Meghan Markle Talks Reality Of Motherhood Versus What She Envisioned

For Meghan Markle, being a mom is a different story from what she had planned!

The Duchess of Sussex gave a stellar review of her experience with motherhood, six years in, how things took a somewhat different, yet exciting turn from the initial trajectory of her life.

Since her highly publicized wedding to Prince Harry in 2018, Meghan Markle has welcomed two children, exited the United Kingdom after welcoming her first, and hopped on several successful projects, including co-founding a new brand, "As Ever."

In her recent podcast "Confessions of a Female Founder" episode, the mogul candidly shared her experiences of motherhood. Meghan reflected on the surprising realities of raising her two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

While she has always aspired to be a mother, she admitted that her initial plan involved balancing motherhood with public speaking. The podcaster exclaimed:

"I will say, for myself, especially when they are baby babies and before I was a mom—I've always wanted to be a mom—I was like, 'Oh gosh I'm going to give a speech with a baby on my hip. I had a whole vision."

However, Meghan's lustrous dream did not unfold as expected. According to her: "I had a whole vision. You fast forward [and] … it was not the way I envisioned it." She also noted that numerous external factors influenced her experiences during both pregnancies and the early stages of parenting.

However, despite the demanding nature of raising two kids and building a business, the Duchess of Sussex shared on her podcast, "For me, it's so important my kids see me as a working mom."

As shared by Page Six, Meghan gave birth to Archie in May 2019, a year after she exchanged nuptial vows with her husband at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

At the time, the actress and Prince Harry were still active members of the royal family in England. They eventually left their royal roles and moved to the United States a year later, just before Lilibet was born in June 2021 in their luxurious Montecito home.

On her podcast and during appearances like the "Jamie Kern Lima Show" last month, Meghan discussed her morning routine with her children. According to her, her routine encompassed everything from breakfast to school drop-offs. 

Throughout her journey, she has remained generous with offering glimpses into her family life on social media since she returned to Instagram in January.

The actress uploaded a heartfelt Mother's Day post expressing her gratitude for the joys of being a mother, celebrating the daily adventures with Archie and Lilibet.

"To these two gems, who still attempt to climb 'mama mountain', smother me with kisses, and make every day the most memorable adventure — being your mom is the greatest privilege of my life," she wrote in the caption. 

As earlier shared by The Blast, Meghan shared further insights on  "The Jamie Kern Lima Show," about her unique approach to parenting. 

Open and makeup-free, she discussed her nightly ritual of writing emails to her children, which she views as a personal digital time capsule filled with cherished memories and messages of love.

Inspired by a friend's idea, Meghan revealed she created secret email accounts for her kids, sending everything from candid snapshots of their daily lives. From the messy breakfasts and playful moments with their dog to meaningful expressions of affection, the actress has it all recorded.

She also plans to give them access to these accounts when they reach adolescence, envisioning over 4,000 emails awaiting them at 18. Meghan expressed deep pride for her children and emphasized the importance of nurturing their connection, "I see you. I'm nurturing you, and I see you so deeply."

Her heartfelt commitment to documenting their lives reflects her desire to communicate enduring love and support as they grow.

Meghan's personal revelations constantly spark renewed interest in her family and their life in California. Her session with Lima quickly went viral on X, amassing over 13 million views and generating a significant response with more than 2,000 comments.

Viewers expressed mixed opinions in the comment section of Lima's YouTube page, which also saw a vast amount of engagement with over 11,000 comments from nearly 250,000 viewers.

Critics highlighted perceived inconsistencies in Meghan's persona, with one viewer commenting on her portrayal as a loving and inclusive person, juxtaposed against claims of alienating her family.

Others labeled the interview as unnecessary or even comedic in an unintended way, while some expressed concern over the long-term implications for her children.

Despite the backlash, Meghan also received support from individuals curious about the intense disdain directed at her. One supporter encouraged Meghan and other parents to cherish and "capture those small moments" with their children.

Meghan also highlighted on the podcast that true motherhood is defined not by grand gestures or social media moments. Instead, by the quiet, everyday expressions of love that often go unnoticed yet are deeply impactful.

She was particularly moved when she received a heartfelt letter from her children, which was transcribed with the help of Prince Harry. As she read their words aloud, celebrating her cooking and affection as "the best mummy," she was visibly touched. 

The actress also took a moment to reflect on the importance of that term, which blends her American and British family cultures. Meghan had previously explained the reason behind filming her Netflix series "With Love, Meghan" at a nearby farmhouse instead of their home in Montecito.

She expressed concerns about the disruption a large production crew would create in her children's peaceful environment. The mogul stated that the chaos of having 80 people in her kitchen was not the childhood memory she desired for them.

Despite the huge changes, Meghan Markle remains undoubtedly a great mom!