Drew Barrymore recently shared her personal reflections on raising her two daughters, Olive, 12, and Frankie, 10, in a family affected by divorce, opening up about the challenges and emotional struggles that have shaped her journey as a mother.
During an episode of The Drew Barrymore Show, the actress, 50, engaged in a heartfelt conversation with guest Moon Zappa, where they discussed the pressures of motherhood and the quest to be a capable, trustworthy parent. Barrymore asked Zappa, “Do you think that we are so determined to be these capable moms, these accountable, trustworthy figures… did you ever beat yourself up about every little thing along the way?”
Zappa responded affirmatively, prompting Barrymore to reflect on her own experiences. “Everything to me was very devastating and took me a long time to recover from, especially when it wasn’t in the traditional family dynamic that I swore I would create for my family, because I didn’t grow up that way,” Barrymore admitted. Her honesty highlighted the emotional toll of breaking free from the traditional family structure she had envisioned for her children.
The actress also shared some of her childhood memories, recalling the feelings of jealousy she felt toward other kids whose parents were more involved in their lives. “It’s weird stuff like that. It’s soup when you’re sick. I remember all the kids at school would go into the office to call their parents when they were sick, and I could never get a hold of anybody… And I was so jealous of those kids who would call and say, ‘Mom, Dad, come pick me up.’ I just would sit there and think, ‘What’s that like?’” she shared, showing the lasting impact of her own upbringing on her perspective as a mother.
In a previous interview with The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Barrymore discussed her transformation after becoming a mother to two girls. “They’re really, really good. Every day is different. Every hour is different. They’re my North Star, my compass… I love that in the life I got to live before I knew them, my priorities were different. And ever since they came into my world, I understand what the purpose of my life is. It’s wild.”
Through her candid reflections, Barrymore paints a picture of motherhood that’s filled with both emotional challenges and profound joy. Raising her daughters in a non-traditional family dynamic has been tough, but it’s clear that Olive and Frankie are the guiding forces in her life, giving her a renewed sense of purpose and understanding.
