PA
'I feel so much relief. I don't think I realised how stressed I was being a single parent. It was really, really stressful. It's not easy on anybody.'
These are the words of Hollywood actress Reese Witherspoon, 35, interviewed in this month's Marie Claire mag, about how she is less stressed now she has re-married. She goes on to say how she struggled as a single parent after divorcing her children's father, actor Ryan Phillippe. The couple have two children, Ava, now 12 and Deacon, 8. She has since wed talent agent Jim Toth.
I imagine it must be hugely stressful as a Hollywood star on a Hollywood star's income to be a single parent. That is probably why Hollywood marriages are usually so solid and long lasting and... oh, wait a minute...
Really though. I read this and wanted to throw up. Yes, perhaps it was a struggle emotionally for Reese seeing her marriage disintegrate, and no doubt she felt bad for her kids that their dad was no longer going to be living in the same house as them, and that their family unit was shattered. But why is it suddenly OK now she has a new partner? Why has re-marrying ended her 'struggle'?
I would imagine (perhaps I am wrong) that a fat Hollywood bank account affords Reese most of the 'luxuries' your common or garden single parent craves: entrusted childcare and financial security (and enough security even if she chooses to spend time at home with her kids and never works again).
I just can't see that she had any of the 'stress' that the single mums I know have: wondering how they are going to pay the rent/mortgage, afford school shoes, if it will still be financially possible for their children to stay in their clubs/have their music lessons/extra curricular classes post-separation. Whether or not they can afford birthday/Christmas presents. Birthday parties. Even a meal on the table as the coffers run dry at the end of the month. So whilst I would agree with her statement 'It's not easy on anybody' I would really love to know WHAT made it so stressful for her, and why it is no longer the case just because she has re-married?
Why is it that EVERY aspect of raising children, having babies and general parenting in celeb land so, so removed from reality? (Remember when Jordan/Katie Price said children of divorced parents were lucky?)
Would love to see how they'd manage in the real world.
What do you think?