Reese Witherspoon’s urgent advice pushed Mindy Kaling to have kids before it was “too late
The former Office star, 45, shared the intimate detail during an appearance on Armchair Expert, Dax Shepard’s podcast, where she discussed the fears that held her back from starting a family. According to Kaling, it was Witherspoon’s no-nonsense advice that finally pushed her to take the leap.
“[Raising children alone] scared me for the longest time,” Kaling admitted, explaining that she had been putting it off while focusing on her career. But while filming in New Zealand, a conversation with Witherspoon changed everything.
Embed from Getty Images“I was getting ready to shoot a movie and it got delayed for some reason, and I was like, ‘Ah, well I’m going to just wait.’ And she was like, ‘Do this. Do not wait until it’s too late,’” Kaling recalled.
Sitting together in Witherspoon’s trailer, the Legally Blonde star delivered a blunt but life-altering message.
“If you want this, you have to do it now,” Witherspoon warned her, citing examples of well-known women who waited too long and ultimately missed their opportunity to become mothers.
That moment, Kaling said, was pivotal. She finally faced the reality of time slipping away.
“It’s only possible because I waited until I was 37 to have my daughter,” Kaling explained, noting that financial stability made the decision easier. “I had disposable income, I have my nanny, [and] I have my dad who helps.”
Kaling is now a mother to three children—son Spencer Avu, 4, and daughters Anne, 12 months, and Katherine Swati. She has chosen to raise them as a single mother, keeping the identity of their father private.
Her journey into motherhood was not just about personal desire but also about overcoming deeply rooted fears. Having built her career as a writer, producer, and actress, she worried about how parenting alone would impact her life. But Witherspoon’s push made her realise that waiting wasn’t the answer.
This revelation has sparked conversation among fans, many praising Witherspoon’s straightforward approach and others reflecting on the pressures women face when balancing career ambitions and motherhood.
Kaling’s story is a sobering reminder that sometimes, even the most accomplished women need a nudge to confront life’s toughest decisions before it’s too late
