Selma Blair, Who Has MS, Pens Emotional Post About Seeing Her Son Grow

A year ago, Cruel Intentions actress Selma Blair shared that, at 46 years old, she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system. Since then, she’s been open about the struggles she’s faced, like the fact that she never knows what to expect from her mind and body when she wakes up, and now needs a cane to get around. Yesterday, she took to Instagram share an insight into her life that’s bittersweet.

Blair shared a photo of her snuggling her 8-year-old son Arthur Saint. They’re both wearing serious expressions, their eyes downcast. In the caption, she explains that while most mothers dread their child getting older, Blair says she “welcomes” it when it comes to her Arthur.

“As a mom, whether strong or not so strong, I hope I can be with this child as he needs me or wants me,” Blair writes. “This is the best it gets for me. I don’t begrudge him going off to school and growing up. I welcome the days as we are here now. The days seem in the correct order of things.”

She then shares a story about watching her son do a full flip into the pool, which shocked her because it made her see how grown up he’s become.

“When did he get so brave?” she continues. “It was imperceptible. I missed the shift and then he just went and did it even as I was starting to say ‘that may not be safe.’ So I cheered his victory. His full-on confidence.”

Blair then pledges to support this older, more daring side that is emerging from her little boy, suggesting she may even enroll him in gymnastics lessons. “I never had that bold side on the edge of pools,” she explains. “Blood and stitches were what I saw. So we aren’t just the same. Of course. And thanks for that.”

In a recent interview with People, Blair shared about how strong her son has been throughout the past year, and how impressed she is with his resilience. “He’s had to endure a lot,” she said. “He’s seen a lot”—including watching Blair fall down the stairs and rush to the bathroom when she suddenly gets sick. But Arthur still always encourages her to get back up. “He says, ‘Mommy’s not sick. Mommy’s brave,’” Blair told the magazine.

At the end of the day, she explained, Arthur is what keeps her motivated. She’s living well and living healthy to set an example to him. “This is it,” Blair said. “The only life we get. My disease isn’t a tragedy, but I tell myself, ‘You’re going to live in a way that would be an example for yourself and your son.’”