Jessica Alba reveals her most ‘terrible habit’ as a mum

Jessica Alba has revealed her most “terrible habit” as a mum, as she confessed it is “probably bad parenting”.

The actress and mum-of-three made the candid comments in an interview with InStyle for their July issue.

In the cover interview, she spoke about a number of aspects in her life, including her business, Honest Company, and being a mum to daughters Honor, 9, Haven, 6 1/2, and her 5-month-old son, Hayes.

#mothersday brunch w my 3 babies -heart is full! ?#momof3

A post shared by Jessica Alba (@jessicaalba) on May 13, 2018 at 3:28pm PDT

She told the publication:

“There are always haters, and my goals are not small ones. I just want to live a full life and stay curious and challenge myself.

“I want my kids to see me push outside my comfort zone,” adds Alba. “And sometimes that means making mistakes and admitting them, which is especially hard in front of your kids.”

And while the 37-year-old admits that she makes mistakes “all the time” in front of her children, there’s one thing in particular that keeps happening – and she’s not too keen on it.

Motherhood: it’s a doozy, isn’t it? Your world gets turned completely upside down. Everything you thought you knew about what was important is no longer. And all the things you once took for granted — like sleep, and sitting down to eat an actual meal — become the greatest luxuries. Little people change you. To love and need someone that much and have them love and need you just as much…it’s the best and hardest and most heartbreaking thing there is. I still can’t believe it, but my oldest baby is almost 10 years old. And you know what? She doesn’t need me in the same ways she once did. There goes that heartbreak again…but it’s true. The time we have with our little ones when they’re actually little is so fleeting. And it’s a reminder for me to be present and cherish every messy moment. Every tantrum, every tired cry, every bit of these days that sometimes feel like they’ll never end. Because the truth is, they will. As a first-time mother, I was still learning about this person I had become. And I felt like everything had to be just perfect. But these days, I’m ok if my baby cries a little bit…because I know he’ll be ok. And so what if the dishes pile up in the sink…and if my living room looks nothing like the Instagram post five seconds after I take the picture. It’s all ok. This Mother’s Day (and really, every day), I want to thank you for trusting us @honest to be a part of your journey. And I want to let you know that even if it doesn’t always feel like it, you’ve got this. It’s not gonna be perfect. But you’re an amazing mama. And that’s everything. xo. ?❤️✨

A post shared by Jessica Alba (@jessicaalba) on May 12, 2018 at 12:10pm PDT

She continued:

“I have this terrible habit: Whenever my kids ask me to find something, they’re like, ‘Mom, where’s my …’ you know, backpack, toothbrush, whatever.. And I just say, ‘Up your butt,’ and that’s probably bad parenting.

“But they got to a certain age where I’m like, ‘That’s where it is: It’s up your butt.’ ”

The proud mum also spoke about how things differed when she welcomed her first two children – Honor and Haven – compared to when she gave birth to her son, Hayes.

Just a baby and his mama

A post shared by Jessica Alba (@jessicaalba) on Apr 17, 2018 at 1:17pm PDT

She explained:

“I slowed down for a second when I had Honor and Haven, but then I was right back in the hustle.

“I made a concerted effort with Hayes to appreciate the quieter moments. I had to slow down when I was pregnant, so now we have a new tradition called Family Fridays.

“It’s our game night. We get on teams and play Clue. Honor is really good. I love when she wins — she’s strategic.”