Paltrow unruffled by chiding moms

LONDON: By her own admission, she struggles with guilt about being a working mother. But woe betide anyone else who makes Gwyneth Paltrow feel bad about it.

The actress says she doesn’t “give a s***” what other mothers think of her.

The 41-year-old American complained that some women were too quick to criticise working mothers, and defended her choices when it came to her work-home balance. She said it was unfair that some mothers branded others as terrible because they juggled a busy schedule on top of their child’s play dates.

The Shakespeare In Love star said all that mattered to her was what she thought of her own parenting and the time she devoted to her children.

Paltrow and Coldplay singer Chris Martin, 36, have two children – daughter Apple, 9, and son Moses, 7. During an interview last year she spoke about juggling work and her children, saying: “I feel guilty all the time. But they are my priority.”

Now she has told Red magazine: “It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. The worklife balance for a woman should be exactly what she feels is right for her. And nobody else can set her time schedule.

“And nobody else can tell her how many hours a week she needs to devote to this, that or the other. F*** what anybody else says.

“That’s what we’ve got to let go of. That idea of, ‘Oh God, if I don’t show up to this concert, all the other mums are going to think I’m terrible’.

“Well, so f***ing what. When I’m with my kids, I give them everything I have. And when I’m not, I give whatever I’m doing everything I have. And that’s my balance. So if anyone is going to ask my advice, I’d say, do what is right for you and don’t give a s*** what anyone else thinks.”

Last year, she told Harpers Bazaar of her guilt at juggling work and children and said she now only accepted roles that would not take her too far from home.

Some mothers have suggested women can have a successful family life or a career, but not both.– Daily Mail