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Motherhood is one of life’s greatest joys. However, amid all the appointments, play dates, and enrichment activities, it can eat up your entire day. That’s why actress Jamie Chung is reminding fellow moms to take a step back and give themselves some much-deserved self-care.
“I became a mom three years ago, and often I lose myself on getting everything else done, [and] taking care of everyone else. [Then] I’m kind of left feeling not the best,” Chung told SheKnows, explaining why she partnered with Olay for Mother’s Day. “It took me two years to really find this balance: I need to take care of myself because I can take better care of my kids if I’m feeling good about myself and I’m feeling 100 percent.”
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When approached by Olay for their Olay Super Serum Body Wash, they told her something that instantly resonated. “They said, ‘It has five plus skincare ingredients that give you five benefits, and it’s really great for moms on the go.’ And I was like, ‘Enough said,'” she joked.
This Mother’s Day, Chung wants fellow mamas to know that self-care isn’t selfish: it’s an essential part of being a mother. “I love this campaign … it’s a gentle reminder for moms that it’s okay to take a little time for yourself. Not just on Mother’s Day, but every day.”
During Chung’s chat with SheKnows, she couldn’t help but beam when talking about her children, twin sons born in Oct 2022, and how they’re already such imaginative, wonderful human beings.
Whether she’s discussing motherhood or breaking generational trauma, Chung speaks with care, pondering each word. She’s not afraid to get vulnerable or go in-depth on any topic, despite having spent more than 20 years doing interviews as an actor.
Below, see what Chung had to say about being a twin boy mom, how she’s teaching them self-love, breaking generational patterns, her acting roles, and more.
“My kids are 3, and it really is like the golden age of their childhood. It’s such a fun age because you really see their perspective, their imagination, and their growth, and all the foundational work that you’ve done being reflected in your kids. You don’t wanna miss out on that,” she reflected when asked about how motherhood is going. “So it’s important to be able to have these special moments individually with my kids, because they’re very different. One of them loves building things, so we’ll do the magnified build blocks. The other loves making music and singing songs. They both sing, then the songwriter loves to dance.”
She tries to carve out time for each child — even if it’s just “10, 15 minutes”— to make sure they feel seen. “[So] they don’t feel neglected or left out, and they do feel like their different hobbies and interests are recognized, validated, and supported.”
Chung added, “I’m really trying to lead by example. I feel like parenting is just really doing the work on yourself.” And for her, that includes breaking generational patterns.
The Big Hero 6 star is a second-generation Korean American whose parents moved to the US in 1980 for a better life. “My mom worked all the time when we were growing up. God bless her. You know, I don’t know how she did it. Barely speaks English, ran a store, had a mortgage, came from Korea, raising two kids, no babysitter. I don’t know how she did it,” she reflected.
Remember how Chung referred to finding that balance in parenthood? “I don’t think my mom was able to find that balance and I feel so bad because she worked her [butt] off to ensure that we were safe and fed,” she said. “It’s not trauma necessarily, but we’re kind of breaking these generational patterns to really take the time for yourself, for self-care, your mental health, and ensuring that you harbor each relationship because it’s unique.”
However, Chung isn’t on her own when it comes to harboring relationships — she has an amazing support system, with her husband of 10 years, Bryan Greenberg, at the forefront.
Chung also revealed that in their house, the hour between 5 PM and 6 PM is something they call “the witching hour.” And during this time, “My husband and I will look, we’ll give eyes. If I’m having a meltdown personally, he’ll tap me out. He’s like, ‘Go take a shower.’ And I feel like when you take a shower, you kind of like it’s kind of a reset. It’s time for yourself.”
“Bryan’s always pushing me, and that’s what makes a really strong partnership. We don’t want to yell at our kids, and we don’t wanna yell at our partners, and we all have our tipping points. So it’s nice to always kind of check in on each other, [and] to ask, ‘Are you doing okay? Do you need a minute? I’m gonna tap you out,’” she said. “It’s so important to be [on the] same team because then you won’t feel so guilty when you do need a little bit extra time to yourself.”
Self-care is a fluid concept, with one practice being perfect for one mom and another mom needing something entirely different. For Chung, that includes Olay products — but also style and … true crime?
“In terms of style, you really have to remind yourself to take that extra time because I do feel better when I take a shower, when I put on a little blush, and my skin’s feeling good. It’s kind of changing. A little effort goes a really long way,” Chung says. And though your style evolves, she added, “It’s nice to go back to things that make you feel really good. It is a form of self-expression. And so if I’m feeling good, then I’ll be able to dress up.”
And as for true crime? “People are like, ‘Why do you listen to murder mysteries?’ Because I would love to know how to take action. Had it happen to, God forbid, my family or someone that I know and love, how do you protect yourself? How do you empower yourself with this information from previous mistakes and cases?” she said.
This mindset helped prepare Chung for one of her latest projects: playing Officer Corvette in Stone Cold Fox. “The character really navigates through a profession that’s dominated by men,” she said. “If you become the whistleblower to protect other women in your field, the consequences is a double-edged sword, right between what it’s like to be a man and what it’s like to be a woman in that field as a police officer.”
She’s also starring in I’m Beginning to See the Light, a drama centered on grief and self-discovery.
“I play a mother who’s stuck in a tough spot. She has to deal with all the stress of raising a child and supporting the life and dreams of her artist husband. The reason why she fell in love with Ezra (played by Jack Huston) is because he was a jazz protégé, something that he loved. She wants to nourish that, but also, at a certain point in your life, you have to make sacrifices and get a different line of work in order to help allow yourself to do all the creative things that you do love,” she said. “It’s two artists in the household and, how we manage what it’s like to support a family and ensure their safety and well-being, while also honoring your passion.”
Whether she’s playing a mom onscreen or being the best mom she can be at home, Jamie Chung continues to find ways to be her best — for her kids, her partner, and most importantly, herself.
Before you go, click here to see all the celebrities who are the parents of twins.
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