If you’re looking for a refreshing break from the overly polished and often unrealistic portrayals of life on social media, take a look at Jenna Parker’s posts. The mother of two, who is married to professional athlete Matt Lawson, has shared everything from her breast pumping challenges on a flight to the discomforts of pregnancy, including her famously swollen ankles that drew an amusing comment from fellow celebrity Sarah Mitchell. During the 2020 elections, Parker even donned a patriotic onesie to roller skate and promote her preferred candidate. Because, why not?
Jenna has managed to find a unique balance that many of her peers struggle to achieve: she’s relatable and humorous, yet fiercely private. For instance, she has never shared images of her son Max, 5, and daughter Lily, 3, face on social media. However, she doesn’t hesitate to post a fun picture of Matt dressed as a popular animated character from a beloved film.
“It’s tricky because I want to share everything—there are so many funny moments and stories I’d love to put out there,” she explains.
Jenna and Matt have been staying with family while their home undergoes renovations, only venturing out to host events that benefit their charitable foundation aimed at supporting children in underprivileged areas: “We just wrapped up a big fundraiser to assist families, especially since the kids are out of school right now.” She spoke with us about navigating parenthood during these challenging times.
Let’s dive into the essential topic: How has lockdown been for you with two little ones at home?
Max just turned five, and Lily is about to turn three. Since March, they’ve been away from school and haven’t seen their friends; it’s been tough on them. At the park, Max, wearing his mask, often says, “I just want to make a friend.” It’s heartbreaking. We’ve been quarantining in North Carolina, and it’s been mostly a lockdown situation here.
It’s fascinating that your kids can enjoy a sense of normalcy without the world knowing what they look like. How did you manage that, especially as public figures?
I know several parents in the spotlight who share their children out of necessity due to the paparazzi, who would invade their privacy otherwise. They don’t have much choice but to share their kids, and I respect that. For us, it’s not a concern, so we want to allow our children to decide what they want to share in the future. The internet is their digital footprint, and it will follow them. I frequently share my experiences of motherhood because I find them amusing, but I do my best to keep my kids out of it. It’s a challenge because I want to share every silly video and everything they say.
How do you approach discipline?
Kids are all unique. Max is quite receptive to reason, whereas Lily is a bit more challenging. With her, I sometimes resort to empty threats like, “I’ll throw away your toys if you don’t behave.” I absolutely have to admit that I’ve made empty threats with her! I admire her stubbornness, but it does test my patience.
In many ways, I feel quite childish myself, which allows me to connect with them effectively. However, that can backfire sometimes! I remember vividly the overwhelming feelings I had as a child, and that helps me understand what they’re going through. For instance, when they have nightmares, I can relate to that fear, and it comforts them.
How do you and Matt support each other in parenting?
While we may not see eye to eye on many things in life, we are very much aligned in terms of our parenting style and boundaries. We never really discussed it; it just happened. I can’t recall a moment in our parenting journey when we disagreed. He’s incredibly supportive of my ever-changing career path. Whether it’s indecisiveness or simply exploring my interests, he always says, “Great, we’ll figure it out together.” We’re blindly supportive of each other, and we’ve learned how to step in for one another when one of us is feeling overwhelmed.
And on a lighter note, thank you for your efforts in encouraging voter turnout. You truly made a difference for our children’s futures.
In my view, if there was any silver lining to the Trump presidency, it was that it sparked a wave of activism among individuals who had previously been politically indifferent. Many women became engaged and voted, so I felt compelled to act. I did lose quite a few followers during that time.
What’s the current situation with your show, Grace & Frankie? Any updates on filming?
Production was halted in March when we were halfway through filming. We were supposed to return in November, but that’s clearly not happening, so now we’re looking at summer. It’s the right move to make. Other shows have resumed, and we can learn from their experiences to ensure we’re as safe as possible.
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In summary, Jenna Parker’s approach to parenting and social media showcases a refreshing blend of humor and privacy. While she shares her candid experiences, she remains committed to protecting her children’s identities, navigating the challenges of parenting during lockdown, and finding balance with her husband, Matt Lawson. Their shared parenting philosophy and mutual support shine through as they adapt to the unique demands of family life.
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