In a candid conversation, Drew Barrymore shared her rollercoaster experience of juggling multiple roles as a mom while homeschooling her daughters Olive, 7, and Frankie, 5, during the pandemic. The star of Santa Clarita Diet revealed her struggles during a virtual appearance on Today, showing that even Hollywood icons face the same challenges as everyday parents.

Homeschooling: A Messy Plate of Emotions

Drew Barrymore, 45, admitted that the initial excitement of handling everything herself quickly turned into an overwhelming experience. "The minute I thought, 'Oh, I am three weeks in, I got this,' … I cried every day, all day long," she confessed to host Savannah Guthrie on April 14. Drew humorously compared the experience to being the "messiest plate [she] ever held in [her] life." It's a sentiment that resonates with countless parents who have faced similar challenges.

Respecting Teachers: A New Perspective

As Drew Barrymore continued her heartfelt conversation, she expressed newfound admiration for teachers. "To be the teacher, the parent, the disciplinarian, the caretaker," Drew marveled. "I thought, 'Oh my gosh, and teachers have children?' Do they survive it because they get to go away and work with other kids?" she asked Savannah. Drew couldn’t help but wonder how teachers manage their own families while teaching others, and she admitted, "I didn’t think I needed to respect and appreciate teachers any more than I did."

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For Drew, who shares her daughters with ex-husband Will Kopelman, the challenges were immense. "I don’t know if there are good days and bad days … I think there are good hours and bad hours," she admitted, highlighting the unpredictable nature of parenting during quarantine.

Adapting to Quarantine Life

Week one was particularly tough for Drew. "I was paralyzed. Honestly, I didn’t want to participate in social media," she confessed. Instead, she turned to writing, starting a blog as a more personal way to communicate. "It was quiet and more graceful than trying to be on" Twitter and Instagram, Drew explained.

drew-barrymore-waving-outside-good-morning-america — Broadimage/Shutterstock

Drew said she slowly adapted by trying to establish a routine with her daughters. "Go on a bike ride, take a car ride, break out the chalk and do hopscotch, board games … make it inventive," she shared, adding humorously, "then school started and it went out the window." Despite the challenges, Drew offered some encouraging words for fellow parents. "You start to get some systems and you see people on social media making lists and you’re like, 'Urghh. That’s never gonna work that way!'” she joked. "Then you find a way! We’re resilient, people!"

In early April, Drew gave fans a glimpse into her quarantine life by sharing a photo of her playing a board game with her youngest daughter Frankie. "To all parents who are trying to survive … look! Frankie and I have been spending our days playing board games like the Candy Land game," she captioned her Instagram post. "A lot of school assignments are to play games as well!"

We hope Drew and her family are staying safe and finding joy in these challenging times.

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