Serena Williams may be a global superstar, but at home, she assumes the cherished role of Mom, making it challenging to carve out time for herself. In a recent exclusive interview, the tennis icon revealed the difficulty she faces when leaving her daughters for a night on the town.

As she graced the red carpet at the Baby2Baby Gala on November 8, Williams shared with People Magazine the emotional tug she feels when parting from her daughters, Alexis Olympia, 8, and Adira River, 2. “Tonight was definitely a bit tougher,” she confessed, noting her reluctance to depart from her nightly family routine. “I don’t like to leave my kids,” she said, further explaining, “I have a nighttime routine with them every day.”

Despite the heartache of saying goodbye, Williams expressed that supporting Baby2Baby made the temporary separation worthwhile. “I love Baby2Baby because they focus so much on kids and provide immense help to many babies and mothers. They are incredibly supportive,” she explained. “While it wasn’t easy, it was also lovely to step out, dress up, and enjoy a bit of fun with some wonderful people.”

Honored with the prestigious Giving Tree Award for her advocacy in women’s and Black maternal health, Williams often offers fans glimpses of her everyday life as a mom through her social media accounts.

In some recent Instagram highlights, fans were treated to adorable snapshots of Williams with Olympia, who playfully struck poses as her mother’s mini-me, while little Adira showcased her toddler spirit, from a TSA bin adventure to beachside fun. Capturing the essence of motherhood, Williams captioned the family moment with humor, “At first they are sweet, then they get sweeter… Or something like that.”

And in July, Serena had parents everywhere laughing when Olympia tugged her skirt up mid-vacation photoshoot. “@OlympiaOhanian always keeping me in check!” she jokingly captioned the post, “Someone please let her know it’s #summer?”

Photo Credit: Serena Williams Instagram