Drew Barrymore says there's nothing more 'humbling' than having kids: 'They'll take you down every day'
The actress also received some thoughtful parenting advice from a guest in the audience.
Drew Barrymore is dishing about what it’s really like to be a parent.
The actress revealed on Tuesday’s episode of her talk show that her two daughters, Olive and Frankie, are instrumental in making sure that she stays down to Earth no matter her many achievements.
“I don’t think there’s anything more humbling that you can do than have kids. They’ll take you down every day.” Barrymore said while sitting down with her audience during a commercial break. “I mean, they will really just neutralize your perspective. If you thought you were anything special for a minute, they’re there to remind you that you’re not.”
Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.
Related: Lucy Liu hasn't shown her son Charlie's Angels because it's 'too much': 'A lot of boob going on'
And yet, paradoxically, the Drew Barrymore Show host explained that there’s no one else in the world who can make her feel more “special” than her kids. Barrymore also noted feeling a sense of pressure when it comes to making sure that she and ex Will Kopelman raise their children correctly.
“When you become a parent, it’s like there’s this game time thing. That thing that happens where the stakes feel so high and you’re not yourself anymore, you’re not your own person, you have something much bigger and greater than you,” she said. “And it’s the wildest thing I’ve ever known or been through in my life, is being a parent. It’s definitely the most important thing I will do on my journey.”
She then called out a man in the audience named David, who had been nodding along with her concerns. "I see you, as a dad, nodding your head which is so nice to see," Barrymore said. "Why did you nod, David?"
He noted that there is no standard "guideline" or "book" on how to raise your kids. “What we do as, let’s say, good parents, is incorporate the traits we learned from our parents — what not to do, what to do," he said. "Also, you observe other people’s kids.”
He continued, “As a parent, our jobs is to raise our kids with the best of qualities that makes them successful, but good human beings. That’s the most important part of it in the future, because that’s your legacy. To me, once you leave this Earth, your kids are your legacy. They represent you.”
Related: Tyra Banks, Justin Long, RuPaul, and more to guest star on Hollywood Squares
Barrymore then confessed that she just wants to make sure to “guide them the right way” on their own respective journeys.
“Can I give you advice?” he asked. When she agreed, David replied, “You’re gonna screw up. It’s okay. We make mistakes. I always tell my kids, just make sure your mistakes are small and you overcome them.”
“Thank you for that advice,” Barrymore responded. “Truly.”
The Drew Barrymore Show airs weekdays on CBS. Check your local listings.