Keke Palmer’s message to moms: stop feeling guilty for working—‘especially in this economy’

Keke Palmer has never been one to sugarcoat reality—and now, she’s turning her trademark honesty toward one of motherhood’s most universal struggles: mom guilt.

The 31-year-old actress, singer, and producer, who first rose to fame in Akeelah and the Bee and has since become a multi-hyphenate force in Hollywood, is also mom to 2-year-old son Leo. And in a new interview with Parents.com, she made it clear that moms shouldn’t apologize for doing what’s necessary to support their families.

“Don’t feel guilt,” Palmer told Parents. “Your child is your child because you were meant to be their parent. And as a working parent, it could be really, really hard… But the reality is, if you got to work, you got to work. Just don’t feel guilt where it pertains to receiving help with your child, because it takes a village. I think that’s important, and especially in this economy where everybody’s got to go to work.”

Related: Rihanna opens up about mom guilt: ‘Everything I love robs me from them’

Why Palmer’s reminder is hitting moms so hard right now

Palmer’s words land at a time when the weight on working parents has reached crisis levels. According to Rising Strains in Childcare and Early Education, the cost of childcare in the U.S. has increased by 220% since 1990—far outpacing the 140% rise in general inflation.

In reality, today’s parents are spending far more. According to the 2025 Care.com Cost of Care Report, the average household now devotes 40% of its income to care costs overall — including 22% on child care alone. 

That financial weight shows up in mothers’ emotional lives. A Pew Research–based survey found that 57% of working moms worry they don’t spend enough time with their kids, compared to just 23% of dads. And burnout is nearly universal: 93% of mothers say they feel exhausted today according to Talkspace.

It’s no wonder guilt becomes the default response. But Palmer’s message cuts through the noise: providing for your family is already hard enough—guilt doesn’t need to be part of the equation.

Moms can’t do it all alone—and shouldn’t have to

Palmer emphasized the importance of letting go of the myth that mothers must handle everything without help. “It takes a village,” she reminded. The Care.com 2025 report backs that up: parents juggle an average of five different care arrangements, yet nearly half still say they don’t have enough support.

Research from the American Psychological Association shows that mothers who have strong support systems experience lower stress and better mental health—benefits that ripple outward to their children. Accepting help isn’t failure; it’s survival.

Related: Why return-to-office mandates could set working moms back for decades

The lifeline Palmer holds onto when life feels overwhelming

Despite juggling acting, music, hosting, brand partnerships, and motherhood, Palmer says she’s learned to center joy—even when life feels messy and unpredictable.

“My joy is my sense of refuge through the inconsistency of life,” she shared with Parents.com.

For moms facing impossible choices about work, child care, and finances, joy doesn’t erase the pressure. What it can offer is a form of grounding—moments of steadiness that make the load feel a little more bearable. Sometimes that looks like accepting help, sometimes it looks like stepping back from expectations, and sometimes it’s just giving yourself space to breathe.

Because in a world where working moms carry so much already, guilt should never be the thing that breaks them.

Source: 

Rising Strains in Childcare and Early Education. 2024. Econofact. Rising Strains in Childcare and Early Education

How To Let Go Of Working Mom Guilt And Find Joy In Both Career And Motherhood. 2025. PPCAREUSA. How To Let Go Of Working Mom Guilt And Find Joy In Both Career And Motherhood

Exploring the mental health crisis among working mothers. 2025. Talkspace. Exploring the mental health crisis among working mothers

source https://www.mother.ly/news/keke-palmer-wants-moms-to-let-go-of-work-guilt-in-this-economy/