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 might not be on dad and mom’ radar: meningococcal illness, also called meningitis.

After over 20 years, Hannigan and Gellar are collaborating as soon as once more, this time for a brand new Lifetime Authentic Film delivered to you by GSK’s Ask2BSure marketing campaign known as Pretty Hurts, which is all about encouraging dad and mom of teenagers and younger adults to start out a dialog about meningitis and vaccination.

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

Actually, the numbers present that one in ten who get it’s going to die. “It’s a loopy quantity,” Gellar stated. “You don’t actually see numbers like that. And the one in ten who contracted however dwell may have actually extreme disabilities, from mind injury to shedding limbs.”

And Hannigan stated herself how “enlightening” it was to find out about 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 necessary 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. Actually, Gellar even stated, “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 easy methods to use the machine on the telephone.”

It’s tales like that that make you notice their friendship is filled with laughs, candy tales, and poignant moments that make you notice your childhood favorites are all grown up — and dealing to make life simpler for fellow dad and mom. Talking of, each are proud mothers of two with their longtime loves. Gellar and her husband, Freddie Prinze Jr, have two kids 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.

Forward of the enduring mom duo discusses all the things from speaking to your youngster’s physician, what Buffy characters their children adore, and the way they foster their kids’s independence.

SK: How do you navigate the ever-evolving adjustments that include being a mum or dad of an adolescent?

Sarah Michelle Gellar: We joked that after 2020, I by no means needed to listen to the phrase pivot once more. However the fact is, it’s actually correct with regards to how we now have to mum or dad as of late. It’s the wild, wild west. You realize, there’s no highway 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 yr, so I used to be like making ready myself. I simply stored telling myself, these are the years that she’ll apologize to me for later. And you recognize what? She’s already completed it. She went away and visited her cousins and wrote this glorious e mail as a result of her cousin was going by way of it. And he or she was like, ‘I’m so sorry for all these eye rolls!’

SMG: Humorous you say that, I’m not large on recommendation, however somebody gave me this recommendation when my children have been infants. And it was the most effective recommendation I ever received, which was so as to add ‘for now’ to the top of each sentence. What I spotted as a mum or dad 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 concerning the significance of the meningitis vaccination. What would you like dad and mom of teenagers and younger adults to know?

AH: This is a vital topic for each of us, and we’re so completely happy to be partnered with GSK to boost consciousness of meningococcal illness, which is meningitis. It’s an unusual however severe illness that always has severe 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 oldsters are empowered to ask their teenagers’ physician concerning the meningitis vaccine. Your youngsters, significantly from 16 to 23, are probably the most prone to meningitis.

SMG: It is advisable ask the questions. It’s very onerous as a mum or dad. There’s a lot data that comes at you that you simply don’t even know what the questions you’re imagined to be asking are. And I feel that’s the necessary message that we’re making an attempt to relay: if you happen to wanna be certain, ask. That’s the ask to make sure. Information is energy, and that’s how we are able to defend our most weak youth. At this age, since you’re making such large selections, your kids are beginning to transition to turning into adults, taking on a few of their authority with regards to medical, and also you’re frightened about different issues that this might not be the very first thing that even your physician brings up immediately. We’re not making an attempt to scare individuals, we’re making an attempt to say get the data, and make these selections based mostly on correct physician data.

SK: Is there a particular query that you simply assume is an efficient foundation for folks 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 youngster protected? How can I be taught all about it? Find out about what the problems are. Find out about how your youngster might be affected by it, after which make your determination based mostly on the data that your physician.

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

SMG: Once you discuss to your physician, it’s simply the only type of ‘Right here’s the data, right here’s easy methods to finest defend your youngster, and make that call.’

SK: I’ve to ask somewhat 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 received one in all 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 kids concerning the significance of relationships of all types?

AH: I feel it’s simply so good when you may have friendships the place it may be a yr or no matter, after which we run into one another at Michael’s. After which out of the blue, 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 feel you be taught to understand that otherwise.

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

AH: Properly, I actually love that we dwell in a neighborhood the place they’ll 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 feel, is empowering for them.

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

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

SK: Properly, 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 beautiful. [But] there was a brief time period when she had TikTok and she or he misplaced the privilege. It was very nice for all of us when she misplaced the privilege, and she or he realized it. She was like, ‘I can’t consider that I’m going to confess this, but it surely’s really a lot better not having it.’

SMG: It’s strolling a effective line since you don’t need them to grow to be fully reliant on it, however on the similar time, you additionally need them to know. And if you happen to 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 kids know they’ll talk about issues with you, and if you happen to can, you recognize, 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 feel in our twenties, success was totally pushed by our job, and that measure is totally completely different after getting kids. However that every 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, but it surely’s not all that it was once.

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 feel that’s how we all know that we’re doing okay. All of us make errors, however I simply wanna make certain they wanna come again and go to after they’re in school.

Earlier than you go, take a look at the place your favourite celeb dad and mom are sending their kids to college.