Serena Williams is having a baby, you guys! … That’s not new information, but it’s still exciting, you know?
Serena, who didn’t plan this pregnancy, clearly has some lingering insecurities about herself as a mother, as she discusses in this interview.
But if you listen to Kim Kardashian and Meghan Markle’s assessment, it’s easy to picture Serena Williams as a fantastic mother. Just see what they have to say. …
First of all, we should just address the fact that some people think that Serena Williams is a mean or intense person.
She’s obviously hella intense on the tennis court, because she’s perhaps the greatest athlete on the face of the planet.
But, like, we’ve all seen Michael Phelps seethe in some sort of furious Sith meditation before swimming, but nobody has this image in their mind that he’s a sports machine or an unkind person.
Maybe it’s a “resting bitchface” thing … or maybe it’s that centuries of racism and racist caricatures tells people that black women are supposed to fit into one of just a few niches.
So they assume that Serena Williams fits a stereotype of being unfriendly or rude or aggressive because that’s what they see of her on the court, and mostly they’ve just seen her on the court.
Folks, let’s be better than that, okay?
As she admits in her Vogue interview, Serena Williams has some doubts of her own about what sort of mother she’s going to be.
Like most first-time parents.
Mostly because she’s been career-focused and because she and her fiance, Alexis Ohanian, didn’t plan this pregnancy.
They don’t know what kind of genitals their baby’s going to have (so they won’t be having one of those absurd gender-reveal parties — I’m sorry if that’s harsh, but those parties and the photos from them are ridiculous.
Right now, Serena says that the thing that she is sure of is that she wants an epidural.
(Basically always the right choice, folks)
But, like we said, she has some parenting insecurities.
“The biggest thing is that I don’t really think I’m a baby person. Not yet.”
That is perfectly okay.
For most people, oxytocin and other hormones and millions of years of instincts kick in and kind of turn you into a ridiculously affectionate baby person.
“That’s something I have to work on. I’m so used to me-me-me, taking care of my health, my body, my career. I always ask, ‘Am I going to be good enough?"”
A lot of people choose to not have children because they want to take care of themselves.
But the fact that she’s wondering if she’s going to be good enough is a good sign, you know?
If we look at other celebrities who’ve gone from someone you couldn’t imagine as a parent to seeming totally on top of being a mom, that transformation seems pretty natural.
Kim Kardashian’s said that becoming a parent totally changed her. That happens a lot.
Kim Kardashian also spoke to Vogue about the sort of person Serena Williams is, and what sort of mother she’ll be.
“I wish people could see her silly side!”
We do, too — we don’t really think of Serena as a particularly silly person. Because we don’t see that side to her.
“She is obsessed with karaoke, which personally is my biggest fear in life.”
Always interesting to know people’s biggest fears.
Please, Kim, continue.
“I remember a dinner in San Francisco before a DNC fundraiser. Serena sang, [former U.S. President Barack Obama] sang. [Kanye West] sang. sang.”
Obviously this was before Kanye West had his breakdown and spouted off alarming political messages.
But that must have been amazing.
“It was legendary. She gives herself those moments — it’s how she recharges.”
So Serena’s an extrovert, then?
An introvert might enjoy singing in public, but feel drained by it. Only an extrovert could recharge by doing it, you know?
“Serena’s the girl you can call and say anything to. She’ll never judge you, and she’s never too busy for you. Oh, and she can keep any secret.”
Now we’re wondering what secrets of Kim’s she’s kept over the years, but … we suppose that we’ll never know.
You know who else has an opinion on Serena Williams’ potential skill as a prospective parent?
Meghan Markle.
The Suits actress and reasonably probable future member of the British Royal Family had some high praise for the tennis champion:
“She will be an amazing mom. The very best, because she is so attuned to balancing strength and sensitivity.”
That sounds really great. Fewer name-drops than Kim’s anecdote, but a better assessment of character.
Like Kim Kardashian, Meghan Markle brings up Serena Williams’ legendary fondness for karaoke.
“Plus, given that she is pretty epic at karaoke, I think she’ll put her signature Serena spin on singing lullabies for the baby. I can’t wait for that!”
That’s really cute to imagine.
Obviously, no one knows exactly what sort of parent Serena Williams will make.
But considering that she’s seemed to have zero chill about being the best at tennis — or, apparently, at karaoke — it’s hard to picture her not giving motherhood her all.
We hope that, when the time comes, Serena has an easy time with the delivery.
Alexis is not a short man, so there’s a definite possibility that Serena’s baby is going to put her through the wringer on the way out.
Welcome to motherhood, Serena.
