Drew Barrymore reveals she wanted 'ultra-traditional' upbringing for her two daughters and calls split from husband her 'worst nightmare' 

By Sarah Sotoodeh For Dailymail.com

Published: 14:29 EST, 2 February 2017 | Updated: 15:13 EST, 2 February 2017

Her divorce from Will Kopelman was finalized in August of 2016.

And six months later, Drew Barrymore sat down with Ellen DeGeneres to talk about raising her two daughters with her ex husband.

The 41-year-old actress told the daytime host that she saw an article about her that was titled 'My modern family,' which she said had a 'nice ring to it' even though it was 'just like like my worst nightmare.'

Scroll down for video 

Looking good: Drew Barrymore sat down with Ellen DeGeneres to talk about raising her two daughters with her ex husband

Drew and Will have been co-parenting their daughters Olive, four, and Frankie, two, since they parted ways in April of last year.

She said regarding co-parenting with her ex: 'The road is different than what you try to make it or what you expected and you just figure it out and you figure it out with grace.' 

She added that it's probably what a lot of other families have to do. 

Drew revealed that before having a family, she had a specific idea in her head on how she wanted to raise them.

Honest: The 41-year-old said she saw an article about her that was titled 'My modern family,' which she said had a 'nice ring to it' even though it was 'just like like my worst nightmare'

'I so wanted to raise kids in this ultra-traditional way and do everything so the polar opposite of my experience,' she told Ellen. 

And while it didn't work out that way, the movie star said she figured out that it's more important to set the tone and provide a good example for her children.

The Santa Clarita Diet star added that she wanted to give her daughters 'love,' 'community,' and 'honesty' as well as make 'everything feel safe' for her kids. 

She explained: 'Kids watch what you do every single day of your life, all day long, and that behavior.'

Fancy: During her Thursday appearance on The Ellen Show, the actress also dressed up in a pale blue princess gown with an equally glamorous Ellen

Having a laugh: While in the glittering frock, the Never Been Kissed star took part in a game of Heads Up, as she tried to act out things for Ellen to guess

Drew added that she hopes to give them 'this incredible sense of like freedom inside their hearts.'

The mother of two had a rocky childhood; at 14 she entered rehab and the year after, got emancipated from her parents. 

She is the daughter of the late actor John Drew Barrymore and Jaid; she didn't have a relationship with her dad at all and was estranged from her mom until recently.

During her Thursday appearance on The Ellen Show, Drew also dressed up in a pale blue princess gown with an equally glamorous Ellen.

In good humor: Drew was later seen acting out 'rolling over' for the fun game they played

Showing her playful side: Drew (pictured playing a game) and Will have been co-parenting their daughters Olive, four, and Frankie, two, since they parted ways in April of last year

While in the glittering frock, the Never Been Kissed star took part in a game of Heads Up, as she tried to act out things for Ellen to guess. 

Drew was on Ellen's show to promote her Netflix show Santa Clarita Diet - her first role in a TV series. 

She stars as a zombie in the show, which premieres on Netflix Thursday.

Family: Drew shared a sweet photo of her two daughters on Christmas

Flashback: Her divorce from Will Kopelman was finalized in August of 2016; seen with Will in December 2015 in NYC

Ouch: Drew was on Ellen's show to promote her Netflix show Santa Clarita Diet - her first role in a TV series; seen in character with her co-star Timothy Olyphant

Comments 35

Share what you think

  View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

  View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Add your comment

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.