1:51
- culture
- September 7, 2018
Williams serves up real talk about motherhood
Williams will try to win her first Grand Slam as a mother at the U.S. Open.
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Williams has also been honest about the difficulties of being a working mom, proving motherhood can be a difficult journey no matter what your resources are.
She drew support from moms including Chrissy Teigen when she tweeted about crying because she missed Olympia's first steps while she was training.
She took her first steps... I was training and missed it. I cried.
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) July 7, 2018
Williams saw firsthand the discrimination that many new mothers face after taking maternity leave as well. After leaving as the number one female player in the world, she was not seeded in her first post-maternity leave Grand Slam, the French Open. A seed is given to a player with a high-ranking so they do not face other higher-ranking players in early rounds.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/GMA/serna-3-gty-er-180907_hpMain_4x3t_384.jpg\")
Many saw the lack of a seed for Williams as a \"punishment\" for taking time off after having a baby.
In response, Williams used her voice to help change those rules. Both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open chose to give Williams a seed instead of following the ranking list that doesn't take into account players' taking a break for maternity leave.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) on Aug 17, 2018 at 6:19am PDT
When Williams reached the finals at Wimbledon, she dedicated her run at the tournament to fellow moms.
\"These past 2 weeks was a sound for all moms stay home and working you can do it you really can!\" she tweeted. \"I’m not any better or diff than any of you all. Your support has meant so much to me. Let’s keep making noise everyday in everything we do.\"
These past 2 weeks was a sound for all moms stay home and working you can do it you really can! I’m not any better or diff than any of you all. Your support has ment so much to me. Let’s keep making noise everyday in everything we do. #roadtoUSOpen pic.twitter.com/5OLYk1a6cK
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) July 16, 2018
Last month, Williams called all moms \"true heroes\" in an emotional Instagram post in which she reflected on balancing work and motherhood.
\"It’s totally normal to feel like I’m not doing enough for my baby,\" she wrote. \"We have all been there. I work a lot, I train, and I’m trying to be the best athlete I can be.\"
\"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,\" Williams added.
In the same post, which has now racked up more than 500,000 likes, Williams also spoke openly about her struggles with her conflicting emotions as a new mom, something that has been taboo for too long.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/GMA/serena-1-gty-er-180907_hpEmbed_3x2_384.jpg\")
\"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. I like communication best.\"
Williams has also been honest about the \"crazy\" emotions she felt right after she gave birth to Olympia last fall.
The tennis star spent six weeks in bed after Olympia's birth. She underwent multiple operations after sustaining a pulmonary embolism the day after she gave birth via emergency cesarean section.
\"No one talks about the low moments-—the pressure you feel, the incredible letdown every time you hear the baby cry,\" Williams told Vogue. \"I’ve broken down I don’t know how many times.\"
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Alexis Olympia Ohanian, Jr. (@olympiaohanian) on Jul 24, 2018 at 7:23am PDT
\"I’ll get angry about the crying, then sad about being angry, and then guilty, like, 'Why do I feel so sad when I have a beautiful baby?'\" she added. \"The emotions are insane.\"
If Williams wins the U.S. Open on Saturday, it will be not only her first Grand Slam as a mother but her 24th career Grand Slam, a feat that would tie the all-time record for Grand Slams.
But in many ways, Williams has already scored a major victory.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) on Sep 6, 2018 at 6:44pm PDT
Her high-profile presence as an elite athlete breaking barriers as a new mother has already changed tennis. And no matter what her score ends up being against Osaka Saturday, she has already served an ace with her willingness to help change the conversation around motherhood.
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