• Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • GMA3: WYNTK
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • © 2025 ABC News
  • Culture

Serena Williams gets real about 'postpartum emotions,' struggle between work and motherhood

2:05
Tennis star Serena Williams struggles to find balance as new mom
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
ByKatie Kindelan
August 07, 2018, 1:23 PM

Serena Williams has shared a candid message for other moms as she describes her own private struggles with motherhood and finding a work-life balance.

Williams, 36, wrote an emotional post on Instagram about feeling like she “was not a good mom.”

“It’s totally normal to feel like I’m not doing enough for my baby,” Williams wrote. “We have all been there. I work a lot, I train, and I’m trying to be the best athlete I can be.”

Serena Williams of the U.S. returns a shot to Johanna Konta of Great Britain during Day 2 of the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic at Spartan Tennis Complex, July 31, 2018, in San Jose, Calif.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Williams continued, “However, that means although I have been with her every day of her life, I’m not around as much as I would like to be. Most of you moms deal with the same thing. Whether stay-at-home or working, finding that balance with kids is a true art. You are the true heroes.”

The 23-time Grand Slam champion and her husband, Alexis Ohanian, welcomed their daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., last September.

Williams reached the finals of Wimbledon in July, her first Grand Slam tournament since giving birth.

She dedicated her impressive comeback at Wimbledon to "all moms, working and stay-at-home.”

Williams described to Essence magazine in an interview published Monday how she would rush home from her matches to see Olympia.

“Well, every moment…every morning when she first sees me, she squeals,” Williams said. “Everyday, I’d come home from one of my matches and Wimbledon, and she’d just squeal each time she’d see me. I’d try my best to rush home, and I’d miss her still. It’s like nothing I’ve ever heard before—the best thing I’ve ever heard.”

More recently, Williams suffered a 6-1, 6-0 lopsided loss in her opening match at the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic. She then withdrew from this week's Rogers Cup in Montreal, citing personal reasons.

Serena Williams of the U.S. returns a shot to Johanna Konta of Great Britain during Day 2 of the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic at Spartan Tennis Complex, July 31, 2018, in San Jose, Calif.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

On Instagram, Williams revealed her struggles with “postpartum emotions” and described being in a "funk.”

“Last week was not easy for me. Not only was I accepting some tough personal stuff, but I just was in a funk. Mostly, I felt like I was not a good mom,” she wrote. “I read several articles that said postpartum emotions can last up to 3 years if not dealt with.”

Williams continued, “I like communication best. Talking things through with my mom, my sisters, my friends let me know that my feelings are totally normal.”

Williams' message to other moms was clear: "I’m here to say: if you are having a rough day or week--it’s ok--I am, too!!! There’s always tomm!"

Experts say Williams' openness about her struggles with balancing motherhood and her career can be therapeutic for both her and other moms.

"Serena Williams is describing intense ambivalence, which is very common for mothers," Dr. Gail Saltz, a New York City-based psychiatrist, told "GMA." "The feeling that they're neither being successful at work, or successful enough at mothering."

Serena Williams and husband Alexis Ohanian attend the "Being Serena" New York Premiere at Time Warner Center, April 25, 2018, in New York City.
Mike Pont/Getty Images

She added, "Instaggramming like this could definitely be therapeutic if the community steps up and says, 'Me too. I get it and we support you.'"

Williams' Instagram post has nearly 380,000 likes and dozens of supportive comments.

Editor’s Picks

Serena Williams dedicates Wimbledon run to 'all moms'

  • Jul 16, 2018

Serena Williams alleges 'discrimination' in drug testing

  • Jul 25, 2018

Alexis Ohanian: It's 'absurd' that men feel threatened by successful women

  • Aug 02, 2018

"It’s definitely hard, but doing what you love makes you a better, happier, more relaxed mom," wrote one person.

"These posts that affirm the mommy struggle really do help... Just thought to say this .... Please don't ever think that they count for nothing... They make a huge difference....," wrote another.

The candid comments from Williams -- who has also been public about her life-threatening delivery complications -- came just after another famous working mom, Beyonce, also spoke candidly about her postpartum experience.

Beyonce, also 36, wrote in Vogue about how she is embracing "self-care" after an emergency C-section to deliver her twins.

"During my recovery, I gave myself self-love and self-care, and I embraced being curvier. I accepted what my body wanted to be," she wrote. "After six months, I started preparing for Coachella. I became vegan temporarily, gave up coffee, alcohol, and all fruit drinks. But I was patient with myself and enjoyed my fuller curves. My kids and husband did, too."

The superstar added, "To this day my arms, shoulders, breasts, and thighs are fuller. I have a little mommy pouch, and I’m in no rush to get rid of it. I think it’s real."

Related Topics

  • Parenting

Editor’s Picks

Serena Williams dedicates Wimbledon run to 'all moms'

  • Jul 16, 2018

Serena Williams alleges 'discrimination' in drug testing

  • Jul 25, 2018

Alexis Ohanian: It's 'absurd' that men feel threatened by successful women

  • Aug 02, 2018

Up Next in Culture—

Billy Joel cancels all scheduled concerts due to diagnosis with normal pressure hydrocephalus

May 23, 2025

Taylor Swift no longer facing subpoena in Justin Baldoni's legal feud with Blake Lively

May 23, 2025

Megan Fox says pregnancy was 'unplanned but a happy surprise'

May 22, 2025

Kieran Culkin joins 'The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping' cast

May 22, 2025

Shop GMA Favorites

ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Sponsored Content by Taboola

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • Shop FAQs
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap

© 2025 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 

© 2025 ABC News