Serena Williams has "insecurities" about being a "good enough" parent to her daughter.
The 37-year-old tennis player – who has 13-year-old Olympia with husband Alexis Ohanian – has called for more women to speak out about their worries and anxieties over motherhood.
Speaking at a Pennsylvania Conference for Women on Friday (12.10.18), Serena said: "I always have these insecurities that I’m not good enough as a mom. We all go through these different emotions that we all don’t feel comfortable talking about. But I think we should."
The tennis star experienced several complications during the birth of her daughter including a pulmonary embolism which forced her to have an emergency caesarean-section.
Serena admitted that she had a "wonderful female doctor" who "listened" to her during her pregnancy and blasted the "unaccepable" fact that not all women are treated the same by the US health care system.
Serena added: "In this country that’s supposed to be so technology-advanced, why are we treating our mothers like this? I was really fortunate because I had an opportunity for my voice to be heard. I had a wonderful female doctor who listened to me. There are so many women who were not being listened to. It’s really unacceptable."
The mother-of-one finished her guest speaker slot admitting that she wants her daughter to be able to grow up in a supportive world where women support other women rather than tear them down.
She concluded: "The success of another woman should be the inspiration to the next."
Serena recently admitted finding a good work/life balance is difficult and juggling both can be "hard".
She said: "It’s hard. It’s not easy being a working mom, but that’s what we do. Women are strong and we are continuing to be, so I’m really proud of that."
Asked whether she believes there’s such a thing as a work-life balance, she added: "I think there is. The thing is, you just have to find it.
"I’m not sure if I’ve found it yet, but I’m getting there. I’m finding my personal work-life balance."
Serena Williams has parent ‘insecurities’
