‘The View’ Star Sara Haines Gets Real on Motherhood: ‘I Didn’t Feel What Everyone Had Described’
Sara Haines balances her job as co-host on The View and a full home life. Haines and her husband, Max Shifrin, have three kids under the age of 5. The View star is often transparent about her personal life, and shared a struggle she had after the birth of her first son, Alec.
‘The View’ co-host Sara Haines talked about being a new mom
Haines and Shifrin welcomed son Alec Richard in 2016, daughter Sandra Grace in 2017, and son Caleb Joseph in 2019. On The View earlier this week, Haines shared the experience of becoming a mom for the first time when Alec was born.
“One of my first lessons I learned on the job was right after I had my first child, Alec, I didn’t feel what everyone had described,” Haines said on The View, according to Yahoo! Entertainment. “You know, in every Instagram post, ‘It’s just like everything! It’s beautiful!’ ”
Haines noted how it can take time to truly bond with your newborn as a mother, despite what other women may experience. While some moms may have a sense of euphoria, it may be more of an adjustment for others.
“I think so much of that is true when we look back on that day — and some people probably do feel that — but I don’t think we speak enough about that you just met this baby,” The View panelist explained. “You may love them and wanna protect them, but you don’t know them.”
Sara Haines felt ‘broken’ when comparing her feelings to other moms
With many old adages touting the reliability of motherly instincts, Haines revealed that those don’t always kick in.
“We always kind of pound in that, ‘You’ll have instincts,'” she remarked. “‘You’ll know what you’re doing, you’re a mom!’ But we don’t say it could be really hard. You’re probably not gonna know what you’re doing; you’re gonna learn on the job. It’s okay.”
Commenting on her own learning curve, Haines felt she didn’t measure up to other moms after Alec was born.
“I think I just felt so broken when I didn’t feel what everyone else had said I would instantly,” The View co-host said. “I’ll be the voice for the people who don’t feel that, and let you know you’re not alone. It’s a work in progress.”
‘The View’ star is happy with 3 kids
Haines was 38 years old when her first child arrived. The View panelist previously shared that there are some benefits to having kids later in life.
“This is just what I know,” she told Glamour in 2017. “You don’t know the difference. I don’t know how much more energy I had at 25. I also had 20 more pounds on me – I prefer my body now. So there’s give-and-take. This is just how my life looks.”
In a recent “ask me anything” round on her Instagram stories, Haines was asked by one of her followers if she wanted more kids. She seems to be quite content with her current number.
“More babies for you? Or is three enough LOL,” a fan asked. Haines responded, “I would love 10 more!!!! But 3 is all I can handle while being my best version for each of them ❤️❤️❤️”
