By 
- Kate Hudson has appeared in dozens of movies, penned three books, and given birth to three children: Ryder Russell, 15, Bingham Hawn Bellamy, 8, and Rani Rose Hudson Fujikawa, 1.
- However, the Almost Famous actress admits that finding "balance" is tough. Here's everything we know about Hudson's kids and career.
Kate Hudson may be an award-winning actress, author, and entrepreneur, but the title she is most proud of is mom. In fact, shortly after the birth of her oldest, Ryder, the Almost Famous star told Blackfilm it was her lifelong dream. “I always wanted to be a mom.” However, Hudson is far from perfect. She has made countless parenting mistakes, and like many, she struggles to find "balance." But a quick look at Hudson's Instagram suggests she is doing okay; her feed is full of family shots.
Hudson welcomed her first child, Ryder Russell, when she was just 24 years old.
Kate Hudson gave birth to her first child (now 15) in 2004, with then-husband Chris Robinson. According to People, Ryder's name was inspired by the song "Ride," because every time he heard it in utero he would start moving around. The name was also an a homage to "I Know You Rider," a traditional blues song which was adapted by The Grateful Dead in 1971.
As for Hudson, while she is (and was) a proud mom, Hudson recently revealed she wasn't full prepared for the role. “In terms of a Hollywood actress, I was like a teen mom," Hudson told Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest on Live with Kelly and Ryan. "Me and Reese [Witherspoon] were like teen moms. We had kids super young.”
Hudson's second child, Bingham Hawn Bellamy, was born in 2010.
After divorcing Robinson in 2007, Hudson became romantically involved with Muse frontman Matthew Bellamy. The two began dating in 2010 and welcomed Bingham Hawn Bellamy less than a year later. Hudson's "sweet boy" is 8 years old.
In 2017, Hudson gave birth to Rani Rose Hudson Fujikawa.
Hudson wasn't done with love or kids after number two. In late 2017, the actress gave birth to Rani Rose, with boyfriend Danny Fujikawa. And while Hudson has a lot of parental experience, she worries she is falling short.
“Some days I feel like I should win best mom of the day award," Hudson told InStyle in 2016, "and some days I find myself doing strange things that don’t have any real purpose, in faraway corners in my house."
In October, after many, many cute photos together, she posted a sweet snap that proves the mother-daughter duo are officially "attached" at the hip.
As for today, Hudson admits parenting a teenager and toddler is difficult.
Parenting is tough, but parenting three kids—particularly with a wide age gap—comes with its own set of challenges. In fact, Hudson told Ripa and Seacrest that, at times, the task can feel overwhelming. "It feels like I have 500 kids," Hudson joked on Live with Kelly and Ryan. "Everyone's like, 'How are you?' And I'm like, 'Exhausted. I'm so tired." But Hudson has help. One perk of having two older children is that they can pitch in.
“The other day, we went to breakfast and I was juggling a million things... and I go to Ryder 'take Rani,' I went to get my food... [and] I looked over and here’s this young man holding his sister. It was the craziest image to me. And I just thought, ‘Life is really weird.’"
That said, Hudson acknowledges she has made her fair share of parental mistakes.
Earlier this year, Hudson found herself in hot water with Ryder when she shared a video of him without his permission. The post in question featured Hudson, her three kids, and Fujikawa singing "Happy Birthday" to Hudson's brother, Oliver Hudson, also known as "Uncle Ollie." Even though it was super sweet, Ryder felt his privacy had been infringed on.
“Mom, you didn’t ask me if you could post this,” Ryder wrote.
The good news is it seems the comment was in jest; after all, the point of the video was to wish Uncle Ollie a happy birthday. Plus, Ryder added a crying with laughter emoji, the modern way of saying just kidding. However, we are willing to bet this issue has come up in Hudson's house—and will again.
The Golden Globe winner also admits there are many aspects of motherhood she does not enjoy.
Hudson may love her kids, but she hates helping with their homework. The actress told InStyle it bores her. "I help my kids with their homework. But I also get bored doing it," Hudson said. "I will sit and listen to my children pontificate and discuss their ideas 'til the day is long because it warms my heart, but I really don’t want to do math! I’m gonna say it: I’d prefer to watch The Bachelor rather than do fractions and divisions.” Same, Kate. Same.
And while motherhood is—and always will be—Hudson's most important job, she also needs to work.
Hudson cannot imagine living a one-dimensional life. “Even though every primal ounce of the nurturing, domestic woman in me gets pulled, I’m a hunter as well. And I love to hunt," Hudson told InStyle. "I feel that somehow we are supposed to feel apologetic about wanting both. But I don’t want to apologize for that anymore. Being both already comes at an emotional cost, without adding society’s antiquated idea of the traditional roles of man and woman in the home.”
That said, Hudson admits her decision hasn't always been easy. In an interview with Grazia, she said “I wish there was a perfect [work-life] balance. The truth is, there’s not. I just take it day by day... we’re all doing the best we can.”
For more stories like this, sign up for our newsletter.
