenting kids/teens/college-age kids in my late 50s and 60s. And, I am hopeful to have an active grandparenthood, which is something my own parents never got to experience.
I too was the child of older parents my father died when I was 16 of age related issues and my mother passed away when I was 30 after several years of having to be her caregiver because she lost the ability to live independently about 5 or 6 years before that.
I love my parents dearly, I miss them…. I had my kid at 30 because I didn’t want to put my kids through that. My parents were more patient, but they had less energy and the generational gap was so large there were times where they couldn’t understand me, not like I’m a teen you don’t understand…. like so far removed from technology its like I was speaking another language.
I’m in my late 30’s now and a lot of my friends are struggling with infertility. I feel like I dodged a bullet by just pulling the trigger even if the timing wasn’t absolute perfection.
Yeah, I wasn’t even going to mention the fertility problems. One of my good friends waited until she was 38 to start to try to have a baby, and is now mid-40s with no luck.
All that to say, we are all formed by our own experiences. I don’t think someone is “wrong” to have a baby later in life, I just knew I didn’t want to have a baby past about age 35. I wanted a different experience for my kids than what I had — and I think many people who wait want a different experience than what they/their parents had.
No lies here. Raising a child takes all the maturity one can get, and most people don’t have it in their 20s. Unfortunatly nature is not on our side about it, while I’m so much more prepared at 31, I’m also more tired. In my 20s I didn’t realize my energy was high, I worked 10 hours a day and thought it was ok.
OMG I had so much damn energy in my 20s, I look back and can’t believe it. I wish I had bottled some of it. I could go out to happy hour after work (10 hours), knock back 4-6 drinks and bounce out of bed at 6 am the next day, no problems. That was pre-baby! But even after she was born, I had the kind of energy I can only dream of now. (I’m 48.)
I’m said no one with fertility issues
No one really wants to talk about the fertility side. I’m in my late 30’s my friends are 30’s and 40’s and soooooo many of them are actively dealing with infertility and some can’t afford to have fertility treatments even if they can afford a child.
On one hand women deserve to have time to accomplish their goals. On the other hand a lot of women are being fed a line that you can wait until your late 30’s and 40’s when the reality of the matter is yes you can, but many women will miss their natural fertility window. Its a gamble.
I’m not sure what to say. Obviously the clock is ticking thing is damaging to women, but also the clock is ticking if you do desire children. It sucks.
Everything in life is a gamble. I would much rather women take the time they nees to figure out who they are before having kids than making a decision to start a family based on fear.
I’m 39 and single. I would like to have kids but that may or may not be in the cards for me. But one thing I am glad that I didn’t do is have kids before 30.
And what if you don’t find a partner?
I understand there are multiple circumstances that can affect having children. It doesn’t mean there should be a no big deal it’ll be fine vibe about waiting. Lots of women do end up waiting for the perfect moment then lose the opportunity. There is balance between encouraging women to live as they please and straight up lying that waiting until your 40’s for children is a great idea. Statistically biological children conceived with no medical intervention is not likely for most women after 40.
Seeing a lot of my friends suffer through this right now. They genuinely believed they could wait because so many women seem to be having children late in life when in reality many need several rounds of costly fertility treatments most people can’t afford.
Good to know, I guess?
I’m almost 30 & have no interest in having kids yet, not sure if I ever will?
I’ve been single for almost a year and I am LOVING it.
😉
Was 33 and got pregnant with the love of my life 4 yrs into our relationship . Was so mortified and freaked out at the thought of being tied down with a child, I got an abortion.
I love children but have no interest in having one of my own. I realized in that moment that I do not want children and that I had made the right choice. It was actually a horrible experience being pregnant when you don’t want to be. I had a mental break down and felt trapped in my own body every day I was pregnant. I cramped and bled for months. It was a low point in my life
The love of my life and I ended up splitting a year later and I’ve dated around and have definitely felt the societal pressure of marriage and kids. Dated a nice guy and he point blank asked me on the first date if I wanted to get married and have kids. I ended up bolting after a few months – I couldn’t pretend or lie to myself that I actually want kids of my own. As we started talking about moving in together – I knew I 100% had no desire to have children and he wanted kids so I had to jump ship before things got too far down the road.
I have had several women in my life over the years ( who are mothers!) tell me to listen to my inner voice and NOT have kids and that I won’t regret not having children
One of the advice queens-either Abby or Ann-did a poll decades ago and reported that more than 50% of people said they’d never have children if they could have a re-do.
Had I met someone earlier in life, I probably would have married and had kids, because that’s just what most people do. But as I got older, I know myself so much better, and I know that having a child is just not for me.
Everyone should do what is best for themselves, but it’s a big decision either way and shouldn’t be taken lightly.
I had my first at 36 and second at 39 (10 days ago) and completely agree with Halle.
I am grateful that I was able to live for myself up until I became pregnant. I traveled, lived abroad, drank lots of cocktails and met fascinating people. I also built up a strong career that I can put on hold now that I have young kids.
At almost 40, I have a lot of energy but the same cannot be said for my partner who is 53.
He cannot really handle our newborn and sleeps with our older son!!
Congratulations on your new baby!
Thank you Anastasia!
“He cannot really handle our newborn and sleeps with our older son!!”
Age has nothing to do with being lazy. I know quite of few older parents who run circles around me.
There’s no one way. I’ve done everything you’ve done and had my children at 27 and 31. My friend’s done everything you’ve done and had her children at 17, 24, 31, except now, she’s in her early 50s and her children are adults. New adventures await, and she never stopped living a full life with her children. My mother is still having a full life after having children at 23, 27, and 33. She also lived abroad, travelled extensively, and had a thriving career. She lives abroad now. There is no one way.
I love love love her drop waist silver dress
My mother in law always said there are advantages both ways, so just do what works for you. When you’re a younger parent, you have more energy, and when you’re an older parent, you have more patience.
I had an empty nest by 42! 🙂 Decided to go the younger parent route.
I’m 53 and have a 12 and 10 year old that I run circles around. I’m tired sometimes yes especially have a hectic day at work. Thankfully they also like to sleep in on a Saturday. I have more patience too, but also I understand life more and the importance of just spending time with them. And for those that think, but you’ll die when they’re still young, well my mother had me at 24 and was dead by the time I was 17. Shit happens sometimes in life. You pays your money and you takes your chances.
Looking gorgeous as usual but that hair color in the first pic doesn’t do a thing for her. A warmer brown would be better.
I had my first at 38 and my third at 43. I was lucky to not have fertility issues. I would have liked to have had them younger, but I didn’t meet the right person until I was 35. We don’t always get to choose the age at which we become parents. For me, finding the right partner was more important than my age.
That’s lovely to hear! I’m 35 now and can’t believe some of the negativity I get about my age/ kids. I hope I meet the right person but if not I’m ok with it. But I wish people would stop being so negative about older parents. My mom had me and my sister at 20 and she was a terrible mom lol! I love her loads now but she personally was not ready at that age! It’s different for everyone. And there’s always adoption/ fostering or caring for kids in other ways which are also fulfilling. I wish people didn’t stick to the one script so much of life…
You’re not wrong about the script of life. I was only chattting to a friend the other day about how people always want to write your life story for you (more so with females, from what I’ve seen). “Oh, you’re still single?” (like it’s an affliction, or there is something inherently wrong with you)… “When are you getting married”… “Are you going to buy your own house”… “When are you having kids”…
I was (very happily) single by choice for 6 years and the constant comments about my single status, insinuations that I must be miserable (some bigots even resorted to “is she gay?” jibes, I kid you not), was exhausting and offensive on many levels. Mind you, none of male friends copped flak for their choices. Of course not.
There should be a public service announcement about letting people run their own race, lol. If people are happy with their life choices, contribute positively to society, and aren’t arseholes, then more power to them.
I’m With The Band – yes, completely agree. I’ve even had to break up close friendships with female friends of mine who had kids and then nagged me endlessly about my single status, basically trying to shame me into getting a boyfriend. It really felt like a blow below the belt (I wasn’t voluntarily single at that point either). It got to a point where I was just like, you know what, I don’t need friends like this!! Now I’m actually happy about being single for the first time in years, really enjoying myself and flirting a bit with a crush I have, and I found that really hard to do with all the constant nagging I had to suffer through before. F@ck “friends” like that, honestly. They are not helping.
I just want the energy I had(without any of the coffee) in my 20’s! Ahhh! That’s all.
“I need something that’s more than coffee but less than cocaine” 👍
I’m about to have my first at 32 (!). I didn’t meet my partner until my late twenties and didn’t want to rush things. A lot of people are great parents in their twenties but I don’t think I would have been one – mainly because my first husband was a train wreck and I’m so thankful we didn’t have any kids together. Most of my friends near my age are no where close to being ready to have kids even if they do want them at some point. It seems like waiting a little longer is getting more and more normalized.
Do whatever works for you, In your 20’s you have the energy,in your 40’s you have the patience AND the money. It works out how it works out.
I don’t get the “energy “ comments about being younger…. I’m 43 – if anything I have as much or more energy now than in my twenties…. had my child at 34… I guess you have to eat right, exercise regularly, get solid sleeps and keep busy!
Preach! I tell any young lady who will listen that my last baby at 41 was the easiest- emotionally and physically. You are still transitioning and learning about yourself in your 30’s. By 40, you are more grounded and present.
Honestly even if I could have kids now–still a remote possibility–I wouldn’t do it because as a Black woman in Amerikkka with the climate changes occurring, there is no way I can bring children into this kind of environment. I’m a godmother and an aunt and I pour my love into that and into teaching, but even if I wanted kids–which I never really did–I’m having a lot of trouble wrapping my mind around bringing new beings into this world especially that as a Black woman in U.S. I have a terrible chance of surviving childbirth and healthcare is abysmal and that’s just having the baby, let alone raising it safely to adulthood and in this atmosphere. Power and strength to everyone doing it now especially BIPOC