Moms know that sometimes all you can do in the face of the absurdity of motherhood is laugh. As a comedian, Iliza Shlesinger does just that. Currently on a nationwide tour, she hilariously uses motherhood for fodder.
Best known for her six Netflix specials, including 2018’s Elder Millennial and 2022’s Hot Forever, she has also costarred in several feature films, like Instant Family with Mark Walhberg and Rose Byrne. In addition, the mom of two (Sierra is 2 ½ and Ethan is 6 months old) hosts a popular podcast and has published two books.
A proud Millennial Mom, Iliza’s smart comedy points out how this generation is doing things differently — and how tough that can be. “I think Millennial Moms are just the first generation to fully capitalize on the excitements and horrors of being able to use social media to share our kids, our parenting lives and our mistakes,” says Iliza. For this week’s Meet a Mom interview, The Local Moms Network asked Iliza to share more of her inspiration, mom mantra and more.
Love your Millennial Mom content—why are Millennial Moms the best?
For our parents, the insanity of being a parent, both beautiful and ugly, wasn’t as widely discussed and the internet is a place we can make fun of ourselves, compare ourselves and see ourselves in others. We have found power in sharing the ugliness, the beauty and honesty. It makes you feel less alone and less… crazy?
How does humor help you as a mom?
I love joking around with my daughter—she loves the sound effects and noises and gibberish songs that I use to, frankly, entertain myself (and maybe the dog?). I also don’t take anything that seriously, which is great because when I actually do get mad, it stops my daughter in her tracks. Becoming a mom has made me empathetic. Like, prebaby, I don’t recall making sure my feature act “got enough to eat at dinner” but that’s where we are now!
You seem like you’d be an amazing mom friend – what do you look for in a mom friend?
Haha well, thank you, for the 5 days a year I’m not touring I am a pretty cool hang. I get a surge of dopamine from making women feel good. I guess I’m pretty good at affirming that whatever you have to do as a mom (or as a good human) is the right choice.
I think there is a world of competitive momming out there and, as a person with a consuming career, endless goals and a passion for my family and social issues… I genuinely don’t have time to care how another mother does her job. Like, there is no award for “who breastfed best!” Like, why would I care if you co-sleep with your 3-year-old? I don’t have to sleep with him. Maybe you don’t like that we haven’t enrolled our daughter in Olympic level gymnastics training at 2. Who cares. The world is on fire.
All I have time for is making sure my kids grow up as well or better than I did, I’ve never been interested in putting other women down for sport and that extends to mom friends. I always want to be around people who do things better or differently than I do. Echo chambers are boring. Also my friends know they get free drinks at comedy shows, so it’s fun to come to work with me when they need a break from their kids.
Love that. What’s something that genuinely surprised you about motherhood?
How much I care—how scared I am all the time. How much I think about me dying, them dying… everyone dying. How much of the minutes of my day are spent thinking of ways to make their lives perfect and cozy and how much I have to fight the urge to buy them everything. I can’t believe how funny I find my daughter; I can’t believe I’m the mom telling people how funny my daughter is. I can’t believe I have two kids! I can’t believe I’m supposed to be in charge! I can’t believe this little girl touches all my things and messes it all up and I don’t care! I also can’t believe how low my alcohol tolerance has gotten since having them. RIP Party Goblin and hello to watching Seinfeld at 9pm and going to bed.
Do you have a mom mantra that gets you through hard parenting days?
I tend to deal with things on the fly; my husband Noah is a better planner. I tend to say “we’ll get it sorted” whether it’s buying a bed, booking an appointment—it will all get done at some point and at these young ages, it’s not like they have an essay due or something. If she gets sent to her pre pre preschool without the right t-shirt, it’s not like I’m gonna get fined. She had no idea what is going on, and that makes it easy. So far everything is fine. I’ve spent my whole career in a rush and I don’t want my kids to feel rushed or anxious.
What is one thing you’ll never do as a parent?
I’ll never say never. Because all parenting is realizing WHY your parents and other parents actually do allllll the things you said you would never do. But I also will never give her sugar past like 3pm… it’s like living with a tiny hurricane with curly hair.
More interviews from the Local Moms Network:
Meet a Mom: Chamber of Mothers CEO & Co-Founder Erin Erenberg
