Ashley Graham says balancing parenthood and her career is ‘a constant struggle’

We can always count on Ashley Graham to keep it real about parenthood, whether she’s talking about her postpartum baby hairs or her husband’s vasectomy. In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Graham shared that she feels “guilty” trying to juggle work and being a mom of three, and any parent will totally relate to those nagging feelings that pop up.

Graham shares sons Isaac, 3, and 22-month-old twins Malachi and Roman with her husband, Justin Ervin, and while she seems to be loving life as a family of five, the push-pull of balancing her career and her home life is understandably challenging.

“It’s hard. As a mom, you feel guilty when you’re not working, you feel guilty when you’re not with your kids. It’s a constant struggle of trying to figure out what is balance.” She quoted a Shonda Rhimes speech that she recalls when she’s feeling particularly stressed out, adding, “When you’re at work, you’re missing time with your family. When you’re with your family, you’re missing time with your work. You’re always gonna be missing out on something, so just embrace what this is.”

Back in July, she opened up more about the ever-elusive concept of balance, telling People, “I mean, the idea of balance, I wish it existed. … I have set up my kids so that when I’m home, I’m home and I’m locked in.” When she’s away, she knows her trio is “being taken care of and that they’re in the best hands,” adding, “And that’s all I can do because I would go crazy if I didn’t have a purpose outside of that and for myself. My mom was a stay-at-home mom, and we were her purpose and she loved it. And I’m so grateful that she spent all that time with us. But for me, I waited to have kids on purpose because my career really meant something for me, and I’m glad I did.”