All products featured on Self are independently selected by our editors.
However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
I’ve never thought that perfection is attainable, she tells SELF.
Jim Spellman / Getty Images
And I think that it’s important for people to know that and be reminded of that.
Now, though, Simpson has found reprieve from eczema with a cream called EUCRISA.
SELF: It sounds like your journey with eczema has been a lifelong struggle.
What made you want to open up about this now?
:I have hadeczemasince I was a kid.
I struggled with it more toward the eighth grade, with mild to moderate eczema.
And my memories of it are a little tough because I was a cheerleader.
We were living in Texas, and everybody hugs in Texas.
I would tell them it was a heat rash because I didn’t necessarily know.
My mom and I went to a local drugstore and found some topical creams over the counter.
I actually experienced an intenseeczema flareafter I had Birdie, my third child.
I wouldn’t let him send out the picture.
And when you are holding your newborn, of course, you want to share it.
So I kind of panicked.
I called my doctor and he was the one who was like, You need EUCRISA.
For me, it worked within two weeks, and I saw a major difference.
During the summer, I usually didn’t wear T-shirts or tank tops.
I was very insecure about it until I was prescribed EUCRISA.
In your memoir, you talked about childhood trauma and the toll it took on you.
Did you learn any tools to help cope with trauma that might be helpful to others?
Trauma is a very real thing.
I personally wish I would have not been ashamed of it.
I wish I would have had the conversation with my parents way before I did.
I have found healing.
And that healing was really remarkable for me.
Ijournaledso much when I was younger, and my memoir is based on a lot of my journals.
I have hundreds of journals.
I haven’t done it in years, but the pandemic definitely opened me up to my journal.
Every morning during lockdown, I take time to open my journal.
I think aboutresiliencea lot.
I say to myself: What do I need today?
I talk through my thoughts.
That way, I don’t suppress them.
And that way I don’t project them onto my children or my family or my friends.
I really just have a good confrontation with myself.
So I really get a lot out in my journaling every morning.
I won’t journal in my bed because I’ll never go to sleep.
But if I journal downstairs in my library, then it’s like, Okay, you’re done.
Well, they are staying healthy and safe at home.
Theywear their masksif they’re going out and about, but that’s kind of rare.
They are coping way better than I would ever expect.
Im talking about my two older children, because obviously my 16-month doesn’t know what’s going on.
She thinks FaceTime and Zoom are a completely normal thing.
So during every session I do, shes like, Hi.
But through the pandemic, theyve formed a really unique bond that’s been precious to watch, actually.
And they teach Eric and me so much.
And my daughter and I pray every night.
She prays for the scientists to come up with a cure every single night.
She prays for COVID to go away and for people who lost their jobs.
Shes been so amazing through it and has taught me a lot.
I’m like, Okay, if she can say this, I can pray for this.
That’s really cute!
Are you going to be homeschooling?
You have to create different boundaries with your children that you never thought you would have to have.
We teach our children morals and values and how to be kind and sincere and genuine.
But, oh my gosh, doing third-grade math nowadays is like doing it in seventh grade.
I cant believe these kids have to do this much at home.
But they’re champions.
Theyre doing a great job.
And Eric and I are here every step of the way.
Eric does the math part because that’s not my specialty.
[Laughs]I’m better with the English part and all the other stuff.
I steer clear of math.
I already got frustrated with math at the beginning of the pandemic and handed that one over.
Speaking of Eric, does date night exist in a pandemic?
It will be 10:30, and we’re exhausted by the time the day is over for them.
But Erics parents live five miles from here and my mom lives close by.
So every Thursday, we’ll have a night together and the kids will be with their grandparents.
Do you just stay in and cook together and watch movies?
We dont cook together because hesvegan, and I dont eat what he eats.
Im like, What is that?
Im not really into the tofu and stuff.
I’ll make something for myself and hell make me a grilled cheese.
He’s very good at making grilled cheese.
But we normally just hang here.
We dont go out and about.
I truly love being at home.
Has Eric tried to sneak a Beyond Burger into the mix and trick you?
Oh, Ive almost been tricked but that didnt work.
[Laughs]Im like, What is this?
But Beyond Beef definitely is a staple at this house.
I was making these pasta bake dishes the other day and I had to make them separate for Eric.
I was like, Oh, my gosh.
I am not fulfilled.
I need a corn dog!
How are you staying active right now?
We’re exhausted by the end of the day.
How did you feel about turning 40?
What makes that a cool age?
I haven’t said that its a cool age yet.
[Laughs]Im new to 40.
I don’t mind.
I honestly didn’t even think about it at all until two months before.
And I was like, Oh, okay.
But thats one of those things I journal about!
This interview has been edited and condensed.
