Katherine Heigl Admits That Her Hectic Schedule Caused Her To Be Scared That She Missed Bonding With Her Daughter, Naleigh

All moms, especially those working, go through the mom guilt – of having to sacrifice being with their child because they need to work or go back to the office.

Grey’s Anatomy alum Katherine Heigl is no different and went through the same working mom guilt. It was so bad that she was afraid she had missed the chance to genuinely bond with her daughter thanks to her grueling and demanding work schedule.

Recall that Katherine adopted a 9-month-old girl in 2009. The baby was from South Korea, and the 44-year-old new mother shared that the arrival of her daughter was such a struggle for her, especially when it came to balancing her new role and then playing Dr. Izzie Stevens on Grey’s Anatomy.

The Emmy Award winner admitted that she never saw her baby. At work, she was spending time with three triplets who were her onscreen goddaughters – these babies she’s able to interact and spend time with compared to her daughter, which she never sees.

Katherine’s husband, Josh Kelley, was more bonded with their eldest child, as per the actress, because she’s not usually home, given that the set for Grey’s Anatomy was in Atlanta, Georgia.

And because of her being more constantly absent than present, Katherine started fearing that she had already missed that opportunity to create a bond with Naleigh, who is now four years old. Katherine admitted she was afraid that her daughter didn’t love her then.

But then, she was confident she could handle being a new mother. She was told by many that mothers today can have their careers and their own family, and it will work out. But that promise and expectation were not true for herself because she again struggled to be home and be with her child.

Katherine and Josh soon expanded their family, adding 10-year-old Adalaide, who was born in Louisiana, and then their biological son Joshua Bishop Kelly Jr., whom Katherine gave birth to in 2016.

The need and the realization that she wanted to have more time with her family massively impacted Katherine’s decision to leave her successful role in Grey’s Anatomy in 2010 while the show was in its sixth season.

During an interview, Katherine stated that everything changed when she started her family. Ultimately, it changed her perception, and her family became her turning point, where she just wanted to put her family first.

So before she was scheduled to go back to the show from her maternity leave, Katherine already spoke with Shonda Rhimes and gave her intention of wanting to leave the successful medical drama. She then waited at home for her team’s final approval that she won’t be returning to the show. 

This clears the speculation then that Katherine refused to return to the show.

Katherine admitted that her friends, both from the industry and outside, encouraged her to try and find her balance to continue her role as Dr. Izzie. Even Shonda, Katherine added, wanted to help her figure out how she could parent and be the onscreen doctor. 

And to be honest, Katherine wanted to be both, but it was a difficult and unfair compromise that she knew would negatively impact both aspects of her life as a mother and an actress.

Today, Katherine and her family happily enjoy the simple and quiet life on their Utah ranch.