Elizabeth Berkley Is Doing 'DWTS' for Her 14-Month-Old Son

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
by Nicole Fabian-Weber 14 hours ago

Some people may find it surprising that Jessie Spano Elizabeth Berkley is competing on Dancing With the Stars this season. Not because she's a weird casting choice (just the opposite, in fact), but because she just had a baby 14 months ago. What mom would willingly opt to compete in a dance competition a little over a year after having a child? Elizabeth Berkley, that's who! And with really, really good reason.

Berkley -- who, hello, scored a 24 with partner Val Chmerkovskiy for their first dance -- wants her son to see that she still has interests. Passions. Desires that are 100 percent, whole-heartedly for herself. Elizabeth recently told People: "Being a new mom, I want for my son to always see me make choices that honor my own passions too. I think it’s important for a child to grow up and see their parent also passionate about something that they love, maybe artistically."

Amen to that, sister. Couldn't agree with this sentiment any more. While nothing is more important than our children, I think it's super important that kids see their parents involved with something (anything!) beyond them.

While I love my job, I'm not gonna lie, there are days that I really don't want to leave my little girl behind. But the thing that makes the trek off to work a little easier on those days is the fact that I feel like I'm instilling something in her, a value, conviction, maybe. And I'm showing her (eventually, when she understands) that I have things in my life that don't have to do with her. She'll always be what's most important to me, but I am someone outside of just "Mama."

And it doesn't have to be a 9-5 job. It could be a hobby, or a sport, a yoga class, heck, some time to read a book each week. Anything that shows your child that it's okay to be, well, a little selfish sometimes.

But don't just do it to teach your child a lesson. That completely defeats the purpose.

What do you do for yourself?

Image via ABC

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