Eva Longoria believes her life has unfolded perfectly in its own time.

The former Desperate Housewives star, who is a mother to 7-year-old Santiago with her husband José Bastón, recently shared why embracing motherhood at 43 was ideal for her.

In an interview with The Times published on November 24, she expressed, “Becoming a mom in your forties comes with greater wisdom and patience. I spent forty years focusing on myself, which was plenty of time, so having my child later in life was a blessing. I had the opportunity to travel and achieve what I wanted in my career.”

Longoria describes Santiago as the highlight of this phase in her life, adding, “Everything I do now is just the cherry on top, and I get to share that with my son.”

Having turned 50 in March, Eva admits, “I wish I had my 20-year-old body with the wisdom of my 50-year-old mind.” Nonetheless, she has made intentional lifestyle choices to remain an active, energetic mom for as long as possible.