Serena Williams relies on other mothers to make her feel at ease when she has concerns about her baby daughter.
The 36-year-old tennis star has 11-month-old daughter Alexis Olympia with her husband Alexis Ohanian, and after recently missing her tot’s first steps, she has revealed that sharing her feelings of disappointment on social media helped her realise that missing the occasional milestone doesn’t make her a bad mother, as plenty of parents miss out too
She said: "When I missed Olympia’s walking, I posted about it and so many parents wrote in and said, ‘Don’t worry about it, I missed it too.’
"I didn’t realise that it’s almost more normal to miss it than it is to make it. So I really kind of rely on everyone’s help out there. It’s been so, so amazing."
Following her daughter’s birth, Serena suffered with postpartum depression, and has said her decision to return to the tennis court despite her mental health condition was "super important".
She added: "A lot of women don’t have that opportunity. In a weird way, I’m doing it for women who can’t. So for me, being around her, every day is super important. And I want her to have a great upbringing the best way that I know how."
Although she has struggled during her first year of motherhood, Serena admits the journey has been "amazing", and says her life is totally "different" now her daughter is in the world.
Speaking during an appearance on the ‘Today’ show on Wednesday (22.08.18), Serena said: "It’s been an amazing year. I feel different joy. I’ve always been this joyful person but now it’s just totally different. I feel just, light. It’s just totally different."
Serena Williams’ reassuring fans
