Drew Barrymore says she ‘felt like a failure a lot’ as a parent

Drew Barrymore says she didn’t have the "blueprint" for being a mom — but has since learned to be more forgiving with herself while raising her kids.

The Charlie’s Angels actress, who is shares daughters Olive, 10, and Frankie, 8, with her ex-husband Will Kopelman, appeared on Barstool's Chicks in the Office podcast this week, where she chatted about parenting. She spoke about how she got her girls McDonald's for dinner, and how it made her reflect on choices she makes as a parent.

“All those parents who have it all together, and they've got hygiene and nutrition and schedules and boundaries. God bless you. I didn't know any of that stuff, when I had my kids," she told the hosts Maria Ciuffo and Francesca Mariano. "I did not have the blueprint and I felt like a failure a lot. I felt really overwhelmed and like, 'I don't know what I'm doing … I don't know what I'm doing and I'm gonna have to learn on the job.'"

Barrymore asked, "Where are the parents out there who are admitting that this is humorous, embarrassing, humbling, wild? ... But it's funny, I was so unforgiving of myself when my kids were younger, and now that [Frankie is] almost nine, and Olive's like 10, it's shifted into something very different, and I'm having the best time ever. I have learned boundaries."

In September, the former child star spoke to Rob Lowe on his podcast Literally! about initially feeling insecure in her parenting skills.

"When I became a parent, I knew there were so many things I didn't want to do, but it didn't mean I had the tools to know what it was I should do," she noted. “And, boy, I felt very intimidated. I'm not going to lie, it took me a lot of years to gain confidence."

Now, she said she feels more comfortable laying down ground rules for her kids.

"I won't even let my kids be on social media," she said. "They can look at it. I don't want them to be the odd kids. Or you know, I don't want to deprive them to the point of rebellion. I'm like, 'You can watch it all you want. I trust you. I'll come monitor it. But I'm not going to be a hawk and drive you crazy, but I'm not going to put you on it. You can't open up an account, I'm not going to feature you on mine. I want you to be kids. I want you to be safe. I want you to be protected.' I am so conservative compared to my upbringing."

She recently told Entertainment Tonight that she has created her own traditions, such as giving her children the gift of experiences, such as an annual holiday trip, rather than physical presents.

"I'm glad I do what I do," she said. "They get plenty of things throughout the year, so I'm not like some weird, strict, cold mom who's like, 'You don’t get any gifts!' I just feel like a better gift would be a life memory. I'd rather invest [in that than in] a doll house or something. It all evens out and it's fine."

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