Amy Adams is sharing her evolving perspective on parenting, particularly her intentional approach to raising her 14-year-old daughter, Aviana Olea, whom she shares with husband Darren Le Gallo. In a recent conversation with Variety, the "Nightbitch" star opened up to fellow actress Demi Moore about her efforts to use gender-neutral language when encouraging and praising her daughter.
During the conversation, Moore, 62, reflected on societal pressures surrounding anger in women, saying, "Women in general, there is a sense of it not being okay to be angry... It's been in a way the collective consciousness of like, 'Oh, that's not attractive.'"
Adams, 49, responded by sharing her own parenting struggles. She admits she consciously avoids saying, "You're such a good girl," when complimenting her daughter. Instead, she uses phrases like, "You're such a good person," focusing on Aviana's character rather than traditional gendered language.
The conversation struck a chord with Moore, who is a mother to three daughters—Rumer, 36, Scout, 33, and Tallulah, 30—with ex-husband Bruce Willis. Moore shared a similar sentiment about how these subtle shifts in language can shape a child's perception of themselves and their emotions.
Adams acknowledged that breaking away from ingrained habits hasn't been easy, admitting, "There was something about [gendered praise] that I recognized I was paralyzed by for parts of my life." She noted that watching other women like Moore helped her redefine what being a woman and a mother means.
In a separate appearance on "The Drew Barrymore Show," Adams opened up further about how motherhood has transformed her. She admitted that becoming a mom initially left her drained as she tried to meet everyone's expectations. "I was trying so hard to please others and be everything to everybody all the time," Adams shared. "I think it just exhausted me. At some point, I had no more energy for anything but honesty."
Adams described how motherhood forced her to reorganize her priorities and communicate her needs more openly. "I had to admit that maybe I don't have it all under control and need more support than I thought I did," she said. Looking back, Adams wishes she had taken life less seriously in the early stages of motherhood.
Now that Aviana is a teenager, she cherishes every moment she spends with her. "I would give anything to go back and rock her," Adams confessed. The actress also emphasized the importance of presence and connection in her relationship with her daughter, calling her time with Aviana a profound gift.