What did Keke Palmer reveal about being a single mom to son Leodis?

Keke Palmer has opened up about the struggles of being a single mom.

The former Disney child star, 32, welcomed her first son in February 2023 with her ex-boyfriend, Darius Jackson. She took to Instagram this week to share a string of photos of her son, Leodis, 2, alongside a lengthy caption of the difficulties of parenthood:

"Omg I think my baby is a performer yall! Hahahahahah!!! Yall see him putting on for the camera???" she began. "This is to all my mother’s doing it on their own," she continued. "Not as a moment of pity or as a badge of hardship because being a mother is difficult, period. I just want to acknowledge you! It has been a really hard week for me and I honestly try very hard not to make TOO personal of posts."

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Keke Palmer urges fellow working moms to shed their guilt: Read more

In her Instagram post, Keke Palmer and her son can be seen cozying up to each other and smiling cheek to cheek. The One of Them Days actress also gave other moms the same affirmations she gives herself:

"You are doing good. You are capable. Your baby does love you. Your sacrifices are accounted for. God is with you. Your prayers will be answered, keep praying. God is with you," said Palmer. "You are more than what you do for others. If no one has your back know that God does and that your baby is your greatest reflection of that. Don’t give up on you you’re worth it."

Keke Palmer also said that all mothers are allowed to have bad days, weeks, and months, and it's alright if their kids are privy to that.

"It’s okay that they see we are human and we communicate our feelings. I would see my mom sad, I would see my dad sad, I watched them be human and I think I’m a better person because of it," she said. "Sending you the love I’d like to receive but don’t ask for cause you know, mommas. ;) ❤️❤️❤️❤️."

As reported by E! News, this isn't the first time the actress has opened up about struggling with single parenthood. Back in March 2023, shortly after she welcomed her son, she took to Instagram to reflect on her first few days of being a mom.

"I just came on here to say, if you're a single parent, pull out your cake," she said in a video at the time. "Matter of fact, clip off your angel wings because I don't know how you guys are doing it. And I really don't want this to sound like pandering, or something like this, because I know there's a million and one reason why somebody wants to be a single parent or has become a single parent."

Noting that single parents might have "lost somebody," "don't want to deal with somebody" or assumed the role of their own volition, Keke Palmer continued as she grew emotional,

"But when it comes to raising a kid, I've already learned in these short few days that it takes a village. And sometimes that's a privilege. And I just want anybody out there that's a single parents that's been doing this—friends of mine, people that I don't know, family members of mine—really in my heart, it brings tears to my eyes. I am just truly, profoundly impressed."

She captioned her video,

"I ain't gon' lie, I'm gettin' COOKED!"

Keke Palmer announced her pregnancy during a guest appearance on Saturday Night Live in February 2023. She later took to social media to announce the birth of Leodis with some photos of him and a caption that read:

"Hey Son!!!! Born during Black History Month, with a name to match," she wrote on Instagram, "LEODIS ANDRELLTON JACKSON, welcome to the world baby Leo."

Earlier this month, Keke palmer also opened up about the guilt of a working mother, though she explained that it should be abolished. During an interview with Parents, the Emmy award-winning actor said,

"Don't feel guilt. Your child is your child because you were meant to be their parent. And as a working parent, it could be really, really hard because you're wondering like, 'Damn, is this good for me and my child?' But the reality is, if you got to work, you got to work."

She also pointed out that caring for a child "takes a village," adding,

"I think that's important, and especially in this economy where everybody's got to go to work."

Keke Palmer has been acting and serving as the host of the NBC game show "Password" since 2022. She also hosts her own podcast, "Baby, This is Keke," and this past June, she debuted her latest album, "Just Keke." She attributed her strength to keep going to motherhood:

"I think a lot of times you can feel like you got to do this, or you got to do that," Keke palmer remarked, noting that it could be extra hard in the entertainment industry. "But when you have a child that needs you, it's easier for you to prioritize what is best for your sense of self."

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