Ireland Baldwin, the daughter of Hollywood stars Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger, is looking back at her childhood and lessons she’s learned as she approaches 30.
In a Substack blog titled “30, Flirty, and Surviving,” published on Monday, October 20, Ireland, 29, opened up about what she described as a “lonely childhood,” noting that she “grew up without two parents in my home and no siblings to turn to.”
Alec, 67, and Basinger, 71, married in August 1993 and welcomed Ireland two years later. The couple separated in 2000 and finalized their divorce in 2002.
“I move into 30 with a lot less weight on my shoulders. This weight that was brought on by the need to continue to carry my narcissistic, unreliable, addict family members who I thought I needed in my life,” Ireland explained in her blog post.
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She continued, “I had a lonely childhood at times, which is why I grew up feeling like I needed to win over certain people in my own family. For whatever reason, their validation and praise was meaningful to me. Nothing was more freeing than finally realizing how poisonous these people are. So, I inch into my thirties with an understanding that this is how you break these cycles. My daughter doesn’t have to know these people, and I can protect her from them. I can do my very best to construct my own idea of a family, piece by piece. And show how a real family treats one another.”
Ireland, who shares daughter Holland, 2, with musician RAC — real name André Allen Anjos — wrote about her life experiences in her 20s, including meeting her partner and welcoming her first child. However, she reminisced that the last decade of her life also included “10 years of pain. 10 years of not knowing what the hell I am doing or talking about, but still running my mouth anyway.”
The model and actress listed some of the lessons she’s learned over the past 10 years, including, “Don’t be ashamed of who you really are. I wasted so much time pretending to be someone else for a partner, to get a job, to get s****y people to like me, etc. I would give anything to get that time back.”
“You can’t change or fix anyone. Period. They have to want to change. And chances are they won’t. So quit while you’re ahead,” she added in another bullet point.
Ireland seemingly addressed her actress mom in yet another bullet point, writing, “Tell your mom you love her every single day. Text her when you get to where you’re going. You will soon understand her in ways you never had.”
She also reflected on body insecurities, sharing, “You are not fat. You are not fat. You are not fat. You are not fat. You are not fat. You are not fat. You are not fat. You are not fat. You are not fat. You are not fat.”
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Ireland, who turns 30 on Thursday, October 23, concluded her post writing that she is “hopeful” as she moves into another decade of her life.
“I can’t speak for the vastly, ever-changing world around me. I can only selfishly focus on my own road,” she wrote. “I hope to find my people. My village.”
In April, Ireland shared a sweet picture of her toddler daughter and her dad to mark Alec’s 67th birthday. “Happy birthday to Peepaw,” she captioned a photo of a smiling Alec holding an equally cheery Holland. “I’m so glad you were born. Because of your born-ness, I was born-ed. I love you!”
