The Young and the Restless star Michelle Stafford shared rare insights into her life as a single mom. She can relate to Phyllis, who’s fiercely protective of her kids, Daniel and Summer. The soap actress offered a fresh perspective that many single mothers haven’t considered.
Key Takeaways
- Michelle Stafford shared the challenges of raising two kids as a single mother.
- She had both of her children via gestational surrogate.
- Stafford appeared on the Soapy podcast with Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikart.
Michelle Stafford On Being a Single Mother
Stafford is a superwoman. She plays Phyllis on Y&R and has her own skincare brand. The soap actress revealed how she managed to juggle it all while being a single mom on the Soapy podcast.
Stafford admitted to podcast hosts Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikart that it was “brutal” but “humbling.” Budig noted that parenthood isn’t easy and isn’t for everyone. But she has her husband, Michael Benson, to support her.
Stafford offered a fresh perspective on life as a single mother that many might not have considered. “Well, I think it’s good then because I actually think what would be worse is having a horrible partner who criticizes you all the time,” she shared. “Man or woman, if you have a partner that’s constantly undermining you with your kids, like I know that goes on.”
Gratitude for the Single Life
Stafford’s fresh perspective makes her more grateful for being a single mother, even if it’s not always easy. Rikart shared that he has to “clock into the day in a different way” when he doesn’t have his partner around to help. The DAYS star joked that he and his husband, Robert Sudduth, often “butt heads” on how to navigate their lives.
But when you’re single, you have “no one to do that with.” You have to figure that all out on your own. Stafford is grateful that she has no one to “butt heads” with, either. She’s seen that happen in other people’s relationships, and doesn’t want to bring that negative energy into her family life.
“I’ve seen it in relationships, and I’m like, ‘Oh wow. I don’t have that,'” Stafford admitted.
In 2009, Stafford welcomed her first daughter, Natalia, via gestational surrogate. Her second child, son Jameson, was born in 2015. The General Hospital alum doesn’t share her personal life on social media. However, she will share photos of her kids.
As Y&R viewers might be aware, Stafford took a brief social media break to cap off 2025, but has returned to share more of her life.
