Gwyneth Paltrow Let Her Daughter Play Hooky to Go To The Salon? I Can Relate!

Sometimes some bonding time is more important than a day at elementary school.

-April Daniels Hussar

Gwyneth Paltrow gets a lot of flack for her Goopy emails filled with tips on how to live, well, like her. I admit, I’ve done my fair share of eye-rolling at some of the things she comes up with, especially when it comes to “balance.” But, while one of her latest missives, on the topic of a “typical” day in the life of a woman juggling career and family managed to include the phrase “my favorite fishmonger”, I basically get that she’s a working mother, trying to fit it all in and find that elusive “balance” we’re always hearing about (but I have yet to see evidence it actually exists). Yes, Gwyneth Paltrow’s days involve glamorous activities like giving interviews and prepping a wardrobe for a 6-day press tour; and yes she can afford all the help she wants … but still. I get it, Gwyn. You’re not exactly “just like us” — but the themes are the same: Family, Work, Self.

And now Gwyneth has given an interview to Good Housekeeping that I’m sure is going to earn her a whole bunch more flak — she confesses,

“I’ll probably get kicked out of our school for admitting this, but I let Apple stay home yesterday. I just needed to be with her. We went out to lunch, we went to the beauty salon, we were together.”

And to that I say … Right on, sister! I can relate 100%. I’m not advocating mass truancy, but a day here and there to spend some stolen, quality time … that’s priceless. And well worth catching up on some math worksheets and spelling words.

Read 10 Fun Facts About Gwyneth Paltrow

A few weeks ago I took my own daughter, Isabella, age 7, out of school for the day because I’d been invited to tour the Madame Alexander Doll Factory in NYC. How could I resist? We rode the train together, had lunch, took the amazing tour, and then I brought her along to a work meeting where she took a break and watched movies on my laptop. We finished the day with a quick stop at the Swarovski gallery in Soho and some of the best pizza in NYC. Isabella had a blast, and it was so special for me to get to share the day with her, and I loved giving her a peek into some of what I do. As she fell asleep on my lap on the train home, I thought it had been just about a perfect day.

Yes, we can go on adventures on weekends and holidays, but every once in a while, a special day stolen from the routine of “supposed to” is well worth it.

I hope you had fun with your sweet Apple, Gwyneth — no matter what the outraged letter-writers and bloggers are bound to say. (Huffington Post)

What do you think, Bettys? Are Gwyneth and I irresponsible nuts for indulging in some mama-approved hooky?

April Daniels Hussar is BettyConfidential’s Executive Editor.