Molly Sims Let Her Kids Eat Brownies For Breakfast During Quarantine, and There's No Mom Shaming Allowed

From Woman's Day

Molly Sims is doing her best. And like most parents who have had their lives completely turned upside down by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, she's accepting the very real truth that in the midst of a public health crisis, your best is simply all you can do. So has the actress and model's parenting style changed during quarantine? Absolutely. "Did I ever think I’d give my kids brownies for breakfast?" Sims tells Woman's Day. "Guess what, I have."

Sims says she's not typically an anxious person, but she's been feeling an increase in anxiety as a result of the pandemic and all the uncertainty it has caused. "The unknown is scary," she says. "Does it make me want to cry? Yes. Does it make me want to drink more? Yes. Does it make me want to be grateful? Yes. It’s hard, you know."

But instead of being too hard on herself in a time of immense unpredictability, stress, and overwhelm, Sims is giving herself and her family a break. "Sometimes you've gotta let things go sideways," Sims explains, who has partnered with Nyakio Grieco and PayPal to help moms through quarantine. "And I mean that in the best possible way. I always say to my kids 'nothing's perfect.' We can write down all of our doubts, and then let's go outside and burn them and bury them."

To combat the increased anxiety, she's been embracing random fun moments with her kids. They've been cooking together, building forts, and all piling into the same bed to sleep at night — the family dog included. Taking time for herself has also been a major stress relief, so while family time is vital, so is the time she has been able to spend away from family.

Among her favorite self-care "mom hacks" are video-chatting with her friends, exercising, soaking her feet, meditating, and organizing. She's investing in giving herself permission to take a break when she needs one, though, with a house full of kids it can be hard to find those necessary moments of solitude. Which is why Sims acknowledges that it's important to be mindful of that time, and take it when you can. "Sometimes I will hide in my closet and have a glass of wine, and before [COVID-19] you’d think 'that is so weird,' but it’s not so weird," she says.

It's impossible for any one person to say what the coming months will bring, so Sims is sticking to her current mindset: Just take it day by day.

Want more recipes? Subscribe to Woman's Day today and get 73% off your first 12 issues. And while you’re at it, sign up for our FREE newsletter for even more of the Woman's Day content you want.

You Might Also Like

• 60+ Easy and Satisfying Avocado Recipes You Need to Try ASAP

• "I Used To Love Getting Naked — And Then I Got Pregnant"

• 45 Inspirational Books All Women Should Read in Their Lifetime