Gwyneth Paltrow says that having children ‘ruins’ relationships

Gwyneth Paltrow has got real with us on the true impact of parenting and children on relationships.

It’s refreshing, really, to hear an honest description of how something undoubtedly important – motherhood – can also have a negative impact in other areas of your personal life.

While in conversation with Katy Perry on the Goop podcast, Paltrow opened up with the star about the life lessons she’s learned from parenting.

“It’s hard on a relationship,” she said. “Like I’ve looked back now on like the data set of parents with young kids. It just ruins the relationship.”

Perry responded with her own take on parenting and its impact on a relationship, particularly that both parents must play their part in the upbringing of their children. 

“I think if both people in the relationship are willing to do the work then it’s going to be so much easier,” she explained. “But if one person thinks they don’t have any work to do then it’s going be really challenging.” The singer has a two-year-old daughter with Orlando Bloom.

As well as describing her “crazy” labour experience when giving birth to her daughter Apple, Gwyneth Paltrow also gave us a beautiful insight to other ways in which parenting has changed her. She described how Apple’s entrance into her life changed it forever. 

“I never felt lonely again after I had her [Apple],” she said. “And I had felt profoundly lonely in my life.”

While the Goop podcast covers a range of topics, parenting is definitely well-trodden ground. When Kim Kardashian appeared on the podcast, she talked relationships and kids, admitting that she would be open to marrying again – even after her rather public divorce from Kanye West.

“I have this fantasy in my head, like fourth time’s a charm. It’s going to work out,” Kardashian said. When they delved into the possibility of more kids, she said: “Whatever is meant to be will be”.