As Ireland Baldwin approaches her milestone 30th birthday, she reflects on the "lonely childhood" that has molded her into the woman she is today. In a Substack blog titled "30, Flirty, and Surviving," the daughter of Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger opens up about the painful moments of her past and how she has managed to distance herself from "narcissistic" family members.
In the post, Ireland describes her upbringing as a "lonely childhood," noting that she "grew up without two parents in my home and no siblings to turn to." She writes, "I move into 30 with a lot less weight on my shoulders. This weight was brought on by the need to continue to carry my narcissistic, unreliable, addict family members who I thought I needed in my life."
She adds, "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 is a mother to 2-year-old daughter Holland, says that the past decade has brought many joys but also unimaginable pain. "10 years of pain. 10 years of not knowing what the hell I am doing or talking about, but still running my mouth anyway," she writes, before listing the lessons she's learned through the years. "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--- people to like me, etc. I would give anything to get that time back."
She continues, "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." And she urges readers to tell their mothers they love them every day and text them when they get where they're going, saying, "You will soon understand her in ways you never had."
Ireland also reflects on her own body image struggles, repeating "You are not fat" multiple times with determination. Concluding her post, Ireland expresses hope that she will find her "village" in the next decade. "I can’t speak for the vastly ever-changing world around me. I can only selfishly focus on my own road," she writes. "I hope to find my people. My village."
Last month, Ireland opened up about her relationship with stepmom Hilaria Baldwin. While she admits Hilaria can be "bats--- crazy," she credits her stepmom for saving Alec's life. "She turned his health around and has shown him the forgiveness and kindness that he needed," Ireland wrote in an Instagram post. "She also recognizes and nourishes the parts of my father that are the most compassionate and wonderful. She’s taught him that he doesn’t need to suffer inside of his own head and stay stuck in his own past. That it’s never too late to admit you need help and it’s never too late to learn to be kind to yourself."
