Eva Mendes on feeling “lost” in the new phase of her parenthood

Eva Mendes spoke openly about some of the changes she has experienced over the years as a mother.

During an appearance on “The Drew Barrymore Show” on Thursday, Mendes explained that as a mother, she felt a sense of clarity when her children were very young, but felt “lost” as they grew older.

The “Hitch” star has two daughters with her long-term partner, fellow actor Ryan Gosling: Esmeralda, 10, and Amada, 8.

“It was like, ‘OK, who am I now if the kids can survive on their own?'” she said. “I mean, they’re only 8 and 10, but they don’t need me every second.”

“It’s a little different,” she said.

However, the actress revealed that she enjoys being able to talk to her daughters “about everything.”

“So I feel very fulfilled,” she added.

Mendes and Gosling, known for keeping their relationship and family private, were photographed making a rare public appearance with their daughters at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

After the games, she wrote on Instagram that she was “on guard” as she watched some of the events with her family in the audience.

In a response to some of her Instagram followers, she expressed her appreciation for NBC’s Olympic broadcast, which she said “wasn’t switched away to the kids.”

“And most websites have blurred their faces, so Mama Bear is happy about that,” she added.

Mendes often talks about her decision to retire from acting to spend more time at home with her children.

The children’s book author and co-owner of the sponge company Skura Style told “Today” in March that she had made something of a “nonverbal agreement” with Gosling that he would be the only one to continue acting.

“And I still worked, I just didn’t act, because acting takes you places, it takes you away,” she said at the time.