--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My first job now is as a mother…" description: "\"My first job now is as a mother, everything else is secondary. My kids understand that I am an actress, and they are always so surprised to hear my voi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/joan-cusack-13320_actress_my-first-job-now-is-as-a-mother-everythi_3142634.jpg" --- # My first job now is as a mother, everything else is… ![“My first job now is as a mother, everything else is secondary. My kids understand that I am an actress, and they are always so surprised to hear my voice on a cartoon character, or see my face on a video box. If it ever gets to be too much though, the career and the kids, I will simply set the…” quote by Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/joan-cusack-13320_actress_my-first-job-now-is-as-a-mother-everythi_3142634.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/joan-cusack-13320_actress_my-first-job-now-is-as-a-mother-everythi_3142634.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/joan-cusack-13320_actress_my-first-job-now-is-as-a-mother-everythi_3142634.jpg) > “My first job now is as a mother, everything else is secondary. My kids understand that I am an actress, and they are always so surprised to hear my voice on a cartoon character, or see my face on a video box. If it ever gets to be too much though, the career and the kids, I will simply set the career aside.” [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Motherhood takes precedence over career; children value authenticity over fame. **In simple terms:** Being a mom is the top priority. Key Takeaway Prioritize family, let career adapt as needed. Themes family career balance authenticity Mood thoughtful determined Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - parent‑teacher conferences - career decisions - media appearances - personal boundaries Key Concepts parenting work-life integration Questions to Reflect On - How do you define success as a parent? - What boundaries protect your family life? A Different Perspective Career ambitions may conflict with family time, causing stress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actress/) [Actresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actresses/) [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/am/) [Aside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aside/) [Box](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/box/) [Boxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boxes/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Career Aside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career-aside-5191857/) [Career Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career-kids-295997/) [Careers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careers/) [Cartoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cartoon/) [Cartoon character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cartoon-character/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Else](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/else/) [Ever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ever/) [Everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everything/) [Face](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/face/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) [First job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-job/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Gets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gets/) [Hear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hear/) [I am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-am/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Job Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job-mother-1441736/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Mother Secondary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother-secondary-5606970/) [Much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/much/) [Now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/now/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Secondary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secondary/) [Secondary Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secondary-kids-5606971/) [See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/see/) [Simply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simply/) [Surprised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprised/) [Though](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/though/) [Too](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too/) [Too much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-much/) [Understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand/) [Video](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/video/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) ## Related quotes > [The time Yash and I planned to get settled together it was difficult for me. I remember my career was at high peak and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amrapali-gupta/the-time-yash-and-i-planned-to-get-settled-together-it-was-difficult/) [Amrapali Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amrapali-gupta/) > [The only thing that was economic, I might say, about my music career, aside from the fact that I did everybody's tax returns in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/the-only-thing-that-was-economic-i-might-say-about-my-music-career/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [Your kids get something from your career, and your career will get something from your kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wojcicki/your-kids-get-something-from-your-career-and-your-career-will-get/) [Susan Wojcicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wojcicki/) > [You totally can have it all if you want it all. And there's nothing wrong with wanting it all. But also, there's nothing wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-bridge/you-totally-can-have-it-all-if-you-want-it-all-and-there-s-nothing/) [Frankie Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-bridge/) > [I want time for my career, my kids, and my partner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronan-keating/i-want-time-for-my-career-my-kids-and-my-partner/) [Ronan Keating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronan-keating/) > [I believe I had an unbelievable career. Because there are so many kids who will never get the opportunities I had with more footballing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-savage/i-believe-i-had-an-unbelievable-career-because-there-are-so-many-kids/) [Robbie Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-savage/) > [You can have a career and kids who love you. But you have to nurture yourself and find a way to be fulfilled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/you-can-have-a-career-and-kids-who-love-you-but-you-have-to-nurture/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [I have a very busy life, and not many people who have a career and four kids go out a lot to the movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/i-have-a-very-busy-life-and-not-many-people-who-have-a-career-and/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [I've always wanted to have a career that my kids would be able to see me play and understand what I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-carter/i-ve-always-wanted-to-have-a-career-that-my-kids-would-be-able-to-see/) [Cris Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-carter/) > [I really pulled back on my career when the kids were young and my husband and I made a pact never to work while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blythe-danner/i-really-pulled-back-on-my-career-when-the-kids-were-young-and-my/) [Blythe Danner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blythe-danner/) > [I missed so many things early on in my career with my kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chipper-jones/i-missed-so-many-things-early-on-in-my-career-with-my-kids/) [Chipper Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chipper-jones/) > [I am better at my job for being a mother and vice versa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-lake/i-am-better-at-my-job-for-being-a-mother-and-vice-versa/) [Marianne Lake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-lake/) > [“Sweetheart, I love that you want to, but it’s my job as your mother not to let you. It’s my job to make life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/sweetheart-i-love-that-you-want-to-but-it-s-my-job-as-your-mother-not/) [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) > [My job as a mother isn't just to provide for my children, it's to be there for them, too - someone they can speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/my-job-as-a-mother-isn-t-just-to-provide-for-my-children-it-s-to-be/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [“Maybe this was the job of a mother: to buy time for her child, no matter what. Even if it meant doing something she'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/maybe-this-was-the-job-of-a-mother-to-buy-time-for-her-child-no/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) ## More by Joan Cusack > [You know, I think I'm more of a micro-person, so to me, the context and the framework of trying to do what you love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/you-know-i-think-i-m-more-of-a-micro-person-so-to-me-the-context-and/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) > [I think just because life is hard, it does seem fun to have a break and laugh about things, so I think in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/i-think-just-because-life-is-hard-it-does-seem-fun-to-have-a-break/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) > [I think that a lot of women get out of the business because it's so not family-friendly. And so women that could be in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/i-think-that-a-lot-of-women-get-out-of-the-business-because-it-s-so/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) > [We need comedies in the world! We need to laugh, it's all so hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/we-need-comedies-in-the-world-we-need-to-laugh-it-s-all-so-hard/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) > [A relationship is hard in and of itself. And having kids is really hard work, but I think it's really meaningful, as is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/a-relationship-is-hard-in-and-of-itself-and-having-kids-is-really/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) > [It's incredibly, incredibly difficult to get a movie made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/it-s-incredibly-incredibly-difficult-to-get-a-movie-made/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) > [I tend to come from a more psychological - that's sort of my passion. I'm interested in the psychology of politics as well -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/i-tend-to-come-from-a-more-psychological-that-s-sort-of-my-passion-i/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) > [In L.A., it's easy to get caught up in what you look like or how much money you have, and those aren't values I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/in-l-a-it-s-easy-to-get-caught-up-in-what-you-look-like-or-how-much/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) > [I think us gals need to stay in and just change the way it works, so men aren't being workaholics and avoiding life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/i-think-us-gals-need-to-stay-in-and-just-change-the-way-it-works-so/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) > [I think there's a million talented people out there, it's just a matter of luck a lot of the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/i-think-there-s-a-million-talented-people-out-there-it-s-just-a/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) > [Bulgaria is fascinating. Because it had been a Communist country until the mid-80s, so it had just recently transitioned. And there were still the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/bulgaria-is-fascinating-because-it-had-been-a-communist-country-until/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) > [Sometimes I sing and dance around the house in my underwear. Doesn't make me Madonna. Never will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/sometimes-i-sing-and-dance-around-the-house-in-my-underwear-doesn-t/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) > [As a woman, you listen to more female singers, like guys listen to more rock bands. So in that way, they influence you because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/as-a-woman-you-listen-to-more-female-singers-like-guys-listen-to-more/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) > [I love Chicago. It's such a great town, and it's got great culture and great history, and it's not as extreme as LA or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/i-love-chicago-it-s-such-a-great-town-and-it-s-got-great-culture-and/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) > [I think acting has helped me come out of my shell because when I play a character, I can't be self-conscious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/i-think-acting-has-helped-me-come-out-of-my-shell-because-when-i-play/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) [Explore all 51 Joan Cusack quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) ## More Actress quotes > [Sigourney Weaver is a wonderful person. I was so lucky to have the opportunity to meet and work with such an amazing actress. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-henn/sigourney-weaver-is-a-wonderful-person-i-was-so-lucky-to-have-the/) [Carrie Henn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-henn/) > [People forget I'm an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-heatherton/people-forget-i-m-an-actress/) [Joey Heatherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-heatherton/) > [I adore Kelly Bishop as a human being and as an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-gunn/i-adore-kelly-bishop-as-a-human-being-and-as-an-actress/) [Sean Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-gunn/) > [I've been told before, and I tend to believe it, I'm not like most actresses out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moira-kelly/i-ve-been-told-before-and-i-tend-to-believe-it-i-m-not-like-most/) [Moira Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moira-kelly/) > [Marilyn was a great actress, not a dumb blond bombshell. She was very smart, very astute and a good businesswoman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-schiller/marilyn-was-a-great-actress-not-a-dumb-blond-bombshell-she-was-very/) [Lawrence Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-schiller/) > [I'm an actress, not a pin-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/i-m-an-actress-not-a-pin-up/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [My father was a GP; my mother was a teacher and amateur actress. My father was a bit of a storyteller, but the acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ciaran-hinds/my-father-was-a-gp-my-mother-was-a-teacher-and-amateur-actress-my/) [Ciaran Hinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ciaran-hinds/) > [I never wished that I was a superstar. Hell, I never even wished that I was an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-lane/i-never-wished-that-i-was-a-superstar-hell-i-never-even-wished-that-i/) [Diane Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-lane/) > [Many of the heroines from outside Karnataka have worked in my films, but the attitude and adjusting nature of top South Indian actress Nayantara…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rockline-venkatesh/many-of-the-heroines-from-outside-karnataka-have-worked-in-my-films/) [Rockline Venkatesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rockline-venkatesh/) > [There are a lot of great actresses out there. You learn to appreciate each one for what they offer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-pratt/there-are-a-lot-of-great-actresses-out-there-you-learn-to-appreciate/) [Victoria Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-pratt/) > [There's certain things I try to avoid, as an actress, just to keep my world from being as narrow as it could be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/famke-janssen/there-s-certain-things-i-try-to-avoid-as-an-actress-just-to-keep-my/) [Famke Janssen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/famke-janssen/) > [I never wanted to be an opera singer. I wanted to be an actress, maybe a rock singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-opolais/i-never-wanted-to-be-an-opera-singer-i-wanted-to-be-an-actress-maybe/) [Kristine Opolais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-opolais/) > [When an actor charges high fees, nobody says anything. But when an actress does the same, it becomes news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijayashanti/when-an-actor-charges-high-fees-nobody-says-anything-but-when-an/) [Vijayashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijayashanti/) > [I am going to be a great actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivien-leigh/i-am-going-to-be-a-great-actress/) [Vivien Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivien-leigh/) > [As a black actress you've got to work doubly hard. But it doesn't ever get me to the point where I give up on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naturi-naughton/as-a-black-actress-you-ve-got-to-work-doubly-hard-but-it-doesn-t-ever/) [Naturi Naughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naturi-naughton/) [Browse all 2,244 Actress quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actress/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My first job now is as a mother, everything else is secondary. 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