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For an actress who made a name for herself playing the attention-seeking socialite Blair Waldorf in the teen drama series Gossip Girl, Leighton Meester couldn't be more low-key.
These days the actress is playing a character more fitting to her real-life role as mom in the sitcom Single Parents, and in a recent interview with Shape Magazine, shared what life is like with her 3-year-old daughter, Arlo Day, and former teen heartthrob husband, Adam Brody (remember Seth from The OC?).
Calling it the "hardest job in the world", Leighton's perspective on motherhood is firmly planted in reality.
"I feel that I am really lucky, and yet, still, I stepped into the hardest job in the world: being a mom," she told the magazine.
What's your parenting style? Share your thoughts and comments and we could publish your letter. Anonymous contributions are welcome.
She also admitted that when it comes to parenting, she prefers the free-range approach.
"One thing I have come to learn as a parent is that you have to step back and let your child struggle a little, let them fall down at the playground. It's the way they're going to learn."
The Single Parents actress further gave her take on work-life balance, giving us a peek at what life is like at the Meester-Brody household.
"I just don't believe in balance. I think that's not possible if you're a working mother... Some days my husband makes dinner, and some days I do. Other days, I'm too tired, and I eat a bowl of cereal for dinner. It's just the thing we do to make it work."
"I think we understand each other, what we're both going through"
It's not the first time Leighton has dished on life with hubby Adam. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight (ET), she described themselves as a "pretty modern couple" and that sharing an occupation has been really beneficial for their relationship.
"I think we sort of toggle back and forth... we both work, but also being actors, I think we understand each other, what we're both going through."
Her acting gig may be great for her relationship, but from what she told ET back in 2018, her opinion on balancing parenthood with her profession has been brewing for a while.
"... work is work, it's, like, super intense and long hours and you might not see your family for a long period. But then I'll have, like, months off at a time, so I can really be home"
And as far as her little girl taking after mom and dad, Leighton told ET she's taken to some rather interesting movies, Edward Scissorhands being one of her favourites.
"It's actually not really violent or anything. It's very sweet and nice."
Also see: Dad of two Jason Momoa explains why he teaches his kids to skateboard and rock climb
"I try not to look to my status and my career as a life goal"
Despite her far from rose-tinted opinion about balance, Leighton did get mushy about the things that inspire her, telling Shape:
"I try not to look to my status and my career as a life goal. I gain a lot more confidence from time with my friends and family –people whom I love, who love me, and whom I've built relationships with – and that goes for people at work as well. Truly, those things are what make me the happiest, and I think that if I'm doing well on that side of things, then I'm doing well."
Pretty down to earth for a former Upper East Side girl.
Scroll right to see Leighton in some pretty stunning images captured by photographer Peggy Sirota:
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What's your parenting style? Share your thoughts and comments and we could publish your letter. Anonymous contributions are welcome.
