Jodie Foster talks about giving her children a normal childhood

In the September issue of UK’s Psychologies Magazine, actress Jodie Foster, 44, talks about her childhood, staying sane in Hollywood and how she raises her children. Here are a few excerpts from the interview:

Talking of parents, obviously motherhood has been a huge, defining experience for you. A quote of yours I like is ‘Parenthood is the most interesting thing I do.’

It’s the most artistic thing I do. There’s a feeling that this is something deeper that you’re contributing to the world. And it’s work you do on your own, with no applause. This person has no idea of the energy and the love that you put forth, which is fine because, in the end, you’ve given all that you have and they are meant to take it for granted – and probably won’t even remember most of it.

You’ve said you want your children to have the opposite childhood to you, a normal childhood. Why is that?

I have a psychological need to create a really safe, normal life for them, because if there was anything I missed in my childhood, that was it. /–/ I really craved having a routine, stable life and that’s what I’ve given to my kids.

Parenting asks so much from us, doesn’t it?

Yes it does, and your job is to try to be equal to what it demands.

Jodie has sons Charles, 9, and Kit, 6 next month.

Source: Psychologies Magazine UK edition, September 2007 issue, pg. 14-19.