IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson - It’s Okay to Apologize to Your Kids with Serena Williams

Episode Date: May 13, 2026

 In this special live IMO episode, tennis legend Serena Williams joins Michelle to talk about all things motherhood. They swap stories about their fertility journeys, experience raising daughters, and the lessons they learned from their own moms. Plus, Serena shares what it was like to win a grand slam while pregnant!Have a question you want answered? Write to us at imopod.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Serena, tell us if you feel comfortable about your conception journey. I mean, you... Well, one thing I... Well, that is definitely... I've never had that subject. Yeah. That's kind of intimate. Well, you know, it's true. Well...

But we're with moms. We were in... And this is only going to air to millions of people. It's just between us girls. while we were in Rome and and this episode

is brought to you by Chase Home Lending Hey there Hi there, moms Hey Serena girl What's happening First of all, let me start by thanking Steve and Connie Balmer

and the entire LA Clippers organization for hosting us today. They are wonderful. Let's give them a round of applause. And you guys have been great partners to us personally, and we are incredibly grateful to be working with you. So thank you. We're here today to talk about my favorite subject,

motherhood, with some of my favorite. people, mothers. Right? And what better guests to have? Not just one of the greatest athletes in the world, but

one of the greatest mothers in the world. Because we're backstage and I'm like how the girls. And this one, you know, you can't even say their names without just.

just feeling it, right? Yeah, they're pretty special. Pretty special. So we're going to talk about motherhood, our motherhood journeys, and so much more. But I want to begin with just a fundamental question. I don't know about you. I've done a lot in life. I have accomplished things, degrees, and all the things.

And I always knew that I wanted to have a career. I wanted to have an impact. But the one thing I always, always knew I wanted to be was a mother. For sure, I mean, it is the most important thing. And I knew that from a long, long time. And that's not always true. I mean, we all come to motherhood in different ways for different reasons. And there is no right way to be a mother.

That's for sure. That's all I've learned. but I'm wondering Serena did you feel that way? Did you always want to be a mother? Yeah, actually I've always wanted to be a mom. I didn't know you know there's a lot of things involved

with becoming a mom but I always knew that I wanted to be a mom even when I was young playing with my dolls and you know I was always the one that just wanted to have kids so it's always been something that I've always knew throughout my life and I didn't know when, you know, I just didn't know when it was going to happen, but I always knew that there was one goal that I just definitely wanted to reach, and I was becoming a mom. Yeah.

And then you start trying to be a mom, which I did. And I, you know, what they never, what I was never told was that the biological clock was real. And I try to tell a lot of young people that, a lot of young people. that a lot of young women that that clock is real and barak and i we married in our late 20s took our time hanging tough and then we started working on conceiving i got pregnant once in miscarried which was devastating and then we tried and tried and tried and we had to do IVF for both girls which you know it becomes, it's more of a thing than I knew then. I think more young women are talking about their conception journey

that it's not always guaranteed. But Serena, tell us, if you feel comfortable about your conception journey, I mean, you... Well, one thing I, well, that is definitely, I've never had that subject. Yeah. That's kind of intimate. Well, you know, it's true.

Well. But we're with moms. We were in. And this is only going to air to millions of people. It's just between us girls. Wow, we were in Rome. And.

One thing led to another. And. So. So, but you were pregnant while you were still? Yeah. So were you trying? No, I wasn't trying to have a kid at the time. But you were not, not trying, clearly.

Apparently. But you know what's so interesting about what you said, about the biological clock? I tell all my friends of age, freeze your eggs. Because I just feel like that is the best thing that you can do as a woman. and as you decide to go on this journey, like, I feel like, I did that. And I... You froze my eggs. And I felt like once I did it, because I was still playing professional tennis, and, you know,

I felt like I wasn't ready to stop and I wanted to keep going. And, you know, it just wasn't time. And then all of a sudden, all this pressure came off of my shoulders. Like, it was just all this weight just fell off my shoulders once I did that. Then I told a lot... Ever since then, I told everyone to do it. How old were you when you? I was in my 20s.

I was like 27, 28. So it was a really good time to do it. And also, someone told me to do it. So I always felt like it was really important for me to pay that forward. Because then nowadays with technology, there's just so much that you can do. Like you said, even with IVF, which, you know, is also such a great journey as well. And, you know, I just felt like, I just felt so much better. I just felt so much better

that I actually had that option. So yeah, so we had that's what we were able to do as well. I mean there's so much pressure on women just to you know, I mean, you know, if you don't get that part right, there's still

a feeling that something is missing. I don't know about all of you, but I know that when I struggled to conceive I took that on like a personal failure. I mean, I don't think we have that conversation enough about how many times that either you conceive and you have a miscarriage or whether you conceive and it doesn't work. Yeah.

So I feel like the only times is work when you're not trying to conceive. That's right. It just, I think that's just a really important part of just being a woman and just all these things. I'm all about just breaking down these walls and talking about the uncomfortable and making them comfortable and talking about things that more people don't. about Rome, but it's okay. Not that. Now, that's a different type of conversation. I wasn't sure we were here for that.

So it was, I don't know, I just feel like a lot of people aren't really, women aren't really open. Like, it's kind of like, you know, like menopause and peri menopause, like my mom's generation, no one's open about that conversation. My mother said she didn't remember. I was like, you're lying.

Exactly, or it didn't bother you. My mom said, oh, that was nothing. Yeah, right. It's never nothing to them. Yeah, and I'm just like, but now I think this generation is all about it. Like, the more you know about it and the more you can, you know, just tell people about it, like I try to tell everyone about it. I tell them all my friends, listen, I started a prednisone. Why not?

You know, and it helped me sleep better and help me do it. And they're like, really, I hadn't done that. I'm like, girl, you better do it. I hear you. So, and, you know, I'm all about just. talking and having real raw, open conversations because I think it's so important, like, not to hide what all of us go through. That's absolutely right.

It doesn't matter what color you are, how all you are. It doesn't matter where you're all going to go through it. So I think it's so important to have those conversations. So back to the kids. I think that, too, it's just like, you know, it's important to say, like, you know, this is how I had my kid, you know, or this is what I did and this was my journey. And then it also helps you feel more like, oh, it's okay. Yes.

Like, oh, I, you know, one thing when I was pregnant, I checked my underwear every single time I went to the bathroom. I mean, sure we all get that at some. Is it still there? Exactly. It's like when no one talks about that, because it's just a natural, it's almost like a natural reaction. It's so true. Yeah. It's like, because you just have stressed the entire time you're pregnant until you actually get the baby.

Then you have a whole other stress. That's right. But it's just like just you know having those conversations I am so with you one of the reasons why I like to be open and honest is because we didn't have that

necessarily and the truth is that we don't pay enough attention to women's health there's so much we don't know about our bodies so much that doctors don't share with us even the issue

of conceiving and freezing eggs, if you don't have the right doctor at the right time, you may not get that information. I still know young women who aren't thinking about freezing their eggs because nobody mentioned that to them. So it becomes, do you have the right

doctor? Are you in the right location? Do you have that access? You can still use those eggs with your husband. It doesn't, like, it's just so, you just have so many more opportunities and options. And so, I don't know, for me, I was really happy that I did it. Buying a home is a big step.

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He sure was. And had that pushed lawnmower. Yeah. It was never the electric one. Which is why he told me not to cut the grass right after rain, because that thing would have never cut anything. But we learned a lot about home ownership because Uncle Terry was the first homeowner that we lived with. that we knew. Yeah. You know, it's the small comforts, connections and local support that make a house feel like a home. Wherever your journey takes you, we hope you find a place that feels just right. With Chase Home Lending, you can move forward with confidence, knowing help, and real value are always close by all the way home. Visit chase.com slash IMO to get started. There's no commitment and no impact to your credit. Remember, FDII. I see equal housing opportunity. So then you got pregnant and you were,

you were in a Grand Slam tournament when you, when did you, what, I mean, okay, can you walk us, can you walk us back to when you found out? And because you were pregnant when you won the Australian Open in 2017. I had no intention of winning. Yeah. Just for the record. You were just, I'm just here. This is one time I could lose and not be upset about it.

Really? No, because I remember thinking. So it all started in New Zealand. I was playing a tournament before the Australian Open in New Zealand. And I'm not the most positive person on the court. If anyone ever followed my career. Everyone was making fun of Coco. Everyone see that?

I know, right. And Stam is like, oh, you just hold on. was like, really? Can you smash that in one go? Like, hello? Coco, you can do better than that, girl. You can do better than that.

And then, of course, someone started pulling up all the pictures of rackets I smashed. I was like, wait, when is this a Serena roast? I was just trying to support her. Just trying to help the girl out. Just get off my back. So, anyways,

I was at this tournament with the famous attitude that I may have had sometimes. And I just had a I just lost to this girl that I just I shouldn't have lost to. And I just remember I was just so mad. It was windy and I was mad at the wind

and it was the ball kid. I was mad at the ball kid and I was so angry with everything. I was so mad. And I'm sure I smashed a racket. I was miserable. Yeah. And even in the presser after, we all know about pressers after.

Oh my God. I said I hate this place. I never did this. life. I said, I hate this place. I'm never coming back. It sucks. I was miserable. So then next week, I'm in Australia, and I'm working out and I'm not, I'm like, why am I breathing so hard? Why are I breathing? Anyway, eventually I, also my booze were massive, massive, massive. And I was like, okay, I'm just going to take a test. And I took a test.

It was positive, but I was like, okay, this is crazy. And so anyway, so I ended up going to the doctor and he's like, oh, surprise, you're like, what am I? Like, four weeks pregnant? I'm like, no, you're seven weeks pregnant. Wow. And I was like, what? What? What?

Excuse me? It was crazy, but then it all made sense as to why. Yeah, yeah. So bad. I mean, that was the worst of one of the worst. Probably one of the worst. And you weren't pregnant those other times. Well, I was thinking about being a mom.

I always wanted to be a mom. Yeah. I was probably in the back in my head. So, yeah. So then I was like, oh my gosh. So then I thought to myself, well, self, what are we going to do? Uh-huh. And so...

Self? Self? There's a baby in here. And did you already committed to play at the open? Yeah, and I was supposed to play doubles. So I pulled out of doubles. And Venus didn't tell me anything. But later on, she said, when you pulled out,

I knew you were pregnant. I'm like, how? You didn't tell her? No, because I also felt really bad because I was just like, I didn't want to pull out and I didn't want her to be stressed. And then it was crazy.

I couldn't, you know, I just didn't want to stress any. out. So one of my sisters knew and the baby daddy knew my husband. Yeah, that's good. That's good. That's good. And my agent knew Jill. Uh-huh. So we just kept and then, but apparently Venus knew too. So she told like early, it was like on the third round in the locker room, she's like, she told me and I was like, oh, okay. And then I felt bad in the final because I was like, I always felt bad. It's always like she probably wanted to take it easy on me because she's always protecting me. Yeah.

So I was like, I really wish she hadn't I known. Yeah. Because then maybe, I don't know, maybe it would have been different. Maybe it wouldn't have. But still, I just like to be super fair with whoever I'm playing. So, yeah. So that's kind of how it happened. And then at the end, I was nine weeks pregnant.

And then it was nuts. So how did you feel through? I mean, look. I was exhausted. I remember playing points. And so are. Most of us are just in bed. You know, we have a plan.

We're not like breaking brackets. We're just in bed. I had a piece for that. But I remember thinking to myself, I can't play a long point. I need to finish. I have to three shots and I have to be done. So I was like I had to hit lots of winners and lots of aces, which is an insane strategy. But I hadn't planned on winning.

But every time I kept winning, I was like, oh, I can beat her. And then, you know, and I was like, oh, I can beat her. And then it was like, oh, I got to beat her. She pissed me off. So she got to go down. There was only one or two of those. So you just, you just revenged your way to the title. Oh, girl.

And then it was another one, I can't lose to her. Like, I mean, I have some sort of pride. So that's how I would have. Yeah. Wow, wow. So did it feel extra good that you? you were able to. Okay, that's what I was saying.

So I couldn't have long points. So if I had a really long point, if you go back and watch the footage, I would lose the next point. And of course, it's only my opponents don't get that, they don't get to understand that rhythm. Because that's normally, not normally how I play. But, you know, when you're getting every, eventually you'll see that after a long point, Serena loses the next point. So you have to strategize. Because you're trying to catch your breath.

You're trying to. Yeah. Yeah, but I also have to keep a face on that doesn't. let anyone know that I'm, you know, exhausting. You're like, surely can't breathe. But women can do anything. Amen.

Amen. Especially with the help of God. You can do everything. And I knew I was having a girl because Australia gets really high. They do Celsius. It was like 43 is like 120. And one day I had to play in 43. And I was like, no way.

There's no way. And that's what I knew I'm having a girl because I said to myself, no way can a boy make it. They just, sorry, y'all. I genuinely said this. I genuinely said, and I told my husband that day, we were having a girl,

there's no way a little boy could handle everything putting this baby under. And we had a girl. That's right. Olympia was just like, Mom, we're cool. Yeah. I got you. I'm hanging on.

Hanging in there. I wish you'd just win. this point. But you know what? She has a bad attitude like me. She gets angry if she doesn't win. She gets so mad. Well, we don't call that a bad attitude. We call that competitive. Thank you. Okay. We call that competitive. Yes. That's what we, yes. No, that's what we call it. That is not a bad attitude. Because if a man acted that way. Yeah, yeah. Well, they told me for years it's a bad attitude. Yeah. I love this. But guess what? I'm getting some good insights now. We're both the youngest. And there's something about that determination, I believe.

And I see it in my youngest. We have two girls. And I, you know, I think when you're keeping up, you know, I know I felt like my brother would deliberately learn how to play a game, go off, and then go, Mish, let's play. And I'm like, dude, you know, he was just going to beat me down. What's the age difference? It's a year and a half.

It's almost two years. And so I'm always losing, you know, and trying to keep up. And after a while, you just get pissed, you know? So I think there is a youngest child determinant in that. Absolutely, for sure. Yeah, but that doesn't explain Olympia because she's the oldest. I know. Okay.

I think it was just the situation that she was in. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So. A little bit from it. That's okay, though. So your labor and delivery experience was also a journey. Yeah, that was a journey. That was a journey.

I have these issues with my blood, so my blood can clot pretty easily. So I have to be on certain type of medicines, especially if I'm pregnant, I have to always take injections every day. So when I had the baby, I, after, I could. I couldn't breathe and I kept telling the lady the nurse. I kept saying, I can't breathe and she was like, oh, well, you know, you'll be fine. I said, no, actually I think I need to get a cat scan because I feel, I think I have blood clots in my lungs. And you're in the hospital. I'm in the hospital.

You had the baby. You had a C-section. I've already had the baby. I had a C-section because she wouldn't come out. I knew I was going to have to have a C-section, so I just had this premonition. Just, yeah, I just felt like I feel a lot. and I don't know three months in I was like I'm having

a C-section and so when they told me I had to have a C-section I wasn't surprised and I went with the plan and also tell women now I say listen definitely if you want to push go for it I wish I could have done it but also if the doctor tells you

they have to cut do it because I've seen so many kids be so affected because women want to stick to their plan of I must push I must push and I've seen kids come out unfortunate and even die because they didn't follow the, you know, follow with the doctors. Well, that's another thing that women take on that birth has to look a certain way. And I, for one, was like, I went in five centimeters dilated.

I thought about natural birth for literally the conversation I had with my doctor that said, okay, it was like eight. And I said, well, how long is it going to take? How much, how long am I going to have to be in this kind of pain? and she said about four hours. And I was like, no, mm-mm. Stick that needle right in my back. I think I could have done it if she had said an hour, right?

If she had said this baby's coming in an hour, I'm like, okay, I can do it. But four hours? Yeah, no. I was like, so, I mean, this. I applaud the women that can do it. I, well, it's wonderful. Yes. It's not me.

For you. But I'm all, I'm like. I'm like, are you... I heard about something called the Ring of Fire. Oh, yes. I can't hear that. I never want to meet the ring. Me neither.

I don't know. See, I'm always like, would you get your tooth pulled without anesthesia? Is there anybody here? Would a man do that? Definitely not, no. I know. You're going to be the butt of all the man jokes. He's handling it well, though.

Steve over there cracking up. You know y'all are weak. So anyway, so I was, I told the nurse that and she just was like, this is crazy talk, which may have sounded like crazy talk for me to tell them what, give her exactly quote unquote what I needed and how I needed it. And then I started coughing so hard, so all my stitches just like burst open because I couldn't breathe. And so like I was holding a pillow on my stomach and I was just coughing because I was just

like, I'm like, they're going to break, they're going to break. I couldn't breathe, so it was just coughing, coughing, coughing, coughing. And they broke, and I had to have that redone. I think I had like five surgeries. And that, I don't know, I don't remember some of them. And then my doctor came in and I was like, I can't breathe. I think I need the cat scan. This is like after I'd already told the nurse.

And then, because I remember my husband's parents were there. And I was in the room and they were talking and they were holding the baby. and I calmly walk, because I'm, again, I'm very calm. I calmly walked back, and I was like, I don't want anyone to panic. And that's when I told the nurse, I can't breathe. I was just like, you know, help me out here. And she didn't take me serious. So then when the doctor came, I was telling her I couldn't breathe,

and she was like, okay, I could look at her and tell that I don't know if she believed me, but she did everything I asked. And I was really grateful that I had her. and that she was with me for the whole pregnancy journey. And it's so good to have a doctor that can listen to you. And, you know, you might say things that don't make sense, but still she heard me. She listened.

And if she hadn't listened, I wouldn't be here. And she made sure that she did what I asked, and then she found exactly what I said. So it was then I had to have another surgery to get like something in my veins to stop clots from going to my heart. I had so many surgeries. How long were you in the hospital after you delivered? It wasn't that long.

It was only like eight days. And you had that many surgeries in eight days. In eight days. It was crazy. And then you had to go home with a baby. And I remember my only goal was to be able to walk to the mailbox. And one day I walked to the mailbox and I came back and I passed out for the rest of the day. It was very intense.

I remember watching the documentary that, journey that followed your comeback. And it really moved me to see you because it showed you and you and the family leaving with Olympia in the carrier. And you were determined to carry her, but it was clear that you were struggling. Yeah, it was really struggling. You were physically, you were not the Serena Williams, everybody knew. But I also was very proud of you for showing that story.

And anyone who has, remind me that the name of the- Being Serena. Being Serena. This is like watching her journey and her comeback, you show it all in a way that is so powerful. And if I didn't love you before then, I loved you even more, just watching your determination to get that baby home regardless of your health,

but you were struggling. Yeah, I was really struggling, but I also had some great help, you know, and sometimes, you know, family is so important and not everyone has family. And so I just felt so grateful that I did have that at my husband and I had my family. And then, because I don't think I remember the first three weeks. Yeah. Because I remember my husband's sister came to visit and she told me like a year later. And I was like, I vaguely remember you there. I would have never remembered it.

She hadn't reminded me. I was like, oh, my gosh. Everything was just so, you know, it was a lot. Yeah. Yeah. But it was good. And I think that, you know, every journey, everyone has their own journey. And I was blessed to have my journey.

And the more I talk to women, the more I understand and see that everyone's journey is, not everyone, but a lot of women's journey is so intense. Yes. And often worse than mine. Giving birth is intense. Yeah. Are you putting your life on the line? It is why maternal health should not be a political football.

Because what our bodies do, what we are capable of doing is amazing. But the fact that there isn't research done on maternal health, there's a limited amount of information we get about our health. We aren't encouraged to ask questions. We aren't encouraged to talk amongst each other. other. And I just want us to vow today, you know, regardless of our generation, that we don't pass that down to the next generation. That we owe them the knowledge, the wisdom. Because we want to know. Yeah. I mean, everyone wants to know. And they don't want to know if they don't know. Yeah, that's right. And so it's just like knowledge is power. And it's like when you go to

school, you would never know the things that you learn unless you're taught those. You weren't asked to learn about so many subjects, but you learn about them. And I feel the same way about us and our health and passing on that knowledge. I think it's just so important. So, we're back in L.A. for another round of IMO recordings. And it's All Star Weekend. I know. How's your trip going? You know, really well. And Kelly and the kids are here. So we're going to try and check out some of these All-Star activities. You know, it's been a busy time at home with the boys' basketball schedules, and we've got a busy week of recordings here in L.A.

So it's always nice having a relaxing place to stay while I'm here. I know what you mean. I mean, I don't have that issue, but I know from your experiences that when you're on the road, you've got to have a place that feels kind of like home. Exactly. And this time my Airbnb has a steam shower, a fireplace. But, Mish, I know you've got quite a busy schedule of your own. You and Barack are prepping for a really big week of events.

The grand opening of the Obama Presidential Center in June, right? Yeah, yeah. We are so excited about the opening. The art in it is amazing. And we can't wait to share it with the community and with the world. That's so great, and I'm sure Chicago will be seeing a lot of visitors that week, including myself and my family. With Airbnb, local hosts can offer those travelers a proper welcome. And with visitors arriving from all around the world for a big event like this, it's even more important that people have some comfortable places to stay.

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Well, let's turn to your mother. Because so much, you know, Everybody talks about your dad and the relationship with your dad. And your mom sits in those stands in a way that I could never. She, I mean, I just couldn't watch my kids play. But she was always there. I had an opportunity to meet her briefly. I think we were in Wimbledon for the Olympics.

Yes, yeah. And I was there representing the United States for whatever reason. What sport did you get a medal? I did not. I got no metal. But you did. You got a few. But I met your mom.

Talk about your mom. Tell us about that amazing woman and what you've learned from her as a mother. Well, my mom is a very strong woman. She's definitely not sharing all this information. Yes, really. She came from that generation where...

Mine either. Yeah. Marion is like, don't remember anything. Yes. She's very tough. My mom's very tough. And she's actually the oldest

of her siblings. So she's always been a mom. Yeah. And, you know, it's interesting to be something that you've always been and then to grow up and to become a mother.

And then she also took care of her grandkids. So her grandkids. So my mom, you know, growing, I'll start growing up. Growing up, I wasn't the best tennis player was always Venus, who was so great. And so I was demoted to my mom's court because my dad, Venus always played with my dad. And because he was better than my mom.

He actually taught my mom. My mom must have been an incredible athlete to learn how to play that fast. And so from there, I would always be on her court. And so I always wanted to be on my dad's court because he was more easygoing and he was more fun. people always think the opposite. Oh, he was easy. Yeah, really? Yes.

And so on my mom's court, there was no games. Like, I had to be serious and I had to do all this stuff. But then looking back, I was able to see that she was able to instill so much mental toughness that I had that my sister actually did not end up getting because I had to do so much. I had to work so hard. I had to do so many more things on her court. Like, there were no games. It was so serious.

Like it was just, it's, I was very, in the end, I was very grateful that I had that time with her to just focus on technique and focus on just not letting anything go because it really showed up in my game as a professional athlete and mentally and physically. And so that came from my mom. And so my mom, then she traveled with us. Actually the first tournament I ever won,

we had to split again. My dad was with Venus. and I was with my mom in Paris. And I was my first time, I think I was like 16. And I remember we shared a room because I love Paris. So I remember like we were at this hotel on the other side of the Saint, the river. And I remember that we shared a room and she had the bed. And I slept on the cot because I love sleeping on a cot.

Okay. All right. That's news you can use. Serena Williams loves the kids. cut. Yes. And I remember every night, I wanted to watch cartoons every night. Because you guys were big cartoon people.

You liked Disney. I still am, by the way. I love animation. Now I'm into Marvel. I was going to blame that on the kids. But still a big kid. Yeah. So I was still pretty young.

I still had an excuse them. And so she didn't mind. And so she made, she watched it with me every day. night and so it was such a good memory and it's a good moment. I remember every night after I would win a match because I always played this. I was in France and I played, oh my whole draw

was French people. And the stadium was probably the size of this room but it was loud, loud, loud, loud, loud, loud. And so every time I played, everyone was massively against me, naturally because I'm playing their country person. Nothing personal.

It was crazy. And so every night I come home like, wow, I can't believe I got through that. And then every night So I just kind of shut off my brain. We watched some animated something. And then that was that. And so eventually when I won, I was just remember being so happy. And then I remember we called Venus and she hadn't won. So she played another match and she won her tournament.

So we both won different tournaments. And we were so happy. And so then you fast forward a little bit more. We start winning grand slams and my mom was there for all the grand slams. And our first Olympics was actually on Sydney. And my mom was there. My mom is also very clumsy. Okay.

And she loves sweets. Uh-huh. So one time we were at Wimbledon and we see this woman hobbling her along the road. And I'm like, Mom, what happened? Oh, my God. What's going on? What? And she's, I'm like, you need to see a doctor.

I'm good. I'm going to get some cookies. Would you just drive past and she's hobbling? Yes. We're like, what? Why aren't you at the house? Uh-huh. I need some cookies.

I want. Like, are you, oh, you are not okay. She had a broken toe. But she was going to get her cookies. And she used to always hide cookies under the seat when we were driving. She used to hide cookies. My dad would be like, why are all these cookies in here? So she definitely has a sweet tooth, which is kind of funny.

But it's, I have so many good memories of my mom. What was it like being coached by? your mom. So how did that being coached your, was that always good? Because we got a lot of moms out here probably did their share of coaching. How did your

mom maintain that sort of special mom relationship? Or did she? So I think what a lot of people don't realize is that we travel every time we went to Australia probably actually every time went to France. My mom was always there. My dad actually never went to those

tournaments. And so she was always our coach for all that time. And so I don't know how many Australian opens I've won. A lot. Yes. Mm-hmm. So she basically coached me through all of them. And I remember one time when I was 89 in the world and everyone had written me off. It was like 20-something. And they said I would never win again, blah, blah, blah. And she told me in the final, before I played, I think

I was playing Maria in that final. that final Maria Sharapova. She was like, she said, you've got this, you're going to do this. She told me exactly how to play, and I won in less than an hour. And it was really genius. So she actually was a very great coach. And she'll say little things. My mom is not someone that's going to fill a room. She's going to say one word, but it's going to be the most powerful word in the room, and that's it. And so she'll say one thing like, you need to attack the forehand if it's low, or there's something, but you have to listen. And if you listen, you can catch done to it and you can be like, okay.

And that's the kind of person she is, even in life. You know, she always says like, when raising my kids, she'll be like, you need to be with those girls. Yeah. And so no matter what's happening in the world or what we're all going through, I always remember, I got to be with those girls.

You know, because she was always there with us. And now looking back, like she never spent a day away from us, all the girls. Yeah. And so, and then she's also the kind of person, like my sister, unfortunately, passed early on.

And she's the kind of person that I remember when she found out, like we all were just traumatized. She just dropped everything. And she moved to L.A., actually. And then she took care of the grandkids, and she raised them. And she never moved back.

So that's the kind of person that she is. She's used to responsibility. And she has a lot on her shoulders, but she's so proud to carry it. And then now she's instilled that into all of our daughters to just carry that power to carry that strength and to pass it on to our

kids and to my kids and all the other grandkids. So it's really, she's an amazing person. That's the quick version. It's so much that I can say about my mom, but she's really... The last thing I'll say

is, yeah, we do talk about our dad a lot and we wouldn't be here without our dad. Obviously wouldn't be here without our mom. But I've always described my mom as if my, I always described us like this. My dad is the body because it was his vision. It was his goal and it was his dream. But my mom is the spine.

You cannot function without that spine. The nerves that come from it, the nervous system. You can have a dream. You can have everything all set, but it's not going to work unless you have that part of you. And so that's kind of how I describe my mom. Yeah. Yeah. So what kind of mom are you?

Are you a spine-like mom? I always ask this question a lot about parenting philosophy. Because I think one of the things I admired most about my mom, my mom didn't go to college. My parents were working class folks. She was the middle of seven. But my mom was so emotionally intelligent. and she had such great common sense,

just like your mind. Wouldn't have to say much, but everybody wanted to hear from her. And one of the things that I learned from her was that, you know, you just don't have kids. You have to understand that you're raising people. And so her approach to raising us was to talk to us like who she wanted us to be later on, you know.

She didn't treat us like baby. She loved us dearly, but she believed that all kids are born with a level of intelligence and ability, and she treated us that way. So she taught me, like, as I grew up, I was like, my mom had this really deep philosophy about parenting, you know, stuff you learn in sociology

and psychology classes just came naturally to her. So I kind of think about parenting as this huge responsibility to think about where am I trying to get my girls, not how I feel in the moment. So I always wonder what folks' parenting philosophies are. And do you think you have one? And how would you describe your mothering approach? So Venus is a planner. She writes everything down. Even when she got married, it was just

boom, everything was just over, it was a lot. Yeah. To be honest. Don't worry, is this coming full circle? So she was always a person that read books

that would get through everything, would know exactly what she wants to do. So I think I'm different. I don't have. have like that plan. Yeah. I never had like a philosophy.

I just, as organized as I am in my life, like to a point where everything is labeled, my parenting skills is different. I kind of feel like, obviously I have spiritual goals for the kids. I have, you know, ideas for education goals. I have those types of things. But I never really thought much about over,

my philosophy is, just to be the best that I can to show up. And to also be, I felt like I love my parents and how they raised us. And just kind of pick and choose out of the some of the things that they raised us with, and particularly with my mom, how she raised us. So for me, I really try to be a present parent. And sometimes that's hard, especially with the lives that we live, is very hard to be present. But I try to be extremely present.

How do you manage that? Everything is around my kids. If it's like if I have to do something, I'm going more than 24 hours ever. Normally, I didn't leave Olympia until she was six for 24 hours. So that was, that may have been a little extreme, but that's who I am. And so for me, I show up every, as much as I can, every single day for the girls. Because I feel like they mean the most to me and I feel like they need me. and they need to make sure

I want to 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. That's beautiful. So like me, you have two girls. Yes, I wanted to copy you.

You were so inspiring to me. And three years apart. Way to go. How is that? I always thought I was going to have three boys. I don't know why, you know, I don't know why. I always thought I was a bit of a tomboy when I was younger. I could see you with sons.

Yeah, I followed around my brother. I love boys. I thought they were funnier than girls. I've learned you guys, you have some qualities. As she looks at Steve. Right. Again. That is the target.

So I always thought I was going to be the sports mom, you know, and then I have these two girls. And I am so grateful for my little women. And they are just amazing, grown women now, 28 and 24 out in the world. And I can tell you, I have loved every second of mothering, every second. But it's just interesting the same gender to girls. And I talk to my friends who have boys, and they're like, boys are definitely different. You know, like, Malie and Sasha could sit in color for hours. We could get on a plane.

And I talk, mothers of boys, you all laugh at that, right? I mean, they sit and read in color, and you can talk to them, and there's no throwing anything. I don't think we had a lot of balls around the house. Then I go to my brother's house who have nephews and they would come to visit at the White House and they'd just walk in sweaty, you know? I mean, I was like, why are they wet? You just got here.

And they come in damp and just throw cars and balls all on the first floor of the White House. And I'm like, ooh, this is different. But anyway, I digress. your precious little ladies how are they how does it feel being a mom to daughters? Yeah I've

as you know I've always wanted to be a mom I've only wanted girls I could have 10 girls I would be happy I grew up with four sisters yeah so I was the fifth sister I've never been around boys yeah so when I got pregnant actually had a quick

panic attack. I was so certain it was a girl. But when they took the blood to do the blood test, I was like, oh my God, I don't know what to do if I have a boy. I've never been around boys. And I'm really like, I was going crazy. I was like, I can't have a boy. And so I remember I went nuts.

So I have no. I was like, I don't know what to do. Yeah, so that's all I know is girls. And I just always want a girl. I've always been, growing up, I always wore dresses. I was that girl with the princess. Yes, your twirl. The twirl, you know, two-toos.

Like, that was all me. And so, oh, I love dressing them up. They're actually right now, I think Olympia's wearing a Moulon dress as we speak. Of course. Because they're at Disney World. So she must be in Milan. Yes. My idol.

The little one is wearing Anna dress. Oh, okay. So I'm like, oh, can you go buy them nor dresses, please? So I'm like, all that, I'm just, yeah. So my older daughter is very much like me, like very much like girly, girly girl. And my younger daughter is somewhat like, somewhat like me. I always describe her as like a, she'll wear a princess dress with tennis shoes. Okay, yeah.

Yeah, I like that in her. She plays with cars. Yeah, okay. One of my sisters play with cars a lot, so she reminds me a little bit of her. She loves hot wheels. but she'll wear hot wheels while wearing like a Rapunzel dress. It's like, where's my tiara? Give me the corvette.

I love it. And Olympia and I have never, because Olympia's five years older than Adira. So we never played with cars and stuff. So we're all like, oh, this is actually really fun. So Olympia and I are always playing with Adira's toys. They're like, oh, look it go. So it's nice that we have a little bit of a mix like that. It's really fun.

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If you're not completely obsessed, you'll get your money back. That's ollie.com slash IMO and intercode IMO to get 70% off your first box. Ali, be the obsession. How do you balance your parenting philosophy with your husband? husband. What have you learned from him about parenting? So one thing I, he loves, he's a, and this is a positive word now. Okay, yes. He's a nerd.

Okay, yes, it is very much. It's very positive. Especially a nerd with a job. Yes, we love nerds. We love nerds. Nerds pay the bills. So he's all about explaining. Uh-huh.

Okay. So he'll like... A lot of explaining. So he'll like, so Olympia does something. He'll like to Olympia like, okay, so, you know, why do you think you're learning about this? And then he goes into this whole reason as to why. And I'm like, hmm, that's good. So I like how he, I like how there's like a balance.

Yeah. Like he, like, kind of gives her the reasons and she understands like, you know, she'll ask a question about something. he'll go in a deep version about it. But it's nice because then she gets that knowledge and she really, you know, really gets it. And then for me, my philosophy is like, what do you like to do?

How are we going to do this together? You know, it's super important not to ever diminish what he's doing as the man of the house. You want to make sure that you're always uplifting him. That's my philosophy. So I always want to make sure that we're on the same page. Yeah. And also with things that I want, like I want the kids to, you know, do this, to whatever sport or to go to this school or, you know, just coming together for those decisions.

So, yeah, so I feel like we work very well in that part. That's great. It's great. I always say, you know, you can have one kid and, you know, swear you're a good parent. It's like, I got this. Look at me. I know all the things. and then you have the other one.

And, you know, they just, kids, babies, they come into this world as their own individual selves, truly. And it's a beautiful thing. I mean, like snowflakes, really. But it can be a challenge if you think that, you know, one size fits all in parenting. Yeah. As a parent, when I make a moment,

mistake, I make sure I say sorry. Absolutely. Because it is important for, first of all, to have that humility and to teach my daughter's humility. And second of all, I never want them to think that a mom can't apologize to someone younger. So I've been wrong a few times with Olympia, and I am the first to tell her you were right. I didn't do that right. I'm sorry. And so it's just, I think it's a good practice for me and hopefully maybe someone else but I feel like it's a very good thing to do. I totally agree and I've apologized a lot. Raising kids in the public eye, you know, I mean, we both have have done it. It is, it just makes the process 10 times more unnerving because, you know, you worry that your kids can't make mistakes because everybody, it's going to be

page six, you know. I mean, we would have those kind of conversations about, you know, you have to, our girls had to learn to think like comms people, like comms directors, and at a very young age. And it served them well today. I mean, they are very poised, very mature, but it's a lot of pressure that they didn't ask for. Yeah. How are you approaching the public nature of who you are, how you live, how are you thinking about that at this stage in the girl's life? So that's one thing that I try to do, and never as public as you.

I can't imagine a scrutiny that you guys had to go through, especially the children every single day. So for me, I try to make sure that my children are very normal, I pretty much live under a rock. I live in a very small town in Florida where I can go anywhere and it's normal because Michael Jordan also lives there. Sort of like. So everybody's like, we all want to go to this magical place. Where you can run into Serena and Michael at the 7-Eleven.

And Tiger and everyone lives in the small city. We're not going to divulge where that is because everybody's going to be there. And so everyone is normal, but it was really important for me not to... Normal-ish. Just a lot of athletes live in this town. Really? I don't know why. It's like, wow.

But it's great because it's been normalized as we've been all living in there for so many years, but it works. And so for me, I try so hard to make sure Olympia is just like everyone else. Like she's not seen as anyone special. I don't tell that she's special. I never told her I played tennis. You know, when she started reading, she saw me and she asked questions. She's like, what is, what are you doing, mom? Come sit back in the audience with everybody else.

Put that racket down, you silly goose. I remember one time in kindergarten, she's like, Mom, why are you in my book? So eventually she learned. But I don't live that life where, you know, you think that. that I, you know, and this is funny, but it's also very true. We also have friends that are very famous. So when we hang out with them, they seem extremely normal. Yes, yes.

So we go to Michael's house or Tiger's house. It's like, okay, you're good. So it is very average for us. And so that's what I want them to do. I don't want them to ever feel like, because I don't want them to feel they're better than anyone else. or they have an advantage because that just, we don't need that anymore in the system that we live in. Yeah.

We just need some kids that are just as normal as you can be. So that's what I do. And if they want to grow up and they want to be a great athlete or they want to be a great programmer, and they have every right to do that. And yeah, they're going to have an advantage because of the life that I've lived, you know, and their life of my husband lived, sure, they're still going to have an advantage, but they're still going to have to work hard to do there and to make any goal that they want to make. And so for me, it's super important that they understand.

that and that they don't feel like they're better than anyone else. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I hear that you served as the classroom mom? Yeah, I was room mom because I love my daughter. Uh-huh. I'm obsessed.

What, when, was this recently? Yeah, it was when she was in second grade. Uh-huh. Yeah. Tell us about that. Serena on the text. Everyone, you bring cookies. That was me.

That was you? That was me. It was so fun because I got to go to the school every day. I wanted I could be in the classroom. Yeah. One time I was there for the spelling bee, and I was like, you know, just, you know, pretending to work on the library

when I was watching all the kids spell. And then poor Olympia got her word wrong. And I was like, Aw. Poor kid. She did her best, though, but she tried. But I didn't say anything. I pretended I didn't hear because I didn't want her

to feel the pressure that I was there. And it was so fun. I got to help organize all the, I love organizing. So I got to organize all the food for the, for the teacher appreciation day and the field trips and everything for that year.

So your daughter doesn't know who you are, but those teachers and parents know who you are. But you know what? They're really cool about it. Like, no, they're really, really, they're really, they're really cool. I feel like they don't you know, they don't treat anyone any different throughout the whole school.

And, you know, and the school is also very tough. So you have to really be on it and go show up every day. And so it's really nice. Well, we are running out of time and I know it's been short, but I want to give us time to wrap it up. And I would love for you to share with this room of moms, especially moms of athletes who have made a level of sacrifice. What advice do you have?

What parting words of wisdom? Do you think you can share? I know that's heavy. Yeah, I don't know if I have advice. I feel like you guys have done it. You've already, you've made it. I mean, to be in this room is a super win already. I would say I have more appreciation.

I'm sure you hear it from your kids, but if it weren't for you, we wouldn't be here. We wouldn't be on these teams. And you know what? I just, as someone that had my mom supporting me, you know, it is, I feel so grateful to my mom every single day to give me this opportunity to believe in me, even when things were rough and things were down,

to show up every day for me, you know, to be there when I didn't want to be there, to tell me to go an extra day when I didn't want to go. You know, so I think all your sons can agree that they're super grateful for what you guys have done. for them because without you they wouldn't be there so I think you guys deserve a huge pat on the back a huge round of applause and so so happy for the opportunity that you've given your children yeah and what's next for Serena in life that you want to

share not trying to break hey news just girl I'm just like how you doing And what's going on? You got so much on your plate. What are you most excited about next? I'm most excited about, well, getting back to my girls. Yes. And I don't know. I feel like I have a lot of opportunities and just deciding which ones I want to go with

and see how in which direction I'm going to way. Okay, that was a good way to not, that was a good way to absolutely say nothing. I'm healthy, so I'm just happy to be healthy. You sure are. You look great. Yes. You look great. Thank you. Serena, thank you.

Thank you for taking the time. Thank you so much. This was so fun. Thank you. Yeah, thank you for your honesty, your openness. Keep doing that. The world needs this information. They need to see their idols being normal.

human beings in the world being grounded and protective of the people that they love. I am always proud of you. I'm happy to share this stage with you and hopefully we'll do something again soon. Believe me, the pleasure was mine. I had so much fun. Thank you all for having me.

Can we take a selfie before we go? We can. I just want to say thank you to all the moms on behalf of this mom here. Thank you for your sacrifice, for your love, for, you know, setting the foundation for the next generation. It is the most important work that a person can do in life, I think, is to raise a decent human being. Because I think that if everybody took that job as seriously as everybody in this room, you know, we'd solve a lot of problems that way, just by taking care of the people we choose to bring into this world. So we are grateful to you all.