Serena Williams Didn’t Spend a Night Away From Olympia for Six Years — Here’s Why
Serena Williams refuses to miss the moments that matter, telling Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson on the May 13 episode of the IMO podcast that being a fully present mom is her top priority even when life gets hectic.
Serena Williams just reminded everyone she does not half-commit to anything, including parenting. On the Wednesday, May 13 episode of Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson's podcast 'IMO,' the 23-time Grand Slam champ laid out her very specific rule for staying present with her kids — and yeah, it is intense.
The 24-hour rule
"I am never gone more than 24 hours, ever. I did not leave Olympia for a full day until she was 6."
That is not a figure of speech. Serena, 44, says she has structured her entire life to stick to that line in the sand. Considering she was still in the thick of her pro career for most of Olympia's early years, it is a pretty wild flex in logistics. She and husband Alexis Ohanian share two daughters: Olympia, 8, and Adira, 2.
How she pulls it off
Serena explained that everything — work, travel, the whole schedule — is built around her kids. She says she shows up for them every day because they matter most, and she wants to be the one actually raising them, not just popping in between obligations. It is a simple idea that is hard to execute unless you are obsessed with follow-through, which... Serena.
About tennis and the girls
If you assume her daughters are destined for the baseline, she is not pushing it. Back in 2018, she told Vogue she did not want Olympia dealing with constant comparisons or expectations. She talked about how much work the sport demands and how much she sacrificed, and said she would be happy if her daughter got to have a more typical childhood than she did.
At the same time, she is big on ambition and confidence at home. Serena has said women are too often taught to dial back their dreams, and she wants her daughters to grow up believing there are zero limits on what they can be — president, CEO, whatever they want.
Still, a little court time never hurts
She is not forcing it, but she is sharing the fun. In November, Serena took the court with Adira for her first official lesson and posted the moment on Instagram with a simple caption: "This is me sharing my passion for tennis with my youngest daughter."
So, no pressure, lots of presence, and a 24-hour cap on time away. Classic Serena: set a rule, live it, and make it look easy when it absolutely is not.