Serena Williams on why she doesn’t like leaving her daughters behind when she has to go out

Serena Williams shares two daughters with her husband Alexis Ohanian — Photo Credit: Serena Williams/Instagram

Serena Williams definitely cherishes her two daughters, and she recently disclosed that she finds it “difficult” to leave her little ones behind when she has to step out at night.

Williams, 44, explained why that was the case during an interview with PEOPLE on the red carpet at the Baby2Baby Gala on Saturday, November 8. Williams and her husband, Alexis Ohanian, share two daughters: Olympia, 8, and Adira, 2.

“Well, tonight was definitely a little more difficult. I don’t like to leave my kids,” she said. “I have a nighttime routine with them every day.”

“I love Baby2Baby because they’re really just about kids and helping so many babies and so many mothers as well,” Williams added. “They’re so supportive, so I just feel like it wasn’t easy, but it’s also nice. I get to come out and get to get dressed up, put on a little lip and have some fun with some amazing people.”

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The event saw Williams being honored with the Giving Tree Award. The award is annually bestowed on a public female personality who has significantly contributed to making the lives of needy children better. Williams was honored with the award because of her advocacy for women’s health, with the focus being on Black maternal health.

In March, Face2Face Africa reported that Williams had unveiled her first-ever line of children’s clothing. The tennis star is working with her daughters Olympia and Adira who are the collection’s headliners, in collaboration with Janie and Jack, experts in children’s fashion, to debut the collection.

This is the first time she has spearheaded a campaign with her daughters, who were included in her designs made for both boys and girls and range in age from infancy to 12.