After facing criticism for her emotional reaction to disciplining her daughter, Serena Williams has opened up about another parenting method she admits may be 'extreme.' The tennis icon, who has been expanding her personal brand and business portfolio since retiring from professional tennis in 2022, also dedicates significant time to her two daughters, including her eldest, Olympia.
Serena Williams on Being a Present Parent
On a recent episode of the 'IMO' podcast, co-hosted by former First Lady Michelle Obama and her brother Craig Robinson, Williams shared her hesitation to let Olympia out of her sight for extended periods. 'I really try to be a present parent,' the 23-time Grand Slam champion told the hosts. 'And sometimes that's hard, especially with the lives that we live; it's very hard to be present, but I try to be extremely present.'
Williams emphasized that she never goes more than 24 hours without seeing her children. 'I'm never gone more than 24 hours, ever,' she added. 'I didn't leave Olympia until she was 6 for 24 hours.' She acknowledged that this approach might seem extreme but affirmed, 'That may have been a little extreme, but that's who I am.'
Balancing Family and Career
The tennis star shares daughters Olympia, now 8, and Adira, 2, with her husband, tech entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian. Despite her demanding lifestyle, which often requires travel, Williams prioritizes being near her children. 'I show up as much as I can every single day for the girls,' she said. 'Because I feel like they mean the most to me, and I feel they need me, and they need to make sure, I wanna raise my children. I'm a person that's raising my kids, and that's teaching them how I want them to live and how I want them to be.'
Previous Parenting Controversy
Last month, Williams faced mockery for her reaction to punishing Olympia by forbidding her from attending a sleepover after she refused to go to sleep. Williams posted on social media, 'She cried. But what she did not know is I cried harder. I hate when she cries. Discipline sucks. But sometimes it's important.'
