Busy Philipps Will Never Pretend She's a Perfect Mom: 'I’m Learning That I Don’t Have All the Answers'

Busy Philipps doesn't play hard to get when it comes to opening up about her life. You'll already know this if you're one of her 2.4 million Instagram followers, if you've ever watched her late-night talk shows, or if you've read her New York Times bestselling memoir, This Will Only Hurt a Little. Philipps has bravely shared a number of intimate stories with the world, from her abortion story, to her later-in-life ADHD diagnosis, to her divorce, and, time and time again, her experiences with motherhood. While many mothers feel immense pressure to be perfect and portray an image of unbreakable strength to the world, Philipps isn't ashamed to admit that she's not an expert on parenting—and that's okay.

She Doesn't Have All the Answers

“I’m learning that I don’t have all the answers,” she tells REAL SIMPLE for her cover story in our June issue. “And that I have to be able to put my own s—t down because [my kids] deserve their own experience that’s not mine. I’m definitely a different kind of mom. I’m a little weird, and I’m just trying to figure it out as I go along.“

Philipps shares two kids with her ex-husband Marc Silverstein: Birdie, age 15, and Cricket, age 11. “They're awesome,” she tells us. And although Philipps has certainly gained plenty of parenting experience over the past 15 years, she's been consistent in never pretending to be the expert.

Why She Doesn't Dole Out Parenting Advice

In a 2020 interview with Us Weekly, Philipps told the outlet that she would not be giving any advice to her good friend Michelle Williams, who at the time was expecting her second child, her first with Hamilton director Thomas Kail.

“I make it a point to never give anyone advice about babies or kids just because everyone’s experience is so unique,” she said. “Every baby is different and ... you can prepare all you want and get all the stuff and it still doesn’t help.”

It's OK to Ask for Help

When it comes to parenting, Philipps also doesn't pretend that she's in it alone. On Mother's Day last year, the actress dedicated a long Instagram post to the nannies and friends who have helped take care of her kids over the years.

“Being a mom isn’t called a job for nothing,” Philipps says. “And I wouldn’t have made it this far as a mom and a human without the incredible women who’ve helped me show up for my kids as my best self. Their love and care for my kids has allowed me to go to work and travel with the knowledge that the two humans most important to me will be taken care of.”

After shouting out 10 women who have helped watch, care for, and be a friend or guardian to her two children, she ended the post by writing: “Happy Mother’s Day to all who mother, especially the ones who maybe don’t always get the credit for it.“

While Philipps may not like to give out advice on parenting, we think we all can take a life lesson from her on simply doing our best and asking for help when we need it.