These days, Whitney Leavitt and Jen Affleck have more than just dance moves occupying their thoughts.
As the excitement builds on Dancing With the Stars, both participants are grappling with feelings of mom guilt while striving to be fully engaged in their performances.
“Absolutely! There’s a considerable amount of [mom guilt],” Leavitt, 32, candidly shared with Us Weekly following her Disney Week performance on Tuesday, October 7. “Even tonight, my daughter was here, asking, ‘You’re not coming home with me?’ It’s tough, but I am grateful for the support of my husband, which allows me to take part in this.”
During Tuesday’s broadcast, Leavitt danced the foxtrot with her partner, Mark Ballas, to “The Room Where It Happens” from Hamilton.
Before getting her scores from the judges, Leavitt shared a heartfelt hug with her daughter Sedona, 5, who was present in the audience. (Whitney also has Liam, 3, and Billy, 11 months, with husband Connor Leavitt.)
“I want my kids to know they can achieve anything they set their minds to,” Whitney expressed to Us regarding her hopes following her Dancing With the Stars journey.
Whitney Leavitt, Connor Leavitt, Mark Ballas Courtesy of Whitney Leavitt/Instagram
Meanwhile, her Secret Lives of Mormon Wives co-star Affleck partnered with Jan Ravnik for a jazz performance to “Friend Like Me” from Aladdin. Affleck, 26, voiced her own struggles with mom guilt.
“It’s incredibly real,” she expressed to Us post-performance. “And you know what? Regardless of whether I’m participating in Dancing With the Stars or not, mom guilt will always be a part of my life. It’s a clear indicator that you’re a caring mom who strives to improve for your children and yourself every day.”
Jen and her husband Zac Affleck are parents to Nora, 3, and Luca, 2, and welcomed their third child, a daughter named Penny, in July.
Though her children may not grasp the magnitude of her current endeavors yet, she hopes they will remember her as a happy version of themselves as they grow older.
Jen Affleck and Jan Ravnik Courtesy of Dancing With the Stars/Instagram
Ravnik, 30, further commented, “And that she’s a superstar.”
As the remaining contestants gear up for Dedication Week on October 14, both Jen and Whitney are benefiting from the encouragement of the MomTok community.
Despite potential tensions arising in the season 3 trailer, the cast of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives seems united in supporting each other in the ballroom.
“We are truly grateful for all the messages and posts we receive every week,” Jen previously mentioned to Us. “Our journey needs all the votes we can muster.”
Whitney expressed, “They send messages filled with fire emojis and disco ball appreciation, saying ‘Yes, queen, slay queen. You both did amazing.’ Their support means the world to us.”
Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ every Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET.
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