Joan Rivers is known for having an outrageous and opinionated persona, and she doesn't hold back when it comes to dishing out advice for single women.
"Have a child! How lucky you are that society is allowing you this joy," she told The Huffington Post. "You think you’re having fun with your Shih Tzu, wait until you have a child."
Joan means every word of it. Despite her long and storied Hollywood career, she maintains that her greatest achievement has been and always will be her daughter and oft-partner in crime, Melissa Rivers.
“Your proudest moment is to watch your egg not just function, but to achieve on her own,” Joan said. “I am not only so proud of everything she has accomplished professionally, but I am proud of her because she is the most amazing mother I have ever seen in my entire life. She is 1,000 times better than I am. I am always astonished at how she handles [her son, Cooper].”
Joan said she decided early on that despite her career, she would be a hands-on mom with Melissa.
“When I was pregnant I was sitting with a very famous actress on the playground," she recalled. "The child fell and ran to the nanny. At that point I decided my child would always run to me. We had dinner together every night and every night I put a line in my book at 6 p.m. and that was it."
Melissa doesn’t always agree with her mom, but they are on the same page about parenting.
“I think my parents always made such a huge effort to be there for all the important events and even the not so important ones," Melissa said. "They always sat down to have dinner with me and that is the same bond I am trying to create with Cooper."
These days, the busy mother-daughter duo are both slammed with work. They work together on E!'s “Fashion Police," where Joan stars and Melissa executive produces, on their WE reality show, "Joan Knows Best?" and on promoting this weekend’s special Mother’s Day episode of E!’s "True Hollywood Story."
Working with family isn't always easy -- especially when working on three different programs. Both women said they speak to each other in their own language, a kind of mother-daughter shorthand, but sometimes their wires get crossed.
“You have to learn to listen and communicate differently,” Melissa said. “Don’t assume they are coming from a place where they are telling you that you are doing something wrong. That was a big turning point for us to figure out.”
Joan added that she thinks everyone should be able to enjoy the fruits of parenthood, whether they are gay or straight, married or single. We spoke before President Barack Obama’s announcement about his stance on gay marriage, and Rivers didn’t mince words.
"It is outrageous. The politicians are all such ass-kissers. No one is saying the truth. They are saying what they think people want to hear,” Joan said. “And while we’re talking about this, and Mother’s Day, I do want to say that if you don’t have a uterus, I don’t care what you think about abortion.”
Check out photos of celebrities with their children below:
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Celebrities With Their Kids
Charlize Theron and Jackson stroll to Pinkberry for a treat.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Sarah Jessica Parker out and about with her precious twins, Marion and Tabitha Broderick.
Celebrities With Their Kids
The Affleck girls are out for a stroll on a sunny day in L.A.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Matilda Ledger steps out with her mom, Michelle Williams.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Kingston and Zuma Rossdale go for a spin in New York City.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Skyler Berman is guaranteed a front-row seat, especially at his mama's show.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Jessica Alba grabs a treat with with daughter Honor.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Katie Holmes and her daughter, Suri Cruise, step out in New York City in August 2012.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Alexis Denisof and a pregnant Alyson Hannigan step out for a walk with their daughter, Satyana.
Celebrities With Their Kids
January Jones and baby Xander hang out by the pool in Topanga Canyon, Calif., in April 2012. (FameFlynet)
Celebrities With Their Kids
Jennifer Lopez hits The Grove with twins Max and Emme.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Nicole Richie and Joel Madden took their kids out for some fun in the sun in Santa Monica, Calif.
Celebrities With Their Kids
A very pregnant Jennifer Garner supports her back as she looks on at daughter Violet.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Gavin Rossdale and Gwen Stefani take their littles out for a day of fishing.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Nicole Kidman steps out with baby Faith, 13 months.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Victoria Beckham was spotted with daughter, Harper, and one of her three sons, Cruz, at the MLS Cup Final in Carson, California.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Heidi Klum takes her kids to the Katy Perry concert at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Ben Affleck is on daddy duty as he spends the day out with daughters Violet and Seraphina.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Suri Cruise flashes her million dollar smile while out and about in New York City with Mom, Katie Holmes.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Kendra Wilkinson's cute little man, Hank Jr., had a fun day out with his famous mom and dad for a playdate in the park.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Hugh Jackman takes his daughter Ava for a dip while he and his family vacation in St. Tropez, France.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Sandra Bullock steps out with her little guy Louis for a day out in Los Angeles, Calif.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Reese Witherspoon enjoyed a stroll on the beach with her daughter Ava and some friends during a Fourth of July party in Malibu, California.
Celebrities With Their Kids
It was a family affair at the Fourth of July parade in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. Ben Affleck and wife Jennifer Garner took their adorable little ladies, Violet, 5, and her younger sister Seraphina, 2, to show their red, white and blue pride on July 4th.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Pink and husband Carey Hart enjoy enjoy a beautiful beach day in Malibu, CA with new baby Willow.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Jennifer Lopez takes her twins, Emme and Max to the Parc Monceau in Paris, France where they played on the carousel and swings.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Heidi Klum spends a fun filled day with daughters Leni and Lou at a park in the Tribeca section of New York City.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Halle Berry wears a blue dress over her bikini as she takes her daughter Nahla shopping for groceries at Bristol Farms.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Ellen Pompeo holds on tight to her daughter Stella during a drink break from their play date in New York City.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Bethenny Frankel strolls with her husband Jason Hoppy and their daughter Bryn through the West Village in New York City.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Rachel Zoe and her husband Rodger Berman show off their brand new son Skyler Morrison at the "InStyle's Dinner With A Designer" for Rachel Zoe at Soho House in West Hollywood, California.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Ashlee Simpson shows off her stylish side in a mini skirt and hat as she carries her son Bronx through Studio City in Los Angeles.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Courteney Cox takes her little lady, Coco and a friend, for an ice cream break in Malibu.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Alanis Morissette leaves her home in Los Angeles with her hubby Mario and their 4-month-old son Ever.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Gwen Stefani heads out to Primrose Hill giving her son Zuma a push in the stroller in London, England.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Sean Combs aka Diddy takes his twin daughters D'Lila Star and Jessie James to the Westfield Mall in Century City, Calif.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Jennifer Garner makes her way out actor Adam Sandler's home with Seraphina who holds on to a balloon and has a painted face.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Katie Holmes and Suri spent a little time in the hotel pool and it looks like Holmes was trying to teach her little lady how to swim.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Rebecca Gayheart goes for a ride with daughter Billie Beatrice, spending a fun filled mother daughter day at the park in Los Angeles.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Mark Wahlberg and wife Rhea Durham take little Michael Wahlberg out shopping in Los Angeles.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Gavin Rossdale chases after son Zuma on the beaches in Malibu. He and Gwen Stefani spent their Memorial Day with their boys having some fun in the sun.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Rebecca Gayheart shops with darling daughter, Billie Beatrice in Los Angeles.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Halle Berry takes an after school walk with daughter Nahla Aubrey in Los Angeles. The little overall clad artist colored her mom a picture and carried a pink cartoon backpack!
Celebrities With Their Kids
Little Zuma Rossdale showed his American spirit as he dressed up in a Captain America costume while on a Ralphs run with his nanny in Los Angeles.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Violet Affleck is ready for the 4th of July as she sports some red and white stripes during a playdate with mom, Jennifer Garner, and a friend.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Nicole Kidman was all smiles as she arrived in Sydney, Australia holding hands with daughter Sunday Rose and baby Faith in her arms.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Halle Berry is a proud mommy as her daughter Nahla makes her way across the monkey bars at a local park.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Jennifer Garner gives her youngest daughter Seraphina a lift while out shopping.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Angelina Jolie exits Grauman's Chinese Theatre after the "Kung Fu Panda 2" premiere, holding the hands of two of her six kids, Shiloh and Maddox.
Celebrities With Their Kids
John Travolta steps out with his little man, Benjamin.
Celebrities With Their Kids
Marcia Cross takes her twin girls, Eden and Savannah to the Santa Monica Pier where they had a blast riding the rides.
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Posted: 05/10/2012 4:23 pm