Parenting and Career Quotes

Before I had my first child, I thought women had to decide between being a mom and a fulfilling, successful professional life. I was wrong. Very wrong.

I hope Barack Obama puts another woman on the Supreme Court. And this time, I hope it's a woman with kids.

Every working mother struggles with the BlackBerry, knowing the boss can call.

It's interesting that people always want to ask me and a lot of working mothers, how do you do it? And it's like well, just like everybody else. It proves it's a bad question.

Well, being a working mommy is something I've always wanted to be. My mother is my biggest role model and she showed me how to do it right. She was very present in our lives and has a great career of her own. Same with my father. So I knew it was possible going in to stay closely connected to my children while also chasing big dreams.

I think it's possible to bag substantial roles in meaningful cinema despite being a mother. My role in Yagavarayinum ' is the best example.

Being a working mommy is something I've always wanted to be. My mother is my biggest role model and she showed me how to do it right.

I have run a general election campaign pregnant and ran Ed Miliband's leadership campaign commuting to London with a new baby so I already have my system set up.

I walk out of this office every day at 5:30 so I'm home for dinner with my kids at 6, and interestingly, I've been doing that since I had kids. I did that when I was at Google, I did that here, and I would say it's not until the last year, two years, that I'm brave enough to talk about it publicly. Now I certainly wouldn't lie, but I wasn't running around giving speeches on it." "...there's no such thing as work-life balance. There's work, and there's life, and there's no balance.

I adore going to movie sets and being part of a team trying to create something. And yet, I hate to miss even one bedtime with my girls. . . My sisters both are working mothers. I understand that my being an actress as well as being at home isn't some heroic thing. That doesn't mean it isn't confusing or difficult--especially that question of how you find a balance.

Being a working mother is not easy, but I think it helps you choose what's important in your life. If I think about starting a new project - whether it be music, a movie or a fragrance - I always stop and think: Is this something I feel really passionate about? That way, if I'm not at home at least it's for something I really love, and my son can look up to that.

For me, being a mother made me a better professional, because coming home every night to my girls reminded me what I was working for. And being a professional made me a better mother, because by pursuing my dreams, I was modeling for my girls how to pursue their dreams.

My job is quite suitable for full-time mothering

I've always been very aware of balance and, even before I had a child, my life always takes priority to my work.

You're supposed to look a certain way when you're a celebrity, but I want to take care of my baby, and those two things don't mesh very well.

You don't have to wait for your career to take off to become a mum: that's kind of what I want to show. Becoming a mum made me even more driven, and I think it doesn't stop your career - it just boosts it. It makes you well-organised, and with a little bit of sacrifice, of course you can do it all.

I don't think a baby will change my career because I don't plan to go about my career any differently. I'm gonna work hard because I love to work, and I love what I do. I think a baby will just add more happiness to it.

You can be a good mom and still work out, get your rest, have a career - or not. My mother encouraged me to find that balance.

When I first started working, I thought I would have a career in my 20s and a family in my 30s. But when I got pregnant with my first, I was really just hitting my stride professionally. That's when I realized it wasn't an either/or decision.

I never stopped working when I got married and had kids. I did television and always tried to do what I could do.

I have always felt that my career was not going to be a straight shot up, but more of a kind of rolling wave, so that I could raise my children. So I got pregnant when I was the head of production at a studio, and I became chairperson at a bigger studio when I was pregnant with my second daughter. You just do it!

I ordinarily do one film a year and the rest of the time I'm at home with the kids. Even when I am working I'm still basically at home and with the kids. I've never left them to go to work.

I'm dedicating my time to going on tour and basically juggling music, modeling, and being a mother. Being a mother is obviously the most important.

Myself and David, we both love art. We have a lot of respect for Damien Hirst and Julian Schnabel, and we've met them both, and they're very interesting characters. I also have a lot of respect for the working women out there. As you know, it's not easy when you're looking after children and you have a career as well.

So, the advice that I would always give is make sure you've got your own career, before you put your child in the business.