Buffy Alums Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan on Teens & Heath

From teen actors to moms of teenagers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer alums Sarah Michelle Gellar and Alyson Hannigan have seen all of it. Whereas they’re not slaying vampires or casting spells anymore, they’re utilizing their platform to speak about one thing that will not be on mother and father’ radar: meningococcal illness, also referred to as meningitis.

After over 20 years, Hannigan and Gellar are collaborating as soon as once more, this time for a brand new Lifetime Unique Film dropped at you by GSK’s Ask2BSure marketing campaign referred to as Pretty Hurts, which is all about encouraging mother and father of teenagers and younger adults to begin a dialog about meningitis and vaccination.

Meningitis is an an infection that causes irritation of the protecting membranes that encompass the mind and spinal wire, with completely different strains akin to A, B, C, W, and Y. The commonest signs embrace extreme complications, a stiff neck, gentle sensitivity, sleepiness, and extra; and it may be life-threatening.

In reality, the numbers present that one in ten who get it’s going to die. “It’s a loopy quantity,” Gellar mentioned. “You don’t actually see numbers like that. And the one in ten who contracted however reside may have actually extreme disabilities, from mind harm to dropping limbs.”

And Hannigan mentioned herself how “enlightening” it was to study all of the strains, saying, “Once I talked to my teen’s pediatrician, it was so informative. I didn’t know that there have been and that B was a separate vaccination. So simply to have that dialog, have her clarify it to me, it was so enlightening.”

As they pair up for this vital trigger, Gellar and Hannigan are additionally taking the time to point out gratitude for his or her longtime friendship. Throughout our chat, it was like watching the most effective of friends reminisce about all the things. In reality, Gellar even mentioned, “I went off to do I Know What You Did Final Summer time, and I had by no means used a washer. [Hannigan] taught me tips on how to use the machine on the cellphone.”

It’s tales like that that make you understand their friendship is stuffed with laughs, candy tales, and poignant moments that make you understand your childhood favorites are all grown up — and dealing to make life simpler for fellow mother and father. Talking of, each are proud mothers of two with their longtime loves. Gellar and her husband, Freddie Prinze Jr, have two youngsters collectively: Charlotte, born in 2009, and Rocky, born in 2012. And as for Hannigan, she and her former Buffy co-star Alexis Denisof welcomed two daughters named Satyana Marie, born in 2009, and Keeva Jane, born in 2012.

Beneath, see the long-lasting mom duo focus on all the things from speaking to your little one’s physician, what Buffy characters their children adore, and the way they foster their youngsters’s independence.

SK: How do you navigate the ever-evolving adjustments that include being a mother or father of a young person?

Sarah Michelle Gellar: We joked that after 2020, I by no means wished to listen to the phrase pivot once more. However the fact is, it’s actually correct in relation to how we’ve got to mother or father nowadays. It’s the wild, wild west. You realize, there’s no street map. The youngsters that got here earlier than weren’t dwelling on this digital age. One thing labored, one thing didn’t work, and actually to remain versatile.

Alyson Hannigan: My daughter’s 16 now, however when she was 15, 15 was my worst 12 months, so I used to be like getting ready myself. I simply stored telling myself, these are the years that she’ll apologize to me for later. And you already know what? She’s already performed it. She went away and visited her cousins and wrote this excellent e mail as a result of her cousin was going by means of it. And she or he was like, ‘I’m so sorry for all these eye rolls!’

SMG: Humorous you say that, I’m not massive on recommendation, however somebody gave me this recommendation when my children had been infants. And it was the most effective recommendation I ever obtained, which was so as to add ‘for now’ to the tip of each sentence. What I noticed as a mother or father is you all the time have so as to add ‘for now’ as a result of ‘My children are rolling their eyes for now,’ ‘My daughter doesn’t wanna spend time with me for now,’ and ‘My son is difficult my authority for now,’ as a result of all of it that stuff will change.

SK: This marketing campaign is all in regards to the significance of the meningitis vaccination. What would you like mother and father of teenagers and younger adults to know?

AH: This is a crucial topic for each of us, and we’re so completely happy to be partnered with GSK to lift consciousness of meningococcal illness, which is meningitis. It’s an unusual however critical illness that usually has critical problems, together with loss of life, typically as quick as inside 24 hours. So we’re right here to carry consciousness to Ask2Bsure.com so that folks are empowered to ask their teenagers’ physician in regards to the meningitis vaccine. Your youngsters, significantly from 16 to 23, are essentially the most inclined to meningitis.

SMG: You could ask the questions. It’s very onerous as a mother or father. There’s a lot info that comes at you that you simply don’t even know what the questions you’re purported to be asking are. And I believe that’s the vital message that we’re attempting to relay: when you wanna be certain, ask. That’s the ask to make sure. Information is energy, and that’s how we will defend our most susceptible youth. At this age, since you’re making such massive selections, your youngsters are beginning to transition to changing into adults, taking on a few of their authority in relation to medical, and also you’re apprehensive about different issues that this will not be the very first thing that even your physician brings up instantly. We’re not attempting to scare individuals, we’re attempting to say get the data, and make these selections primarily based on correct physician info.

SK: Is there a particular query that you simply assume is an effective foundation for fogeys to ask, in the event that they’re uncertain what to do within the first place?

SMG: Inform me your ideas on the meningitis vaccination. Is my little one protected? How can I study all about it? Find out about what the problems are. Find out about how your little one may very well be affected by it, after which make your resolution primarily based on the data that your physician.

AH: Neither one in every of us has even performed a health care provider. So we’re simply saying, be sure to ask your physician, as a result of it was so informative once I had this dialog with my physician.

SMG: While you discuss to your physician, it’s simply the best type of ‘Right here’s the data, right here’s tips on how to greatest defend your little one, and make that call.’

SK: I’ve to ask a bit of bit about Buffy. Have your children seen Buffy? And if they’ve, are you their favourite character?

AH: Oh, good query. Mine haven’t.

SMG: Yeah, my daughter’s favourite character is Angel. Oh, and my son likes Spike. Go determine. I obtained one in every of every.

SK: I actually love the way you each have been friends for therefore lengthy. Do you may have any classes out of your lengthy friendship that you simply use to show your youngsters in regards to the significance of relationships of every kind?

AH: I believe it’s simply so good when you may have friendships the place it may be a 12 months or no matter, after which we run into one another at Michael’s. After which immediately, two hours later, we’re nonetheless within the glitter aisle like no time has handed.

SMG: When you may have shared experiences, that doesn’t go away. And as you mature, you I believe you study to understand that another way.

SK: How do you foster independence together with your youngsters?

AH: Nicely, I actually love that we reside in a neighborhood the place they will stroll locations, so I’ll ship them to the grocery retailer to get milk or butter or no matter. Only for them to navigate that world, I believe, is empowering for them.

SMG: She’s rationalizing the truth that she’s not paying her youngsters to be her assistant. [Laughs] I’m not so positive about this!

AH: They make up for it by shopping for sweet!

SK: Nicely, together with that, how do you strengthen your bond together with your children, particularly within the age of social media?

AH: My children aren’t on social media, in order that’s pretty. [But] there was a brief time period when she had TikTok and he or she misplaced the privilege. It was very nice for all of us when she misplaced the privilege, and he or she realized it. She was like, ‘I can’t consider that I’m going to confess this, nevertheless it’s really a lot better not having it.’

SMG: It’s strolling a high-quality line since you don’t need them to grow to be fully reliant on it, however on the identical time, you additionally need them to know. And when you make one thing taboo, then all they’re gonna do is sneak it. So it’s actually nearly opening conversations. And it goes proper again to ask to make sure.

AH: It’s all about having these conversations. And in case your youngsters know they will focus on issues with you, and when you can, you already know, have that relationship the place it’s not about judging, it’s about speaking, it’s about giving solutions.

SK: How has being a mother modified the way in which you outline success each personally and professionally?

SMG: I believe in our twenties, success was absolutely pushed by our job, and that measure is totally completely different upon getting youngsters. However that each one takes a again seat to your loved ones and what they’re doing and the way they’re feeling. Work is nice and it’s enjoyable, nevertheless it’s not all that it was.

AH: It’s simply the million little moments that imply a lot. Our household simply loves being collectively, and even with the attention roll dash. I believe that’s how we all know that we’re doing okay. All of us make errors, however I simply wanna make sure that they wanna come again and go to once they’re in school.

Earlier than you go, try the place your favourite celeb mother and father are sending their kids to college.