Tia Mowry opens up about her new role as a single mom and the difficult decision to divorce her husband of 14 years, Cory Hardrict

Since recently announcing her divorce from actor Cory Hardrict, Tia Mowry says she’s adjusting to her new normal. Despite saying the two, who were married for 14 years, will still remain amicable as mutual parents, the actress says she feels like she’s always in “survival mode.”

Mowry, 44, said life has changed rapidly since the couple split, especially as she is the caretaker of their two children, Cree, 11, and Cairo, 4.

The Sister, Sister star said she’s now “really learning how to be really present” as a single parent, living with her kids without her husband for the first time.

In court documents, Mowry petitioned a judge for joint physical and legal custody to ensure the children would be supported by both parents.

“I feel like, especially as a mom who wears so many different hats, I’m always in survival mode,” Mowry told People magazine while discussing her new partnership with Lactaid.

“I always make sure everyone is fine, everyone is alive, everyone is healthy, everyone is full,” the twin explained, “and making sure everyone is okay, they don’t have holes in their socks, and so on. “

For Mowry, it’s an opportunity to expand herself, not just as a caretaker for others, but by serving their needs. She said: “For me, it’s about learning how to be aware and present with myself and tap into myself and make sure I’m taken care of too. [Because] How can you take care of other people if your cup is not filled?”

Since 2008, Mowry and Hardrict have presented themselves as one of Hollywood’s most solid couples, always pushing their Christian values, love of family and unwavering commitment to privacy. So it was difficult for the former child star to announce that the two were quitting.

On Thursday, November 3, she told Us Weekly, “It hasn’t been easy. I usually tell people in my close circle, ‘This is not for the weak.’ It’s very hard.”

“I feel like if you keep working on yourself and yourself and working on loving yourself and appreciating yourself and having self worth, the decision becomes easier,” Mowry shared.

Adding, “Once you’re in tune with yourself, it becomes easier to make that decision. But that doesn’t mean it’s not difficult. It was very difficult because you have to think about so many things.”

As the two create a new normal, the two have publicly declared their love for each other, despite no longer being a duo.

Taking to social media, Mowry captioned a picture signifying a change in her life: “Every book begins with a dedication page and this one is dedicated to you: my friends, my family and my community.”

Mowry continued in her caption: “The outpouring of love I have received from you over the past week has been so encouraging and humbling. I am so grateful to you all. New book, first chapter follows. Love, Ti [red heart].”

Hardrict saw the message and placed a heart under the message, and she responded to his comment, writing: “I love you [red heart].”

A week later, while promoting his upcoming season of the CW series All American: Homecoming, in which he plays Coach Marcus Turner, he said, “It’s love you all, I really love you guys. I love my beautiful family, I love my children, I love my wife. I love you all; you just know that.”