Tia Mowry has been a mother for almost 13 years, but she admits there are days where she is not always on her A-game.
"The biggest lesson I've learned along the way is to give yourself grace to forgive yourself. You're not perfect as a mom. You want the best for your children, but unfortunately, life is not perfect and things are not perfect. I have a to-do list that I create for myself, but my to-do list is not always going to be completed on a daily basis — and that's OK! We're all human here. We're all going to make mistakes. There are challenges, but we will get through it," the 45-year-old, who is teaming up with Walmart+ and a group of celebrity moms to share their tips and advice on motherhood with moms everywhere through their interactive Mother’s Day campaign, exclusively tells Morning Honey.
"Another piece of advice is that it's very easy for us to lose ourselves. As moms, we're putting in 110 percent when it comes to making our kids happy, but it's really important and beneficial for you to give yourself love and time and care because how can you be the best mom if your cup is halfway full? Don't be afraid or feel guilty! I felt guilty for a long time when I would do things for myself, but it's OK! It's OK to love on yourself because then you will have more energy, more time and more love to give," the actress, who shares son Cree, 12, and daughter Cairo, 5, with her ex-husband Cory Hardrict, adds.
Part of the Sister, Sister alum's wellness routine includes working out, meditating, journaling and reading, as it makes her feel better. "I will wake up before the kids and have my own time," she notes. "Be as consistent as you can, and once you focus on how you'll feel afterwards, it will be easier to prioritize yourself. I've realized I've become more present with my kids. It's very beneficial."
"It's a great way of grounding myself in the morning and set my intentions for the day," she says of meditating. "I also like to focus on three things I'm grateful for every day and every morning. I feel like it resets everything — and it's free!"
In today's world, Mowry knows social media is very prevalent, which is why she makes it a point to tell her kids to be "mindful" and "aware" of their surroundings. "I think explaining to your kids about why putting the tablet down is important. When you explain it to them, they get it and understand it more than if you were to just tell them," she says. "For me, sometimes when I get anxious, I know that I am thinking too much into the future, and if I'm really sad, I'm thinking too much about the past. But when you're present and focus on things, you see what you're grateful for — but it takes practice."
Additionally, the cookbook author has "rules" in place when it comes to her children's electronics. "They can't be on their tablets while school is in session," she shares. "If they're going to school Monday to Friday, then there's no tablets, but on Saturdays and Sundays or on Friday nights, they can have them. It's about explaining to them the why and then putting some sort of rules in place."
When the mom-of-two gets to hang out with her kids, they are typically in the kitchen. "We all love food. I love connecting with them that way, meaning cooking something. We always love to go out and try different foods and cuisines and restaurants together. We love to hang out in our backyard and listen to some music and dance and swim," she reveals.
Since Mowry is always booked and busy, she is excited to partner with Walmart+ for their “Mother of all Savings Memberships” Campaign, which is launching on TikTok Top View on Monday, April 22, at 12:01 AM CST.
"What's so great about them is that they really understand that parents — or mothers — we don't have enough of two things, which is time and money. They understand the importance of juggling and multitasking," she says. "They have found incredible ways to help us with that — Walmart+ offers free shipping with minimal orders and free delivery from the store. We all need support and help when it comes to trying to balance everything."
"Walmart+ is the bomb.com. Mother's Day is right around the corner. It's definitely one of my favorite holidays because I get to spend time with my kids. It's nice to be present with one another and love on each other and celebrate one another — and food is definitely part of it!" she continues. "This Mother's Day we'll be doing some sort of brunch and all of us will be cooking. I'm excited to partner with Walmart+ to connect moms and to share all my tips and tricks that have worked for me when it comes to navigating motherhood. What's so amazing about motherhood is there is this amazing community. I am constantly asking for advice and support from the moms within the community, the moms and the people in my circle. I'm excited to go live on Walmart's TikTok with some other moms to answer some questions and support one another. Motherhood and parenting is not easy. There are some challenges, and if I could be there to bring some joy or humor, as well as support, then that's great."
On Tuesday, April 23 and Wednesday, April 24, all celebrity moms will be a part of the Walmart+ Mother’s Day TikTok event, answering real moms’ questions and discussing how Walmart+ fits into their lives.