Mary J. Blige opens up about regret over not having children
American singer, songwriter and actress Mary J. Blige has opened up about her decision not to have children, saying she sometimes regrets not becoming a mother earlier in life. The Grammy-winning artiste made the revelation while speaking on the latest episode of the IMO podcast hosted by Michelle Obama. Blige, 55, sai...
American singer, songwriter and actress Mary J. Blige has opened up about her decision not to have children, saying she sometimes regrets not becoming a mother earlier in life.
The Grammy-winning artiste made the revelation while speaking on the latest episode of the IMO podcast hosted by Michelle Obama.
Blige, 55, said her decision was influenced by watching members of her family struggle with the demands of raising children.
She said seeing relatives arrange childcare and sacrifice aspects of their personal freedom shaped her decision when she was younger.
“When I was younger, I saw my family members struggle raising kids, needing babysitters, not having freedom, so when I was younger I made the choice not to have any kids,” she said.
However, Blige said her outlook has changed as she has grown older.
She explained that watching her relatives develop close relationships with their teenage children has made her reconsider her decision.
“But now as I’ve got older and get to see how their teenagers are valuable to them, I sometimes regret not having them early too,” she added.
Blige, however, did not suggest that the decision had become a lasting source of distress, but acknowledged that she now views motherhood differently from when she was younger.