Keke Palmer Opens Up About Respecting Her Baby Leo’s ‘Individuality’ & It’s Such a Beautiful Take
Babies are people too — and they deserve just as much respect (honestly, even more) than anyone else. And even though Keke Palmer’s son Leo is only 1, she is already working to promote his “individuality” as a person.
The Nope actress told PEOPLE recently that her son “does come with me everywhere,” including to Atlanta, where she is currently filming The Pickup. She gushed, “People will be like, ‘Oh my gosh, he’s the cutest baby in the world.’ I’m like, ‘I know.'” Spoken like a proud mom! But she is also being considerate of her son when she decides what projects to tackle.
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It’s All About Respect
“[I’m] definitely more selective with projects,” she told the outlet. “Looking for stuff that allows me to be with him either at home, or it’s somewhere I can go and have a room or a trailer. I also want to respect his individuality and his freedom and space. It’s not just like you come to mommy’s world, only mommy’s world.”
“You have to always think about that, with kids,” she continued. “While we want to take them everywhere and we want them to be our world, they are their own little people, so you have to also give them their own sense of structure. Because as an adult, I’m kind of here, there and everywhere. I really try to keep that in mind.”
Even if you aren’t jet-setting around the world to go to award shows or film movies, the basic premise of Palmer’s advice still stands. Our kids are their own people too, and they should be encouraged to be themselves and have their own space outside of their parents. To already be thinking about this when her baby is so young is just beautiful.
Peace
The “Big Boss” singer also shared how much her baby boy — and turning 30 — has given her peace in life. “I do feel like being 30, it’s put me in a different head space that’s allowed me to kind of feel more observational about my life,” she told the outlet. “I’m not so in the weeds of everything. I’m really trusting and having faith that everything will work out as it should. I think so much of that peace has come from my son.”
Birthday Boy
Palmer shares Leo with estranged ex Darius Jackson. He celebrated his first birthday last month, and she shared the sweetest message to him on Instagram. “Leo Beo!! Happy Birthday son I LOVE YOU SO MUCH,” she wrote.
“You came into my life today at 3:25pm, but I knew even before then that you were the strongest person I ever knew,” Palmer continued. “There were so many moments during my pregnancy where your silent strength would give me peace. This is something you still do just with your mere existence! You make my life so worth living.”
Even though he’s too young to express it, there’s no doubt that Leo already knows how much his mama loves him.
These celebrity moms talk about raising their kids on their own.
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