Kelly Clarkson Opens up About Motherhood and What She Learned in Therapy After Divorce

Kelly Clarkson motherhood divorce therapy

By Jo Anne Hubert , Parent Herald Sep 08, 09:13 am

The musician and talk show host tells parents that vulnerability is a beautiful thing for children to see. It is a way for them to learn empathy and to know that their parents are not perfect.

Kelly Clarkson opened up about how she juggles motherhood, her TV show, and her most significant learning in therapy in her latest interview with Variety.

A mother to two kids, River Rose and Remington Alexander, ages 8 and 6, Clarkson revealed that she had already overcome the fear of being unable to put her best foot forward when in front of her kids.

After seven years of marriage with ex-husband Brandon Blackstock and going through the journey of divorce, she thought she needed to let her children see that she got it all together so they would not be affected. Yet, therapy taught her otherwise.

"I think the most important thing I've learned in therapy, especially through this divorce, is 'Don't hide everything from your kids. Obviously, don't talk about stuff that you shouldn't talk about, but it's OK if they see you cry, or it's OK if they see you've had a bad day.' Allow your kids to express empathy, and they learn how to say, 'Oh, man, I'm sorry you had a hard day," the singer explained.

'Mom Guilt'

When asked if she ever experiences "mom guilt," especially during the filming of "The Voice," which is six times a week, or sometimes seven, Clarkson narrated there was a time when she called her mother just to ask if she sees her kids enough, People reported.

Her mother comforted and reassured her not to worry, saying she sees her kids more than her mother saw her before.

She then expressed gratitude to the great team she has on NBC. She is very fortunate that despite the schedules getting tricky and hectic, her team understands, especially since there are a lot of parents and women in her talk show, in "The Voice," and in her label. Thus, everyone aims for each other's success creating unity in the working environment.

Family first

One thing is certain for the host of "The Kelly Clarkson Show," which has grabbed 13 Emmys in its three seasons: family will always come first.

She decided to push back the time of her talk show by 30 minutes for the new season so that she could take her kids to school. This is her ensuring that she can have both mornings and nights with them while work gets whatever it is in between.

The singer just got back from her first summer off in 20 years. She went to Montana with the kids and said that she felt that it was the first time her kids felt "a little more centered."

The time off has helped her prepare for her upcoming album, which she described as an "important album," especially since she has been through many emotions lately. She started working on the album in therapy, which has helped a lot in her healing.