Jurnee Smollett Tries Not to Hit Snooze

Forget 9-to-5. Mothering knows no schedule—and often it feels more like 5-to-9 and everything in between. In this series, we look at the hectic, messy, sometimes beautiful, often frustrating enterprise of being a mother—and maintaining a life of your own. Consider it a “day in the life” for the forgotten hours. Today, we’re following along with actor Jurnee Smollett, known for her roles in Friday Night Lights, Lovecraft Country, and, the new film The Order, out now, as she goes through her day with her eight-year-old son. Read earlier installments of 5-to-9 here.

I am a snoozer. Unfortunately, today I snoozed too long. I am jet-lagged from traveling to the East Coast to promote The Order. Was only gone three days and yet the early mornings for the promo have me beat. Landed in LAX last night. Ideally, I would have woken up earlier, properly set my day. Meditation, journaling, read my Jesus Calling book, pray, drink some tea. None of that happened. I snoozed. This will be one of those days in which I must constantly remind myself to be kind to myself.

First attempt to wake Hunter up. He’s not budging. I’ve showered. I find water calms me. I have to shower first thing in the morning or else I will be groggy. My voice is tired from the travel and interviews. I tend to do my lip trills in the shower. An actor habit, to wake up the voice. I have more interviews to do later on so need to awaken the voice properly. Walk into Hunter’s room again to wake him up. Make an effort to not shout down the hall to Hunter because my voice isn’t warmed up yet. Take his clothes out and place them on the bed.

I landed too late last night to grocery shop or Instacart anything. I have some turkey bacon from the freezer, and try to improvise breakfast and lunch for Hunter.

I’m trying to avoid shouting upstairs; however, I still don’t hear his little feet, so assume he is still asleep. I make my morning concoction of tea and lemon in warm water. Yes, I use all of these tea bags. I have heard that this combination helps regulate one’s hormones, particularly hormonal acne, something I’ve battled since I was 10 years old.

Hunter is still asleep. I feel bad having to force him to get up but if we don’t leave in 10 minutes we will likely be late. One trick I use is to pull the blankets away and kiss his little legs. He asks, mommy just five more minutes. In fairness, he is tired because of my travel, yesterday. My flight was delayed, which meant I was picking him up from his dad’s house, past his bedtime. Co-parenting.

Waking Hunter up proved more difficult than usual. This gentle parenting style is not easy. We will be late. Morning cuddles, bathroom trips, his hair needing to be washed, debating about what he wears, and why he needed to brush his teeth again has me already exhausted. He also doesn’t want to eat breakfast. Sheesh. Lunch is packed and we are heading out the door. He wants to check the ESPN app on my phone while we drive. Calgary Flames now have more losses than the Vancouver Canucks. That makes him happy. Hunter gained a love for hockey this year, while I was shooting my Apple TV+ show there. Oftentimes, my work travel takes us to new places. To experience new adventures. It’s one of the blessings with what I do, he gets to travel and learn about new cultures.

Drop-off. Late but it is what it is. It’s one of those days. I will be kind to myself. I hate being late for his drop-offs. It’s part of the unspoken mom code. When the sign-in sheet asks for an explanation as to why we are (six minutes) late...I respond with “life.”

Finish business calls in the car and finally walk into the gym with not much time to work out. I’m annoyed that my phone is about to die, which means I might not have music during my workout. I forgot to charge it overnight. I need Beyoncé to remind me that I’m that girl ’cause right now I don’t feel like her. Trying to be kind to myself.

Make it home in time to unpack my laptop from my suitcase, open it up to start my first Zoom meeting of the day.

Start the Zoom call. Haven’t had time to do makeup for it or shower, change from the gym clothes I’m in. We begin to proceed with the meeting, which is regarding a film I’m producing and starring in. The filmmaker has put together a fantastic look book, which we are all jazzed about. We spend our time brainstorming what actors we should go out to for the various roles on the project, strategize the approach we want to take to put it together.

Call with my team re: a rights issue on a film I’m producing. Turns out the issue was resolved faster than we anticipated. I am elated.

Interviews for The Order. Everyone comments about how relevant the film is. I mention that unfortunately, it’s relevant because we still have work to do in our nation.

Still doing conference calls while texting the furniture delivery company to see if they are on their way. I tell them that I have to leave shortly to get my son so they have to arrive before then.

Showered. Doing a conference call while doing my no-makeup makeup, which consists of a Shiseido concealer and my Benefit Hoola bronzer. I m trying to avoid wearing foundation in the daytime because I will be wearing it in the evening and my skin needs a break. My eye twitch has returned. I know it happens when I am lacking sleep...likely need more magnesium. I take my morning vitamins and fill up my water bottle.

Have to apply sunscreen because when I get Hunter from school he will want to go straight to the park to play baseball together and will be annoyed if I make us come back home because I forgot sunscreen. I feel like motherhood is often about thinking 10 steps ahead. It’s the dance of servicing the needs of our kids, while trying to care for our own needs. Some seasons I am better at it than others.

After doing interviews and answering questions about the history of Neo-Nazis in our nation, juggling Zooms, life rights, furniture delivery, and such, my brain feels a bit fried. I take 10 minutes to do some breath work. I repeat the affirmations a friend sent to me. I remind myself to be kind to myself. It feels weird even sharing this. A friend recently reminded me instead of saying “I have to do this” reframe it by saying “I get to do this.” Staying in a state of gratitude amongst the chaos or fatigue helps me stay in alignment.

FaceTime meeting with my partner-in-crime, (and frequent collaborator) Misha Green. Plotting, plotting, plotting. Strategizing for our next project together.

Call with Dennis Lehane re our Apple TV+ show. He’s excited about our show—it’s always a good thing when the creator is happy with the work. I finish interviews, and realize the piece of furniture delivered is not operating properly. Will call customer service while driving to pick up Hunter from school.

Picked Hunter up from school. Now back home. Hunter is hungry so we came back home before going to play baseball at the park. He wants his go-to...pasta with butter. Why do all kids like this boring meal? What is it about pasta and butter that is universally beloved by kids alike? He begins to complain that he doesn’t want to go with me to this event tonight at my godparents’ house. LaTanya Richardson Jackson and Samuel L. Jackson are hosting the Governor of Maryland, Wes Moore at their home to discuss the next few years. I tell Hunter it’s not up for debate, he’s going. I don’t have a nanny right now so I often have to bring Hunter with me to events like these. I also want to expose him to environments that will help expand his mind and growth.

4:38 p.m.

Hunter is upset because I beat him in the baseball game. Tough luck kid. He wants one more inning, I say no, we have to go wash your hair now and get ready. Hunter doesn’t want to take a shower, but that’s not an option. He complains that he doesn’t want to go. He wants to stay home and play baseball. He doesn’t care to go meet a governor. I tell him that he may not care when he is eight years old, but when he is 28, he will look back on these moments and be grateful for memories like these.

Hair washed again. I sit Hunter in front of the TV and comb his hair for the second time today. Playing baseball outside left him with grass and dirt stuck in his curls. He is tender-headed and hates getting his hair done. Fun times.

Have 20 minutes to do my hair and make up and be out the door. I hoped he could get himself dressed while I showered. This is Hunter’s idea of getting himself dressed.

I love layering a few different shades to create more dimension on my lips. Foxy Brown lip liner by Charlotte Tilbury and Maybelline Super Stay are among a few others that are my go-tos right now. I like keeping the center lighter while building different colors around. I’ve learned a lot from working with makeup artists like Vincent Oquendo and Dana Delaney.

I loved this Stella McCartney suit so much I might have to repeat it. My stylist Jamie Mizrahi styled me in it for the Drew Barrymore show. She is a repeater!

We finally made it. My godmother, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, introduces Hunter and me to the governor of Maryland, Gov. Wes Moore. He is quite an impressive leader in person.

I introduce Hunter to Mayor Karen Bass of LA. He tells her, “Mommy and I voted for you.” I feel proud that he remembers. Some of my earliest memories are of my mom bringing me into the voting booth to help her vote for candidates and propositions. It’s a habit I have now with Hunter. I want to normalize voter participation for him from an early age. I want him to be knowledgable about the political world and how it affects us all. I want him to own his basic civil responsibilities and be excited about it.

Hunter is in awe of Magic. He is a huge basketball fan. Mom points!!

Mayor Bass introduces Gov. Moore. Hunter is in awe of the governor’s story. When he hears the governor talk about going from being put in handcuffs when he was 11 years old, to now being Maryland’s first Black governor—only the third Black governor elected in the history of the US—his ears perk up. Hunter has often had to adapt to new environments and circumstances. That night when we return home, all he can do is ask questions about the governor. We research his story online. He particularly wants to understand why the governor was put in handcuffs at 11 years old. Why are some Black boys treated like this? These are the conversations I have to begin having with him. The “talk” that every Black parent knows all too well when one is raising a Black son in America. Yet, I am quite aware of the privilege we occupy and I want him to be aware of that too.

Nighttime vitamins. I’m exhausted. We cuddle before reading one of his favorite books, Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You, Hunter tells me how grateful he is that I made him go. Tomorrow is the weekend so we will be able to sleep in. No need to snooze. Thank God.