Busy Philipps' 2 Kids: All About Birdie and Cricket

When she’s not acting, Busy Philipps is focused on being a mom to her two children, Birdie and Cricket Silverstein, who she shares with ex-husband Marc Silverstein.

The former couple — who announced their split in 2022 — welcomed their first child, Birdie, in 2008. Their family grew again when Cricket was born in 2013.

Philipps said she tries to be an “incredibly communicative mom” even amid her busy schedule. “It’s hard when you grow up and your mom is in the spotlight and you feel like you have to share your mom. Or people have an idea of ​​who your mom is,” Philipps said on Today with Hoda and Jenna in 2024. “And it’s really important to me that they get me and that they become who they are.”

Philipps also opened up about what she hopes to convey to Birdie and Cricket. In 2020, White chickens star told PEOPLE that she hopes to inspire her children to “live their lives in a way where they feel very empowered and free to be whoever they want to be in whatever way they want to be.”

And the actress’ older child is doing just that: Philipps announced in 2023 that Birdie is preparing for her first year at boarding school. “I feel confident that Birdie is such a strong person. She’s such a smart, unique person that I feel really confident in her ability to succeed in whatever situation she’s in,” Mean girls star told PEOPLE, adding that the decision required “a lot of talking” — and that she’s “still in the process of dealing with it as a mom who, of course, just wants my babies to stay with me.”

Here’s everything you need to know about Busy Philipps’ two children, Birdie and Cricket.

Birdie Leigh Silverstein, 16

A busy Philipps and her daughter Birdie Leigh Silverstein attend Freeform’s “Single Drunk Female” Season 2 Premiere on April 11, 2023 in New York City.

Slaven Vlašić/Getty

Philipps’ first child, Birdie Leigh Silverstein, was born on August 13, 2008. When it came to choosing a name, the actress and her then-husband were inspired by former first lady Lady Bird Johnson.

During the interview in 2010 Show Bonnie HuntPhilipps said she and Silverstein were listening to a radio show about Johnson when they first came up with the name. “My husband said, ‘Wow, what a cool woman and what an amazing name … it would be so cool to name a child after her.’ ” Philipps wasn’t sure at first, but she knew it was the right choice after she gave birth.

Now that Birdie is older, Mean girls the actress spoke about her personality. Busy said Mini magazine in 2016 that her older child is “very outgoing” and will “literally talk to anyone.”

A busy Philipps and her daughter Birdie Silverstein attend the premiere of ‘Olivia Rodrigo: Driving Home 2 in (The Acid Movie)’ on March 24, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.

Jesse Grant/Getty

Birdie also seems to be a young activist. In 2021, Philipps celebrated Pride Month with an Instagram post praising Birdie, saying her firstborn had collected hundreds of unopened makeup and hygiene items that Philipps and other celebrities had received and donated to the Los Angeles LGBT Center. Birdie’s charity work began six months after Philipps revealed on her podcast that the then 12-year-old had come out as gay and preferred the pronouns they/them. In December 2023, Philipps said Page six that Birdie “decided that her pronouns were she/her”.

Philipps’ first-born isn’t afraid to sing her mom’s praises either. In 2017, Birdie dressed up as her mom for Halloween. Years later, in an Instagram post in 2022, the actress shared a photo from a Harry Styles concert and captioned it, “Guess WHAT? Tonight a woman asked Birdie, ‘Is your mom your best friend? And Birdie replied, ‘Yes.’ ” She continued, “Birdie Leigh Silverstein, I couldn’t love you more if I tried.”

Birdie may also follow in Philipps’ acting footsteps. In June 2022, she debuted as an actress in the second season of the series With lovewhere she he has to act with his mom.

A few years later, Philipps took Birdie to the premiere of the film in New York Mean girls and revealed that she doesn’t identify as a “cool mom.”

“I think I’m cool, but my kids don’t think I’m cool. And I’m aware of that,” she told PEOPLE on the red carpet. “I also think I’m clear about the fact that I’m their mother and not their friend, so that definitely makes me uncool.”

Cricket Pearl Silverstein, 11

Busy Philipps with her daughter Cricket.

Busy Phillips Instagram

Philipps and Silverstein welcomed their second child, Cricket Pearl Silverstein, on July 2, 2013. Unlike Birdie, they waited until Cricket was born to name her.

When her younger daughter was a few months old, Philipps revealed to PEOPLE how she was going to come up with her name. After a week of postpartum indecision, Silverstein suggested Cricket, and Philipps accepted. She explained that the name actually has to do with her new baby’s growing personality.

“Many times your name dictates what kind of personality you have and [Marc’s] like, ‘Everybody loves Cricket, Cricket is just the coolest, happiest kid in the neighborhood, coolest counselor at camp,’” Philipps said. “He just had that whole story about what his name was.”

When Cricket was still a baby in 2014, Philipps told PEOPLE she was already a “wild woman.” She said that while Birdie had always been a quiet baby who didn’t get into trouble, it was different with her mate. “[With] The cricket, if it is not hammered, is not on the counter. She throws everything,” Philipps said. “She’s really going to give us a run for our money. I love her. I’m so in love with her crazy personality.”

Busy Philipps daughter Cricket Pearl Silverstein.

Busy Phillips Instagram

In 2016, Philipps told Mini magazine that Cvrčak was a “fun, free spirit” and that she loved to read just like her older sister.

In 2023, Philipps celebrated Cricket’s 10th birthday with a video tribute posted on Instagram. “My sweet wonderful amazingly brilliant talented baby is crying. I love you more than I will ever be able to articulate,” she captioned the montage. “Happy 10th birthday, my heart that beats outside my body.

Cricket first saw her mom in action when the actress played Regina’s mom in 2024. Mean girls movie musical. In January of that year, Philipps shared further Today with Hoda and Jenna that her younger daughter reacted confusedly to her performance.

“She said, ‘This is strange.’ And so we talked about it the next day and I said, ‘You know, was that too much for you?’ Phillips said. “And she said, ‘I don’t think I want to watch things with you in them. It was weird.’ And I said, ‘I see.’ And she’s like, ‘Thankfully, you’re not in the movie that much.’ ”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education