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Serena Williams Time Magazine Quotes August 2018

Serena Williams on Motherhood: "Women Shouldn't Be Treated Differently" Because They Have Kids

MASON, OH - AUGUST 14:  Serena Williams serves to Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic during the Western & Southern Open at Lindner Family Tennis Centre on August 14, 2018 in Mason, Ohio.  (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Serena Williams, the winner of 23 grand slam titles and mom to her adorable 11-month-old daughter Alexis Olympia, has been very candid about her pregnancy and postpartum journey on social media. But in a recent interview with Time magazine, the 36-year-old mom laid her feelings about motherhood all on the table — and yep, her thoughts are spot on.

On balancing motherhood and work . . .

"I still have to learn a balance of being there for her, and being there for me. I'm working on it. I never understood women before, when they put themselves in second or third place. And it's so easy to do. It's so easy to do."

On her inspiring run at Wimbledon and her postpartum symptoms . . .

"I dedicated that to all the moms out there who've been through a lot. Some days, I cry. I'm really sad. I've had meltdowns. It's been a really tough 11 months. If I can do it, you guys can do it too."

On the discrimination she felt she faced in a tournament seeding after giving birth . . .

"It would be nice to recognise that women shouldn't be treated differently because they take time to bring life into this world."

On her breastfeeding experience . . .

"You have the power to sustain the life that God gave her. You have the power to make her happy, to calm her. At any other time in your life, you don't have this magical superpower."

On being told by a male coach to stop breastfeeding for the sake of her game . . .

"It's absolutely hard to take from a guy. He's not a woman, he doesn't understand that connection, that the best time of the day for me was when I tried to feed her. I've spent my whole life making everyone happy, just servicing it seems like everyone. And this is something I wanted to do."

On the pressure to share a post-pregnancy photo on social media . . .

"I hated that I fell victim to that. It puts a lot of pressure on women, young and old."

Image Source: Getty / Matthew Stockman
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